About the UN | United Nations Overview, Main Organs, Leadership, Secretariat, UN family. Read more to understand the system...
The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States. The mission and work of the United Nations are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter. Member States Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations is a member of the General Assembly. States are admitted to membership in the UN by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
The main organs of the UN are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat. All were established in 1945 when the UN was founded.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is a symbol of the Organization's ideals and a spokesman for the interests of the world's peoples, in particular, the poor and vulnerable. The current Secretary-General of the UN and the ninth occupant of the post is Mr. António Guterres of Portugal, who took office on 1 January 2017. The UN Charter describes the Secretary-General as "chief administrative officer" of the Organization.
The Secretariat, one of the main organs of the UN, is organized along departmental lines, with each department or office having a distinct area of action and responsibility. Offices and departments coordinate with each other to ensure cohesion as they carry out the day to day work of the Organization in offices and duty stations around the world. At the head of the United Nations Secretariat is the Secretary-General.
The UN system, also known unofficially as the "UN family", is made up of the UN itself and many affiliated programmes, funds, and specialized agencies, all with their own membership, leadership, and budget. The programmes and funds are financed through voluntary rather than assessed contributions. The Specialized Agencies are independent international organizations funded by both voluntary and assessed contributions."
The main organs of the UN are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat. All were established in 1945 when the UN was founded.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is a symbol of the Organization's ideals and a spokesman for the interests of the world's peoples, in particular, the poor and vulnerable. The current Secretary-General of the UN and the ninth occupant of the post is Mr. António Guterres of Portugal, who took office on 1 January 2017. The UN Charter describes the Secretary-General as "chief administrative officer" of the Organization.
The Secretariat, one of the main organs of the UN, is organized along departmental lines, with each department or office having a distinct area of action and responsibility. Offices and departments coordinate with each other to ensure cohesion as they carry out the day to day work of the Organization in offices and duty stations around the world. At the head of the United Nations Secretariat is the Secretary-General.
Offices and Departments at Headquarters in New York
Executive Office of the Secretary-General
Office of Internal Oversight Services
Office of Legal Affairs
- Office of the Legal Counsel
- General Legal Division
- Treaty Section
- Codification Division
- International Trade Law Division
- Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Department of Political Affairs
- Africa I and II Divisions
- Americas Division
- Asia and the Pacific Division
- Europe Division
- Middle East and West Asia Division
- Electoral Assistance Division
- Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) Office
- Office of the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide
- Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for Myanmar
- Division for Palestinian Rights
- Policy and Mediation Division
- Security Council Affairs Division
- Decolonization Unit
Office for Disarmament Affairs
- Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch
- Conventional Arms Branch
- Information and Outreach Branch
- Regional Disarmament Branch
- Conference on Disarmament Secretariat and Conference Support Branch
Department of Peacekeeping Operations
- Office of Operations
- Africa I Division
- Africa II Division
- Asia and Middle East Division
- Europe and Latin America Division
- Office of Military Affairs
- Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions
- Police Division
- Mine Action Service
- Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Section
- Criminal Law and Judicial Advisory Service: Justice and Corrections
- Security Sector Reform Unit
- Policy, Evaluation and Training Division
Department of Field Support
- Office of the Assistant Secretary-General
- Field Personnel Division
- Field Budget and Finance Division
- Logistics Support Division
- Information & Communications Technology Division
- Policy Evaluation and Training (PET) Division
- United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi (UNLB)
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
- Financing for Development Office
- Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination
- Division for Social Policy and Development
- Secretariat of the UN Forum on Forests
- Statistics Division
- Division for Sustainable Development
- Population Division
- Development Policy and Analysis Division
- Division for Public Administration and Development Management
- Capacity Development Office
- United Nations Forum on Forests
Department for General Assembly and Conference Management
- Office of Protocol and Liaison Service
- Central Planning and Coordination Service
- General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division
- Meetings and Publishing Division
- Documentation Division
Department of Public Information
Department of Safety and Security
- Field Support Service
- Division of Regional Operations
- Division of Headquarters Security and Safety Services
Department of Management
- Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts
- Programme Planning and Budget Division
- Treasury
- Office of Human Resources Management
- Office of Central Support Services
- Office of Information and Communication Technology
- Umoja
Internal Justice Bodies
- Office of the United Nations Ombudsman
- Office of Administration of Justice
- UN Dispute Tribunal
- UN Appeals Tribunal [the United Nations Administrative Tribunal was abolished as of 31 December 2009 by GA resolution 63/253]
Other Offices
- Peacebuilding Support Office
- United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund
- Secretariat of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB)
- Ethics Office
- Global Compact Office
- United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP)
- United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)
- United Nations Staff Union
- United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS)
Special Advisers, Representatives and Envoys
- Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
- Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
- Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide
- Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
- Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
- Office on Sport for Development and Peace
- Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for Myanmar
- Special and Personal Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary-General (complete list)
Offices Outside the Main Headquarters
Geneva
- United Nations Office at Geneva
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Nairobi
Vienna
UN Regional Commissions
Bangkok
Beirut
Addis Ababa
Geneva
Santiago
The UN system, also known unofficially as the "UN family", is made up of the UN itself and many affiliated programmes, funds, and specialized agencies, all with their own membership, leadership, and budget. The programmes and funds are financed through voluntary rather than assessed contributions. The Specialized Agencies are independent international organizations funded by both voluntary and assessed contributions."
