United Nations Structure and Key Figures

The United Nations has been running an organization since 1945, after the Second World War. This organization focuses on human rights, security and peace, human assistance to poor nations, and the First Welfare Group of the Nations. The UN prevents conflict and plays a peacemaker role. It knows and prepares for the fundamental rights of people. This article will shed light on the history, roles, and impact of the United Nations in promoting global peace and human rights. 

What is the structure of the United Nations?

The United Nations consists of 6 main bodies. All of them are mentioned below:

• The Economic and Social Council
• Trusteeship Council
• General Assembly
• The Security Council
• The International Court of Justice
• The UN Secretariat

All of them make up the core body of the United Nations organization. 

What are the roles and functions of the United Nations?

The United Nations is a part of the UN System. It includes the UN itself, its specialized agencies, programs, and other related organizations. The UN’s collaboration with other organizations in the UN system is essential to fulfilling the purposes of the organization described in the UN Charter.

1. Who controls the UN?

The Security Council and Secretary General control the UN.

2. Who is in charge of the United Nations?

The current Secretary General of the United Nations is Antonio Guterres.

The first meeting of the United Nations was held in London, England, on 10 January 1946. The mandate of the United Nations has been to conduct new work that was not envisioned at the time of its foundation since its Charter was created. To create a more sustainable world, the organization has committed to taking collective action to slow down climate change and has set goals. 

The General Assembly, Security Council, and Secretariat shape the United Nations (UN). The UN’s senior administrative officer is the Secretary-General. The UN’s goals and scope are defined in its Charter, which emphasizes collective action to address global challenges and promote a more sustainable world.

UN building

Oscar Niemeyer and Le Corbusier created the finished designs for the United Nations building in New York.  With the exemption of the International Court of Justice, which has its seat in The Hague, the headquarters house the main UN bodies, such as the General Assembly and Security Council. 

405 East 42nd Street, NY 10017 is the United Nations Headquarters address in New York.

1. Where is the UN Headquarters?

It is located in the Turtle Bay district of Midtown Manhattan, on 17 to 18 acres (6.9 to 7.3 ha) of land in New York City. 

2. Where are the 4 offices of the UN?

Three more regional headquarters or headquarters districts are part of the United Nations. 

These were established in 1946 in Geneva, Switzerland; in 1980 in Vienna, Austria; and in 1996 in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Although they lack the seats of important organizations, these adjunct offices aid in representing UN interests, support diplomatic efforts, and possess some extraterritorial privileges.

In addition, the United Nations Building New York made financial contributions for renovations and restorations as well as additional land contributions. 

3. How many countries are in the UN organization?

There are currently 193 members of the United Nations, up from the first 51 in 1945. 

4. Where does the United Nations meet?

A meeting of all UN members is held in the General Assembly of New York ‌each September. 

There are 6 official languages of the United Nations.

• Arabic
• English
• Chinese
• French
• Russian
• Spanish

General Assembly

The main organization that makes policies at the UN is its General Assembly. It is an important place where members of all countries discuss important international issues from the UN charters. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) also appoints the Secretary General with the approval of the Security Council. The provisional members of the Security Council are also elected by the UNGA. It also approves the UN budget. 

The number of United Nations permanent members is 5.

1. The UN big 5

The United Nations has 5 permanent members. It includes:

• China
• France
• Russia
• The United Kingdom
• The United States

These are also known as P5. 

2. How many United Nations countries?

There are 193 United Nations members.

3. UNGA 79th

New York is the city where the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) was held on Tuesday 24, September 2024. 

The UNGA president, Philemon Yang, took their responsibilities officially on September 10, 2024.  The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), established by General Assembly resolution 60/251, has 47 members elected by the General Assembly through a secret ballot. The basic purpose of these members is to represent the United Nations Human Rights Council. UNHRC mainly focuses on protecting human rights on a global level. 

Administrative and budget-related issues are resolved under the fifth committee, which is also a part of the General Assembly. It prepares the report related to the budget, and then the General Assembly further passes the report. The fifth committee of the General Assembly also gives recommendations about the approval of financial assent with special agencies.

The sixth committee of the United Nations deals with legal issues of the United Nations. It is the main committee of the General Assembly, so the members of the UN can also participate in it.

UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is an organization that is established to protect and promote human rights globally. The UN General Assembly established this organization in 2006.  

Security Council

The Security Council is also a part of the six main parts of the UN charter. It is responsible for maintaining peace and safety in the world. The United Nations Security Council meeting can be held at any time if there is a threat near the peace. It aims to maintain friendly relations among nations.

1. What does the United Nations Security Council do?

It deals with peace and security at the international level. 

There are 15 members of the UN Security Council, including:

• Five permanent 
• Ten non-permanent current members. The presidency of the UNSC rotates monthly among its members in alphabetical order. So, now Algeria is the current president of the UN Security Council

United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

The UNHRC member list has 47 countries and also a part of the UN is known as UNHRC. UNHRC member votes are decided by secret ballots. This group has to deal with human rights issues around the globe. UNHRC headquarters are established in Geneva, Switzerland. Sessions of the group members can be held at any time of the year. Mr. Jurg Lauber was elected as the President of the UN Human Rights Council chair for 2025. Volker Turk has a strong personality and is now the current UNHRC chairman. The Palestine refugees are under the observation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. UNHRC resolutions deal with the position of Council members on particular human rights issues and situations. For the protection of human rights, the UN has 2 organizations named OHCHR and UNHRC. ​The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) works to protect and promote human rights. Sri Lanka UNHRC works on human rights violations, harassment of civilians, and enforced disappearance. 

