Guide to the United Nations
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History

Born from the ashes of the League of Nations, the United Nations has since served as the world’s primary forum for international collaboration between countries. Beginning in 1944, a group of Allied Nations – lead by the US, Britain, the USSR, and China – met in Washington to discuss a blueprint for ensuring lasting peace.

The work done in 1944 formed the basis for the UN Charter, which was drafted by 50 countries and a number of NGOs during the UN Conference on International Organization in the spring of 1945. Later that year, on October 24th, the UN Charter was ratified.

Since then, the UN has grown to 193 member states, 15 specialized agencies, roughly 29 programmes, dozens of active negotiations, and over 60,000 employees.

Structure

The United Nations is made up of five principle organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Secretariat, and the International Court of Justice.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the UN’s primary deliberative organ. It is the only UN body which includes representatives of all member countries, each of which has one vote. The General Assembly has a number of important functions, including:

  • To discuss and recommend action on any question within the UN Charter
  • To commission studies that promote the general welfare
  • To recommend peaceful settlement of any international situation
  • To consider reports from all United Nations organs and agencies
  • To consider and approve the United Nations budget
  • To elect non-permanent members of the Security Council
  • To elect members of the Economic and Social Council
  • To elect, with the Security Council, Judges of the International Court
  • To appoint the Secretary-General, as recommended by the Security Council

The work of the United Nations stems largely from the decisions taken by the General Assembly. This work is carried out by committees, international conferences, and the UN Secretariat.

Decisions taken by the Assembly have no legally binding force over governments, but they do represent the will of the world community and provide a strong moral framework for action.

Security Council

The Security Council has final authority on issues related to international peace and security, as outlined in the UN Charter. It consists of 15 members, 5 of which are permanent – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The remaining members are elected for 2-year terms by the General assembly.

Each member on the Security Council has one vote, but veto power is reserved for the 5 permanent members. A decision taken by the Council requires at least 9 affirmative votes to pass.

The Security Council is one of the few institutions within the UN to wield ‘hard-power’. Under article 25 of the Charter, all members of the United Nations are bound to accept and implement any decisions made by the Security Council. It most commonly uses sanctions as an instrument to enforce decisions. The Security Council is also responsible for recommending the admission of new members to the United Nations.

Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council is the primary body responsible for coordinating all the economic, social and related work of the of the United Nations. The council has 54 members, each serving for 3-year terms. Voting is by simple majority.

The day-to-day activities of ECOSOC are carried out by eight functional commissions, five regional commissions, three standing committies, a number of expert bodies, and a number of forums. ECOSOC also coordinates its activities with the UN programmes and specialized agencies, each of which report to the council.

The Economic and Social Council is unique in that the UN Charter allows the Council to consult with non-governmental organizations regarding “matters within its competence.” As a result, ECOSOC has a very active civil society, with roughly 3,000 NGOs granted consultative status.

Secretariat

The United Nations Secretariat is comprised roughly 16,000 core international staff working in duty stations around the world. These civil servants carry out the day-to-day work of the UN system, administering a wide variety of programmes and policies.

The work undertaken by the Secretariat ranges from the administration of peacekeeping operations, to producing studies on social and economic trends, to helping NGO’s book meeting space at international negotiations. As international civil servants staff members report only to the UN as a whole and take an oath not to seek or receive instructions from any government.

The Secretariat is lead by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and is headquartered in New York City.

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice is located in the Netherlands at The Hague. It is the principal judicial organ of the UN. It is largely a responsive agency, settling legal disputes between states and offering advisory openings to the UN and its agencies upon request.

The Court consists of 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council. They serve for nine year terms and can be re-elected. Care is taken to ensure all the principal legal systems of the world are represented. No two judges may be from the same country.

Though similar in name and location, the International Criminal Court is a separate entity within the UN and is focused on prosecuting cases of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Trusteeship Council

Established by the UN Charter in 1945, the Trusteeship Council is the only primary organ of the UN no longer operating. Its purpose was to supervise and assist in the administration of “Trust Territories.” These consisted of former mandates of the League of Nations and territories taken from defeated nations following WWII.

The Trusteeship Council technically still exists, but suspended activity in 1994 following the last of the Trust Territories gaining independence. It currently consists of the five permanent members of the Security Council and meets on an as-needed basis.

