THE ESSENTIAL
THE ESSENTIAL
UN
Everything you always wanted to know about the United Nations – in one book! This primer to the United Nations is designed for all global citizens. It covers the history of the UN, what it does and how it does it. As the world’s only truly global organization, the United Nations is where countries meet to address universal issues that cannot be resolved by any one of them acting alone. From international peace and security to sustainable development, climate change, human rights, and humanitarian action, the United Nations acts on our behalf around the world.
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FOR EXAMPLE, DID YOU KNOW THAT: • There are over 65 million people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes. That is more than at any other time since the Second World War. • The UN fights extreme poverty, helping over a billion people with their basic needs in the world every year. • The United Nations has helped broker over 170 peace settlements since its creation • The UN helps 30 million women survive pregnancy and childbirth each year.
THE ESSENTIAL
ISBN 978-92-1-101372-6
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E H T L A I T N E N S U S E
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The Essential UN Published by the United Nations New York, New York 10017, United States of America Copyright Š 2018 United Nations All rights reserved All queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to: United Nations Publications 300 East 42nd Street New York, New York 10017 United States of America E-mail: publications@un.org; website: http://shop.un.org Requests to reproduce excerpts should be addressed to: permissions@un.org ISBN: 9789211013726 eISBN: 9789213626993(PDF) ePUB: 9789213582121 United Nations Publication Sales No. 17.I.10 Design and layout Outreach Division Department of Public Information United Nations, New York
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1. An introduction to the United Nations . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Quick facts about the United Nations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The idea of a peaceful world community . . . . . . . . . . . . The League of Nations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creation of the United Nations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What is the United Nations? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A forum for countries, not a world government . . . . . . . Guiding principles of the United Nations . . . . . . . . . . . . Emblem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Structure of the Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . United Nations Headquarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Membership and budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Good value for money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Becoming a Member State of the United Nations . . . . . . . Permanent Observer States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Official languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 9 9 9 10 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 18 21 21 21 22
Chapter 2. The United Nations family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Quick facts about the United Nations family . . . . . . . . . . . . Principal organs of the United Nations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . Trusteeship Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . International Court of Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretariat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The United Nations: a family of specialized entities . . . . . . . . Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Funds and programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Research and training institutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Messengers of Peace and Goodwill Ambassadors . . . . . . . .
24 25 25 27 29 30 31 33 39 39 41 43 44 45 46
Chapter 3. Economic and social development . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Quick facts on economic and social development . . . . . . . . . Development: a priority for the United Nations . . . . . . . . . . . Poverty and development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Globalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . United Nations action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sustainable Development Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The 17 goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Development for today and tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sustainable development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linking environment and development . . . . . . . . . . . .
48 49 49 49 51 52 53 59 59 61
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Chapter 4. international peace and security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Quick facts on international peace and security . . . . . . . . . . Poverty causes conflict, which results in poverty . . . . . . . . . How do we break the cycle? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Local consequences of a conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The cost of conflict is felt throughout a region . . . . . . . . The United Nations: created to keep peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preventing conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What happens when a country ignores the decisions of the Security Council? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peacekeeping and peacebuilding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commanding the peacekeeping operations . . . . . . . . . . There when the world needs them . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A cost-effective solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financing the United Nations peacekeeping missions . . . . The first United Nations peacekeeping operation . . . . . . Three examples of peacekeeping operations . . . . . . . . . Creating a sustainable environment for peace . . . . . . . . . . . Do we need the United Nations to work for peace? . . . . . . Peacemaking, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, and nation building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Children and armed conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A global counter-terrorism strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Disarmament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The impact of armed violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Controlling small arms and light weapons . . . . . . . . . . Ensuring world safety by reducing nuclear weapons . . . . Disarmament is an urgent global need . . . . . . . . . . . . . Some United Nations actions for disarmament . . . . . . . . Battling cluster munitions and landmines . . . . . . . . . . . The Nobel Peace Prize and the United Nations . . . . . . . . . . .
68 69 69 69 69 70 71 71 72 72 74 74 76 76 76 77 78 78 79 80 82 84 84 85 86 87 87 87 89
Chapter 5. Human rights and the rule of law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Quick facts ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Human rights: what are they? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Characteristics of human rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The United Nations and human rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Universal Declaration of Human Rights . . . . . . . . . . Human rights law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other International Human Rights Instruments . . . . . . . Who is responsible for human rights at the United Nations? The Right to development for all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Development as a right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Declaration on the Right to Development . . . . . . . . . . . A framework to promote all human rights . . . . . . . . . . . Rule of law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92 93 93 94 95 95 95 96 97 101 101 101 102 103
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Children too have rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Providing legal protection for children . . . . . . . . . . . . . Children’s rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The United Nations and children’s rights . . . . . . . . . . .