Economic and Social Council (New)

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the primary UN arm for economic and social-related work. It stimulates the economy, employment, and also social development. The United Nations budgets contributions by countries that are financially stable and can give money. The total UN regular budget was about $3.4 billion in 2023. It was about $3.59 billion for 2024. The Trusteeship Council oversees the administration of trust areas. 

Top 10 contributors to the UN budget

10 different countries financially support the different UN operations.

• The United States (22%)
• China (15%)
• Japan (8.5%)
• Germany (6%)
• The United Kingdom (6%)
• France (6%)
• Italy (4%)
• Canada (3%)
• South Korea (3%)
• Russia (2.5%)

All of the above-mentioned nations are the main donors to the UN’s regular budget. 

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a worldwide court that maintains disputes among nations. It is one of the six main parts of the UN organization. 

1. What is the International Court of Justice?

The ICJ advises on international matters. It deals with the case if countries agree. Genocide is a serious crime that the International Court of Justice addresses. 

In cases before the ICJ, parties may dispute the court’s jurisdiction. However, the ICJ will assert its jurisdiction as necessary and may require parties to file memorials on the merits of the case. This process ensures that the court can fully consider the legal issues at hand.

2. Where is the International Court of Justice located​?

The Hague, Netherlands, which is the main location of ICJ. 

The statute of the International Court of Justice represents ‌judges who are elected beyond their nationalities. 

The year 2024 came to a dramatic close in terms of global awareness of climate change. Key parties gathered once more at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearing in The Hague for much anticipated proceedings on states’ responsibilities regarding climate change, just one week after the conclusion of the UN Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan.

South Africa v. Israel is a case that relates to the genocide against Palestine in Gaza. On 31 July 2024, the ICJ had to deal with 23 cases, of which 21 were country-related and 2 were advisory proceedings. 15 judges of the International Court of Justice are serving for the past nine-year term. 

The General Assembly and Security Council of the United Nations pick the judges. Judge Julia Sebutinde of Uganda is the current vice president of the International Court of Justice, while Judge Nawaf Salam of Lebanon serves as its president. 

Back on January 31, 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that Russia did not follow its commitments under the Terrorism Financing Convention. However, it rejected many of Ukraine’s claims for lack of proof. 

The United Nations has two judicial bodies: the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). While the ICJ resolves international conflicts, the ICC brings criminal charges against people for crimes such as war crimes and genocide. 

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel’s occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) to be unlawful on July 19, 2024. Additionally, the ICJ determined that Israel’s actions and policies in the OPT are illegal under international law. 

Ukraine has brought claims against Russia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Hague is home to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

UN Secretariat 

The United Nations Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and thousands of UN employees. The Chief Administrative Officer of the United Nations is the Secretary-General. 

The bases of UN headquarters are in the Turtle Bay area of New York City. In addition, the UN Secretariat built their offices in Vienna, Nairobi, Geneva, and other places. 

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) established the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) to maintain Singapore’s national and international climate change policies and strategies on July 1, 2010.

UN secretariat entities

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UN General Assembly make it easy to implement their decisions, assisted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).  

The Undersecretary-General is responsible for all departmental operations and administration. Concerning the Department’s operations and in intergovernmental and specialist organizations as needed, the Under-Secretary-General also symbolizes the Secretary-General in meetings.

By offering a comprehensive, integrated global management strategy and policy framework as well as by bolstering monitoring, evaluation, and accountability systems, the UN Department of Management Strategy, Policy, and Compliance (DMSPC) is in charge of providing policy leadership in all management domains.

All UN Secretariat entities receive operational support from the Department of Operational Support (DOS), which includes consultative, operational, and transactional support services. When necessary, the DOS also performs delegated authority on behalf of clients.

Eight new regional divisions are now jointly managed by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), each of which is in charge of a combination of non-mission settings, special political missions, and peacekeeping operations.

UN Agencies (New)

UN agencies work together to tackle different global problems and support economic and social development. 

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): This organization deals with the most effective policies and programs, to end hunger, improve food security, promote sustainable agriculture, and help governments and partners
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): The responsibility of this organization to maintain the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevent nuclear energy from being utilized for any form of military application
• The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): It provides  low-interest loans and awards and has goals to improve and invest in the lives of rural people across the globe
• The United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO): It works tirelessly on labor standards and social justice
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU): It handles lots of matters related to information and communication technology
• The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea manages the workings of countries and how they utilize the ocean.
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO): It oversees the verification regime of the treaty. It is an international organization whose headquarters reside in Vienna, Austria.
• The objective of a UN-specialized agency is to foster international peace and security. It is known as the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Corporation.
• the United Nations Industrial Development Organization is another United Nations specialized agency that helps nations with their industrial and economic development
• A global financial institution, the World Bank grants and lends to governments of low- and middle-income nations to spur economic development
• International public health comes under the domain of the World Health Organization, a specialized United Nations agency. There are 15 field offices and six regional offices of this organization around the world. UN has its base in Geneva, Switzerland
• The World Intellectual Property Organization is one of the best agencies of the UN. 
• The World Meteorological Organization is the main UN organization. This organization deals with promoting international cooperation in atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology, and geophysics.