There has been some speculation of future mandates for the Trusteeship Council, including assisting in the governance and administration of the global commons. More recently it has been suggested the Council simply be eliminated, though this could be problematic since it would require reopening the UN Charter for revision. As such, it will likely remain a dormant organ of the UN.

Active Negotiations of Note

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Acronyms

AAU – Assigned Amount Unit

AF – Adaptation Fund

AFOLU – Agriculture, Forestry and other Land-Use

AG13 – Ad Hoc Group on Article 13

AGBM – Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate

AHTEC – Ad-Hoc Technical Expert Group

AIJ – Activities Implemented Jointly

AIP – Annex I Parties

AOSIS – Alliance of Small Island States

AR4 – IPCC Fourth Assessment Report

Art. – Article

AWG – Ad Hoc Working Group

AWG-LCA – Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action

AWG-KP – Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol

BAPA – Buenos Aires Plan of Action

BINGO – Business and Industry Non-Governmental Organizations

BTU – British Thermal Unit

C2F6 – Tetrafluoroethane

CACAM – Central Asia, Caucasus, Albania and Moldova

CAN – Climate Action Network

CBD – Convention on Biological Diversity

CCS – Carbon Capture and Storage/Sequestration

CDI – Capacity Development Initiative

CDM – Clean Development Mechanism

CDM EB – CDM Executive Board

CEB – United Nations Chief Executives Board for Coordination

CEE – Central and Eastern Europe

CEO – Chief Executive Officer

CER – Certified Emission Reduction

CF4 – Carbon Tetrafluoride

CFC – Chlorofluorocarbon

CG11 – Central Group 11

CGE – Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Non-Annex I Parties

CH4 – Methane

CMP – Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol

CMS – Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

CO – Carbon Monoxide

CO2 – Carbon Dioxide

COP – Conference Of the Parties

COP/MOP – Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties

COW – Committee of the Whole

CPF – Collaborative Partnership on Forests

CRF – Common reporting format

CTBTO – Preparatory Committee for the Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
DAC – Development Assistance Committee

DESA – Department of Economic and Social Affairs
DGACM – Department for General Assembly and Conference Management
DM – Department of Management
DPA – Department of Political Affairs
DPI – Department of Public Information
DPKO – Department of Peacekeeping Operations
DFS – Department of Field Support
DSS – Department of Safety and Security
EA – Enabling Activity

EC – European Community

ECA – Economic Commission for Africa
ECE – Economic Commission for Europe
ECLAC – Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
ECOSOC – Economic and Social Council

EGTT – Expert Group on Technology Transfer

EIG – Environmental Integrity Group

EIT – Economy in transition

ENB – Earth Negotiations Bulletin

ENGO – Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations

EOSG – Executive Office of the Secretary-General
ERU – Emission reduction unit

ESCAP – Economic and Social Commission for Asian and the Pacific
ESCWA – Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
EU – European Union

FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FAR – IPCC First Assessment Report

FCCC – Framework Convention on Climate Change

FSP – Full-Size Project

G77 – Group of 77

GA – General Assembly

GATT – General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

GCOS – Global Climate Observing System

GEF – Global Environment Facility

GEO – Ad hoc Group on Earth Observations

GEOSS – Global Earth Observation System of Systems

GET – Global Environment Trust Fund

GHG – Greenhouse gas

GOOS – Global Ocean Observing System

GRULAC – Group of Latin America and Caribbean States

GTOS – Global Terrestrial Observing System

GTZ – German Technical Cooperation Agency

GWP – Global Warming Potential

HCFC – Hydrochlorofluorocarbon

HFC – Hydrofluorocarbon

HWP – Harvested Wood Products

IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency

IBRD – International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank Group)
ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organization

ICCP – International Climate Change Partnership

ICJ – International Court of Justice

ICLEI – International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives

ICRC – International Committee of the Red Cross
ICSID – International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (World Bank Group)
ICSU – International Council of Scientific Unions

IDA – International Development Association (World Bank Group)
IEA – International Energy Agency

IFAD – International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC – International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group)
IGBP – International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme

IGO – Intergovernmental Organization

IHDP – International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change

ILO – Internaitonal Labour Organization
IMF – International Monetary Fund

IMO – International Maritime Organization
INC – Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
IOC – Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IPO – Indigenous peoples organizations