115 115 116 118
Chapter 6. Humanitarian crises and responses . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Quick facts about humanitarian crises and responses . . . . . . Emergencies that affect people around the world . . . . . . . . . Different types of disasters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recent disaster trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The impact of disasters: key humanitarian needs and risk management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coordination of emergency assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . Inter-agency coordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Who are the humanitarian workers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . United Nations agencies in the field: who is on the ground? . . . Immediate emergency response: saving more lives . . . . . Long-term emergency response: getting people back on their feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emergency preparedness and prevention . . . . . . . . . . .
124 125 125 126 127 128 128 129 130 130 134 136
Additional information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Frequently asked questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . United Nations observances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The United Nations System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Flags of the Member States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
141 145 150 153 158
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1 ter p a Ch
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ON I T C U D NS O O I R T AT N I N AN ITED UN E TH
QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS The United Nations was initially conceived as a wartime alliance on 1 January 1942, and established as an international organization on 24 October 1945. To commemorate the creation of the United Nations, the world celebrates United Nations Day each year on 24 October. The United Nations has four purposes: (1) to maintain international peace and security; (2) to develop friendly relations among nations; (3) to cooperate in solving international problems and promoting respect for human rights; and (4) to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. More than 30 affiliated organizations cooperate in this effort. They are known together as the United Nations system, and all have their own specific areas of work. The United Nations is not a world government. However, it does provide the means to help resolve international conflicts and formulate policies on matters affecting all of us. The United Nations is a forum where all countries meet to discuss, elaborate and extend international law in areas such as human rights, international trade, the sea, and the fight against terrorism. At the United Nations, all the Member States—large and small, rich and poor, with differing political views and social systems—have a voice and a vote in making decisions in the General Assembly. The United Nations System works to promote respect for human rights, reduce poverty, fight disease and protect the environment. The United Nations leads international campaigns against drug trafficking and terrorism, as well as to eliminate violence against women and to protect natural ecosystems. The United Nations and its agencies undertake a myriad of projects throughout the world, including assisting refugees; fighting AIDS and malaria; expanding food production; protecting labour; supporting education for all, and providing help after natural disasters and armed conflicts.
HISTORY The idea of a peaceful world community Although the United Nations came into being during the Second World War (1939–1945), the ideal of a community of nations living in peace was conceived much earlier. In 1795, the German philosopher Immanuel Kant developed the idea of perpetual peace, a doctrine based on what we now call the rule of law. He advocated that nations establish a peaceful world community, not through a global government, but with each country becoming a free State respectful of its citizens and foreign visitors, thus promoting a peaceful society worldwide. With this idea, Kant not only influenced philosophical and political thinking, he also sparked the development of international law and the creation of institutions such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (established in 1889, a forerunner to the League of Nations and, today, a Permanent Observer at the United Nations). His influence is likewise clearly visible in the “Fourteen Points” speech given by American President Woodrow Wilson to the United States Congress on 8 January 1918, which included the first mention of the League of Nations.
The League of Nations The League of Nations was set up in 1919, following the First World War. It was officially established when 44 countries signed the Covenant of the League of Nations, the first part of the Treaty of Versailles. The main objective of the League of Nations was to keep world peace by promoting disarmament, preventing war through collective security, settling disputes between countries through negotiation and diplomacy and improving global welfare. However, the League had certain fundamental weaknesses. If States involved in a dispute chose to ignore the League’s decisions, the League could introduce economic sanctions; since it did not have a military force, it had no way of enforcing those decisions. In addition, not all countries were members of the League of Nations. The United States, for example, was never a member, despite President Wilson’s efforts and involvement in the League’s creation. Other States that had joined later quit, and the League often failed to take action when necessary. Despite these weaknesses, the League of Nations was able to resolve some disputes and stop some local wars. It successfully intervened in the dispute between Sweden and Finland over the Aaland Islands (1921) and stopped Greece’s invasion of Bulgaria (1925). However, it was ineffective in preventing or stopping powerful nations from fighting. When Italy invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1935, the League condemned the act of aggression and imposed sanctions, but
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the sanctions had no impact. Moreover, the League was powerless in the face of events leading up to the Second World War. Though it did not succeed, the League of Nations initiated the dream of a universal organization. Its successor was the United Nations, which inherited the assets and property of the dissolved League, worth approximately $22 million in 1946, including the Palais des Nations in Geneva (Switzerland) and the League’s archives.
