How the United Nations works

The General Assembly

This is the United Nations main deliberative organ and is made up of all of the organisation’s members. Each member has one vote, important decisions, such as those related to international peace and security, must be decided by a two-thirds majority vote. All other decisions are made by a majority of members present and voting.

Within the General Assembly, which meets in regular sessions from September to December, opens in a general debate that is later divided into six commissions designated to a specific issue:

1st Commission: Political affairs, international security;

2nd Commission: Economic and financial affairs;

3rd Commission: Social, cultural and humanitarian affairs;

4th Commission: Trusteeship and de-colonisation;

5th Commission: Administrative and budget affairs;

6th Commission: Legal affairs.

The daily activities of the UN are mainly a result of the decisions of the General Assembly, which, although not legally binding to member states, tend to be influential as they represent the global community’s opinion on international issues.

 

The international court of justice

The UN’s main judicial organ, the International court of justice is the only UN organ whose headquarters are not in New York but The Hague, in the Netherlands. Its purpose is to decide on controversies faced by member states and provide opinions on legal issues to the General Assembly and other authorised bodies.

To find out more about the International Court of Justice go to: www.icj-cij.org

 

The Economic and Social Council

The Ecosoc has a key role within the UN in establishing priorities for action in social and economic areas, its main fields of work being: higher standards of living; full time employment; human rights; economic and social development and the international problems relating to these fields.

Ecosoc is responsible for carrying out reports on social, sanitary cultural and scientific issues and on making recommendations to the General Assembly, member states and specialised agencies.

 

Security Council

This the organ that is called upon to respond to situations of international crisis and is the only UN institution whose decisions are binding for member states, on the basis of the UN Charter.

The Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security: it intervenes in a peaceful manner or undertakes actions in cases of aggression.

 

The Secretariat

Formed by an international staff from over 170 countries, the Secretariat constitutes the skeleton of the organisation, allowing the entire system to work. It is headed by the Secretary General, who is appointed by the General Assembly for a five year term and is the administrative office’s chief, responsible for implementing decisions made by various UN organisms.