Profile: United Nations



The UN`s New York headquarters

The United Nations (UN), which emerged in 1945 from the devastation of global conflict, aims to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war".
Its mission is to maintain international peace and security and to promote friendly relations between countries.
The UN Charter upholds human rights and proposes that states should work together to overcome social, economic, humanitarian and cultural challenges.
BACKGROUND
The UN`s predecessor, the League of Nations, was established after the 1914-18 World War.
It aimed to prevent another global conflict, but it failed to halt the slide towards war in the 1930s and was disbanded in 1946.


Civil war in Liberia prompted the UN`s biggest troop deployment

Much of the league`s structure and many of its aims were adopted by its successor.
In 1944 the US, Britain, the Soviet Union and China met in Washington and agreed on a blueprint for a proposed world organisation.
The blueprint formed the basis of talks in 1945 between representatives from 50 countries. Under the terms of the resulting charter the UN came into being on 24 October 1945.
MEMBERS
The UN comprises 192 member states. Montenegro is the newest member - it joined in June 2006. Membership grew as colonies became independent and the Soviet Union disintegrated. The Vatican and Taiwan remain non-members. Most members have permanent missions at the UN`s main headquarters in New York.
Potential members are recommended by the Security Council and are admitted by a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly.
Member nations contribute to the running costs of the UN. A country`s contribution is assessed on its ability to pay. The US is the top contributor.
STRUCTURE
General Assembly The assembly is the UN`s main forum for debate. It is the only UN body which includes representatives from all member countries. Each member country has one vote.
Members can discuss any subject in the UN Charter, from international security to the UN budget. The assembly can issue recommendations, based on its deliberations. But it has no power to force countries to act on these.
The assembly may also adopt "declarations", reflecting high degrees of concern or resolve among members.
On key issues - including international security - a two-thirds majority is needed to adopt a resolution.
The General Assembly meets for three months of the year from mid-September, and for special and emergency sessions. Its annual sessions open with a "General Debate", in which each member country delivers a statement about its perspective on world events.
Most assembly business is dealt with by its six Main Committees. The assembly approves or rejects their recommendations.
Security Council The council is tasked with ensuring global peace and security. It has five permanent member nations: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US.






Profile: UN Security Council

Ten other countries have temporary membership on a rotating basis.
The council can impose economic sanctions and can authorise the use of force in conflicts.
It also oversees peacekeeping operations.
Economic and Social Council The council spearheads the UN`s economic, social, humanitarian and cultural activities.
It oversees the work of commissions which deal with human rights, population growth, technology and drugs, among other issues.
Its 54 members are elected by the General Assembly.
International Court of Justice (World Court) The court is the main judicial body of the UN and is tasked with settling legal disputes submitted to it by states. It sits in the Dutch city of The Hague.


SOME RECENT COURT RULINGS
2006: Rules against Argentina`s attempt to have paper mill projects in Uruguay suspended
2005: Rules that Uganda must compensate DR Congo for looting during 1998-2003 war
2004: Rules that parts of Israel`s West Bank barrier built on Palestinian land are illegal
2004: Orders review of convictions of 51 Mexicans on death row in US
2002: Clears way for Bosnia to seek compensation from Belgrade over 1992-95 war
2002: Awards sovereignty of Bakassi peninsula, claimed by Cameroon and Nigeria, to Cameroon


Q&A: International Court of Justice

The court`s 15 judges are elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council.
The court`s decisions are binding, although nations have sometimes refused to accept its rulings.
Secretariat The Secretariat undertakes the day-to-day work of the UN, administering the programmes and policies of the organisation. Its work includes research, translation and media relations. Some 9,000 Secretariat staff are drawn from 170 countries.
Trusteeship Council The council administered the UN`s trust territories. It suspended its activities in 1994 when the last of the trust territories, Palau in the south Pacific, became independent.
The council, made up of the five permanent Security Council members, agreed in 1994 to meet "as occasion required".
THE UN SYSTEM


Fighting hunger: UN`s World Food Programme at work in Afghanistan

Fourteen independent agencies make up the "UN System" alongside many of the organisation`s