Creation of the United Nations The idea of the United Nations was born during the Second World War. Allied world leaders who had collaborated to end the war felt a strong need for a mechanism that would help bring peace and stop future wars. They realized that this was possible only if all nations worked together through a global organization. The United Nations was to be that organization.
Declaration of St. James’s Palace In June 1941, London was the home of nine exiled governments. The resilient British capital had already endured months of war, and in the bomb-marked city, air-raid sirens wailed all too frequently. Practically all of Europe had fallen to the Axis Powers, and ships on the Atlantic carrying vital supplies sank with grim regularity. But in London itself, and among the Allied governments and peoples, faith in the ultimate victory remained unshaken. On 12 June 1941, representatives of Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa; the exiled governments of Belgium, The League of Nations at its opening session in Geneva. UN PHOTO/JULLIEN
CHAPTER 1. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Yugoslavia; and General de Gaulle, leader of the Free French, met at the ancient St. James’s Palace and signed a declaration, which states: “The only true basis of enduring peace is the willing cooperation of free peoples in a world in which, relieved of the menace of aggression, all may enjoy economic and social security; It is our intention to work together, and with other free peoples, both in war and peace, to this end.” Declaration of St. James’s Palace
The Atlantic Charter Two months later, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met somewhere at sea—the same sea on which the desperate Battle of the Atlantic was being fought—and on 14 August 1941, issued a joint declaration known in history as the Atlantic Charter. In eight main points, the Atlantic Charter outlined a vision for a post-war settlement: No territorial gains were to be sought by the United States or the United Kingdom. Territorial adjustments must be in accord with the wishes of the peoples concerned. All peoples had a right to self-determination. Trade barriers were to be lowered. There was to be global economic cooperation and advancement of social welfare. Participants would work for a world free of want and fear. Participants would work for freedom of the seas. There was to be disarmament of aggressor nations and a post-war common disarmament.
DID YOU KNOW
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Nobody ever signed the Atlantic Charter No signed version of the Atlantic Charter ever existed. It took several drafts before the British War Cabinet and Washington telegraphed each other the final agreed-upon text. At a press conference in December 1944, United States President Roosevelt admitted that “nobody signed the Atlantic Charter.” In British Prime Minister Churchill’s account of the Yalta Conference, he quotes Roosevelt as saying, of the unwritten British constitution, “it was like the Atlantic Charter—the document did not exist, yet all the world knew about it.”
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It should be noted that the document emphasized that both “victor [and] vanquished” would be given market access “on equal terms”. This was a direct refusal to weaken the defeated nations’ economies with punitive sanctions, like those that had been imposed on Germany after the First World War and that are believed to have been partially responsible for igniting the Second World War. At the subsequent meeting of the Inter-Allied Council in St. James’ Palace in London on 24 September 1941, the governments of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and representatives of General de Gaulle unanimously adopted adherence to the common principles of policy set forth in the Atlantic Charter.
Declaration by United Nations On New Year’s Day 1942, representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and China signed a short document known as the Declaration by United Nations. The next day, representatives of 22 other nations added their signatures. This important document pledged the signatory governments to the maximum war effort and bound them against making a separate peace. Three years later, when preparations were being made for the San Francisco Conference, only those States that had declared war on the Axis powers and subscribed to the Declaration by United Nations by March 1945 were invited to take part. Signing of the Declaration by United Nations (1 January 1942). UN PHOTO
CHAPTER 1. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Moscow and Tehran conferences By 1943, the Allies were committed to creating a world in which people “in all lands may live out their lives in freedom from fear and want.” But the basis for a world organization had yet to be defined. On 30 October 1943, Vyacheslav Molotov, Anthony Eden and Cordell Hull—foreign ministers of, respectively, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States—together with Foo Ping Shen, the Chinese Ambassador to the Soviet Union, signed the Moscow Declaration, which “recognizes the necessity of establishing at the earliest practicable date a general international organization, based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all peace-loving States, and open to membership by all such States, large and small, for the maintenance of international peace and security.” In December 1943, the American, British and Soviet leaders, Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin, met in Tehran, the capital of Iran, and declared that they had worked out concerted plans for final victory.
