Founded at the end of World War II in 1945, the United Nations was created to prevent future world wars, maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, and promote economic progress and better living standards. Today, UN agencies, programs and affiliated bodies tackle global crises from conflict to climate change, and strive to bring about the universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. It is the only body with universal membership, and its meetings include a major annual debate in which many heads of state participate. Decisions on important questions require a two-thirds majority of the full membership.
The Security Council has primary responsibility under the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 members, five permanent and ten non-permanent, elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms; each member has one vote. Decisions of the Council on matters of substance must receive nine votes, including the unanimous consent of all five permanent members, referred to as the “veto power.”
In the course of its work, the Secretariat enjoys in the territory of each Member State such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the fulfilment of its purposes. All Members undertake to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the staff of the Secretariat and not to seek to influence them improperly as they perform their duties, including in response to and recovery from disasters.