ITC – International Trade Centre
ITU – International Telecommunication Union
ISSC – International Social Science Council

IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature

JI – Joint Implementation

JLG – Joint Liaison Group

JUSCANZ or JUSSCANNZ – Japan, United States, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Norway and New Zealand
JWG – Joint Working Group

LDC – Least developed country
LDCF – Least Developed Countries Fund

LEG – Least Developed Countries Expert Group

LGMA – Local Government and Municipal Authorities

LUCF – Land Use Change and Forestry

LULUCF – Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry

MIGA – Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (World Bank Group)
MOI – Means of Implementation

MOU – Memorandum of Understanding

MRV – Measurable, Reportable, Verifiable

MSC – Military Staff Committee
MSP – Medium-sized project

N2O – Nitrous oxide

NAIP – Non-Annex I Parties

NAPA – National Adaptation Programme of Action

NCCSAP – Netherlands Climate Change Studies Assistance Programme

NCSA – National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment

NCSP – National Communications Support Programme

NGLS – Non-Governmental Liaison Service
NGO – Non-Governmental Organization

NIR – National Inventory Report

NMVOC – Non-methane volatile organic compound

N.N. – Not Named

NOx – Nitrogen oxides

OCHA – Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
ODA – Official development assistance

OECD – Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

OHCHR – Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
OIOS – Office of Internal Oversight Services
OLA – Office of Legal Affairs
OP – Operational programme

OPCW – Office for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

PDF – Project Preparation and Development Facility

PFC – Perfluorocarbon

PFII – Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
POP – Persistent Organic Pollutant

QA – Quality Assurance

QC – Quality Control

QELRO – Quantified Emission Limitation Reduction Objective

QERO – Quantified Emissions Reduction Obligation

RDB – Regional Development Bank

RINGO – Research oriented and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations

RMU – Removal unit

SAR – IPCC Second Assessment Report

SB – Subsidiary Body

SBI – Subsidiary Body for Implementation

SBSTA – Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice

SBSTTA – Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice

SCCF – Special Climate Change Fund

SDPAMs – Sustainable Development Policies and Measures

SDR – Special Drawing Rights

SF6 – Sulphur Hexafluoride

SGP – Small Grants Programme

SIDS – Small Island Developing States

SOx – Sulphur oxides

STRM – Short-term response measures

TAR – IPCC Third Assessment Report

TEAP – Technology and Economic Assessment Panel

TT:CLEAR – Technology Transfer Information Clearing House

UN – United Nations

UNAIDS – Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
UNCCD – United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

UNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

UNDP – United Nations Development Programme

UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme

UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UNFCCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

UNFIP – United Nations Fund for International Partnerships
UNFF – United Nations Forum on Forests
UNFPA – United Nations Population Fund

UNGA – United Nations General Assembly

UN-HABITAT – United Nations Human Settlements Programme
UNHCR – Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund
UNICRI – United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute
UNIDIR – United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
UNIDO – United Nations Industrial Development Organization

UNIFEM – United Nations Development Fund for Women
UN-INSTRAW – United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women
UNITAR – United Nations Institute for Training and Research

UNMOVIC – United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission
UNODA – United Nations OFfice for DIsarmament Affairs
UNU – United Nations University

UNODC – United Nations OFfice on Drugs and Crime
UNOG – United Nations Office at Geneva
UN-OHRLLS – Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small ISland Developing States
UNON – United Nations Office at Nairobi
UNOPS – United Nations Office for Project Services
UNOV – United Nationa Office at Vienna
UNOWA – Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa
UNRISD – United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
UNRWA – United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
UNSC – United Nations Security Council
UNSG – United Nations Secretary General
UNSSC – United Nations System Staff College
UNU – United Nations University
UN Women – United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
UNV – United Nations Volunteers
UNWTO – United Nations World Tourism Organization
UPO – United Nations Postal Union
URF – Uniform Reporting Format

USCSP – U.S. Country Studies Program

WCC – World Climate Conference

WCRP – World Climate Research Programme

WEOG – Western European and Others Group

WFP – World Food Programme
WHO – World Health Organization
WIPO – World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO – World Meteorological Organization
WSSD – World Summit on Sustainable Development
WTO – World Trade Organization

YOUNGO – Youth Non-Governmental Organization

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