Dumbarton Oaks and Yalta The principles of the world organization-to-be were thus laid down. The structure was discussed at a business-like conference at Dumbarton Oaks (Washington, D.C.) in the autumn of 1944 by representatives of China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the United States. On 7 October 1944, the four powers submitted a proposal for the framework of the world organization to all the United Nations governments and to the peoples of all countries for their study and discussion. According to the Dumbarton Oaks proposals, four main bodies were to constitute the organization to be known as the United Nations: A General Assembly composed of all the members, with an Economic and Social Council working under its authority. A Security Council of 11 members, five permanent and six chosen from the remaining members by the General Assembly to hold office for two years. An International Court of Justice. A permanent Secretariat. The essence of the plan was that the Security Council would be responsible for preventing future wars. The General Assembly would study, discuss and make recommendations in order to promote international cooperation and adjust situations likely to impair welfare. It would consider problems of cooperation in maintaining peace, security and disarmament. However, it would not make recommendations on any matter being considered by the Security Council. Another important feature of the Dumbarton Oaks plan was that Member States were to place armed forces at the disposal of the Security Council in its task of preventing war and suppressing acts of aggression. The absence of
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M O R E I N FO
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We can build a better world “The Charter of the United Nations which you have just signed is a solid structure upon which we can build a better world. History will honour you for it. Between the victory in Europe and the final victory, in this most destructive of all wars, you have won a victory against war itself. […] With this Charter the world can begin to look forward to the time when all worthy human beings may be permitted to live decently as free people. “If we fail to use it, we shall betray all those who have died so that we might meet here in freedom and safety to create it. If we seek to use it selfishly—for the advantage of any one nation or any small group of nations—we shall be equally guilty of that betrayal.” Harry S. Truman President of the United States of America, at the San Francisco Conference
such force, the organizers generally agreed, had been a fatal weakness in the League of Nations machinery for preserving peace. The actual method of voting in the Security Council—an all-important question—was left open at Dumbarton Oaks for future discussion. It was taken up at Yalta (Crimea), where Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin, together with their foreign ministers and chiefs of staff, again met in conference. On 11 February 1945, they announced that this question had been resolved and summoned the San Francisco Conference.
The San Francisco Conference: towards world peace In the spring of 1945, delegates from 50 nations gathered in San Francisco. Together, they were representing over 80 per cent of the world’s population and were determined to set up an organization that would preserve peace and help build a better world.
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The term “United Nations” was first used by an American president The name “United Nations” was suggested by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was first officially used in 1942, when representatives of 26 countries signed the Declaration by United Nations. As a tribute to President Roosevelt, who died a few weeks before the signing of the Charter, all those present at the San Francisco Conference agreed to adopt the name “United Nations”.
CHAPTER 1. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
The main objective of the San Francisco Conference was to produce a document acceptable to all countries that would guide the work of the new organization. The Charter, the guiding principles of the United Nations, was signed on 26 June 1945, by the representatives of these 50 countries. Poland was not represented at the Conference, because at that time, the country did not yet have a new government in place. However, Poland signed the Charter by 15 October 1945 and is therefore considered one of the original Members of the United Nations. The 51 original Members States were (in alphabetical order, using the names of the countries as they were known in October 1945): 1. Argentina 2. Australia 3. Belgium 4. Bolivia 5. Brazil 6. Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic 7. Canada 8. Chile 9. China 10. Colombia 11. Costa Rica 12. Cuba 13. Czechoslovakia 14. Denmark 15. Dominican Republic 16. Ecuador 17. Egypt
18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
El Salvador Ethiopia France Greece Guatemala Haiti Honduras India Iran Iraq Lebanon Liberia Luxembourg Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Norway
36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.
Panama Paraguay Peru Philippine Republic Poland Saudi Arabia Syria Turkey Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Union of South Africa Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) United Kingdom (UK) United States of America (USA) Uruguay Venezuela Yugoslavia
After the represented countries, including the five permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, USA, UK and USSR), signed the Charter of the United Nations and officially recognized it, the United Nations came into being on 24 October 1945.
WHAT IS THE UNITED NATIONS? The United Nations is a unique organization composed of independent countries that have come together to work for world peace and social progress. The Organization formally came into existence with just 51 countries. By 2017, the membership of the United Nations had grown to 193 countries.
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Since its inception, no country has ever been expelled from the United Nations. Indonesia temporarily quit the Organization in 1965 over a dispute with neighbouring Malaysia but returned the following year.