Programmes and Funds
UNDP
The United Nations Development Programme works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund provides long-term humanitarian and development assistance to children and mothers.
UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR protects refugees worldwide and facilitates their return home or resettlement.
WFP
The World Food Programme aims to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. It is the world’s largest humanitarian agency. Every year, the programme feeds almost 80 million people in around 75 countries.
UNODC
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – UNODC helps Member States fight drugs, crime, and terrorism.
UNFPA
The United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
UNCTAD
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development is the United Nations body responsible for dealing with development issues, particularly international trade – the main driver of development.
UNEP
The United Nations Environment Programme established in 1972, is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment.
UNRWA
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees has contributed to the welfare and human development of four generations of Palestine refugees. It’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance, including in times of armed conflict. It reports only to the UN General Assembly.
UN Women
UN Women merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, which focus exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
UN-Habitat
The mission of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.
UN Specialized Agencies
The UN specialized agencies are autonomous organizations working with the United Nations. All were brought into relationship with the UN through negotiated agreements. Some existed before the First World War. Some were associated with the League of Nations. Others were created almost simultaneously with the UN. Others were created by the UN to meet emerging needs.
World Bank
The World Bank focuses on poverty reduction and the improvement of living standards worldwide by providing low-interest loans, interest-free credit, and grants to developing countries for education, health, infrastructure, and communications, among other things. The World Bank works in over 100 countries.
- World Bank Group
- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
- International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
- International Development Association (IDA)
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
IMF
The International Monetary Fund fosters economic growth and employment by providing temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment and technical assistance. The IMF currently has $28 billion in outstanding loans to 74 nations.
WHO
The World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations system. The objective of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health, as defined in the WHO Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization focuses on everything from teacher training to helping improve education worldwide to protecting important historical and cultural sites around the world. UNESCO added 28 new World Heritage Sites this year to the list of irreplaceable treasures that will be protected for today's travellers and future generations.
ILO
The International Labor Organization promotes international labor rights by formulating international standards on the freedom to associate, collective bargaining, the abolition of forced labor, and equality of opportunity and treatment.
FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organization leads international efforts to fight hunger. It is both a forum for negotiating agreements between developing and developed countries and a source of technical knowledge and information to aid development.
IFAD
The International Fund for Agricultural Development, since it was created in 1977, has focused exclusively on rural poverty reduction, working with poor rural populations in developing countries to eliminate poverty, hunger and malnutrition; raise their productivity and incomes; and improve the quality of their lives.
IMO
The International Maritime Organization has created a comprehensive shipping regulatory framework, addressing safety and environmental concerns, legal matters, technical cooperation, security, and efficiency.
WMO
The World Meteorological Organization facilitates the free international exchange of meteorological data and information and the furtherance of its use in aviation, shipping, security, and agriculture, among other things.
WIPO
The World Intellectual Property Organization protects intellectual property throughout the world through 23 international treaties.
ICAO
The International Civilian Aviation Organization sets international rules on air navigation, the investigation of air accidents, and aerial border-crossing procedures
ITU
The International Telecommunication Union is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. It is committed to connecting all the world's people – wherever they live and whatever their means. Through our work, we protect and support everyone's fundamental right to communicate
UNIDO
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.
UPU
The Universal Postal Union is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.
UNWTO
The World Tourism Organization is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
Other Entities
UNAIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS is co-sponsored by 10 UN system agencies: UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, the ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank and has ten goals related to stopping and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
UNISDR
The United Nations Office for Disaster Reduction serves as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction.
UNOPS
The United Nations Office for Project Services is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.
Related Organizations
IAEA
The International Atomic Energy Agency, is the world's centre for cooperation in the nuclear field. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
WTO
The World Trade Organization is a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements, and a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.
CTBTO
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization promotes the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (which is not yet in force) and the build-up of the verification regime so that it is operational when the Treaty enters into force.
OPCW
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force in 1997. OPCW Member States work together to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.
IOM
The International Organization for Migration works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