A forum for countries, not a world government Governments represent countries and peoples. The United Nations represents neither a particular government nor any one nation. It represents all its Members and does only what the Member States decide that it should do.
Guiding principles of the United Nations The Charter of the United Nations is the founding document guiding all of its undertakings. It is a set of guidelines that explains the rights and duties of each Member State and what needs to be done to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. When a nation becomes a Member of the United Nations, it accepts the aims and rules of the Charter.
The road to the United Nations
FO C U S O N
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28 June 1919 |
Creation of the League of Nations
3 September 1939 |
Poland invaded: Britain and France declare war on German Reich
7 December 1941 |
Attack on Pearl Harbour: the United States of America joins the Allies
12 June 1941 | 14 August 1941 | 1-2 January 1942 | October-December 1943 | Summer/autumn 1944 | 11 February 1945 | 8 May 1945 | 26 June 1945 |
Declaration of St. James’s Palace Adoption of the Atlantic Charter Declaration by United Nations Moscow and Tehran Conferences Dumbarton Oaks proposals Yalta Conference Allied victory in Europe proclaimed Adoption of the Charter of the United Nations at San Francisco Conference
24 October 1945 |
Creation of the United Nations
10 January 1946 |
First session of the United Nations General Assembly in London with representatives of 51 nations
The United Nations flag. UN PHOTO/JOHN ISAAC
Emblem The original emblem was designed for the San Francisco Conference. After slight modifications, it was approved on 7 December 1946, as the emblem of the United Nations. The design is a map of the world surrounded by a wreath consisting of crossed olive branches. The world map is centred on the North Pole and extends to 60 degrees south latitude: this projection allows for all countries to be displayed with none at the centre, representing the equality of all nations. The olive branches symbolize peace. The original colours were gold on a field of smoke-blue with all water areas in white.
Flag The official flag of the United Nations was adopted on 20 October 1947. It consists of the official emblem of the United Nations in white on a blue background. The emblem is one half the height of the flag and entirely centred.
DID YOU KNOW
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The United Nations has four main purposes To keep peace throughout the world. To develop friendly relations among nations. To improve the lives of poor people, to eradicate hunger, disease and illiteracy and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms. To be a centre for helping nations achieve these goals.
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STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION The work of the United Nations is carried out almost all over the world by six principal organs: General Assembly Security Council Economic and Social Council Trusteeship Council International Court of Justice Secretariat All these organs are based at United Nations Headquarters in New York, except for the International Court of Justice, which is located at The Hague, Netherlands. There are 15 specialized agencies that coordinate their work with the United Nations. In addition, there are 24 United Nations programmes, funds, institutes and other bodies with responsibilities in specific fields. All in all, the United Nations family of organizations focuses on areas as diverse as health, food and agriculture, telecommunications, tourism, labour, postal services, the environment, civil aviation, children, atomic energy, cultural preservation, science, refugees, intellectual property, gender equality, drugs, crime and terrorism, human settlements, maritime transport and weather. All these various bodies work together with the United Nations Secretariat and compose the United Nations System.
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS The United Nations Headquarters in New York is an international zone. This means that the land on which the United Nations sits does not belong to just the United States, the host country, but to all the Members. The United Nations has its own flag and its own security officers who guard the area. It also has its own post office and issues its own stamps. United Nations stamps can be used only from United Nations Headquarters or from United Nations offices at Geneva and Vienna. The compound has its own bookshop, which specializes in UN affairs and related topics.
MEMBERSHIP AND BUDGET The United Nations has three distinct budget lines: The regular budget, for core functions at Headquarters in New York, major regional offices at Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna, and a range of field offices in different continents.
The United Nations Headquarters in New York today. UN PHOTO
The peacekeeping budget, to cover the cost of peacekeeping operations, often in war-torn zones, around the world. The budget for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, situated in Arusha, Tanzania, and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, situated in The Hague, Netherlands.
DID YOU KNOW
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An iconic building At its first meeting in London in 1946, the United Nations General Assembly decided to locate the United Nations Headquarters in the United States. Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, etc. were all considered to host the United Nations Headquarters. What eventually persuaded the General Assembly to settle on the present site was a lastminute gift of $8.5 million from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Later, New York City offered additional property as a gift. In the mid-1940s, the site chosen for the United Nations Headquarters was a rather derelict zone of slaughterhouses, a railroad garage and other commercial buildings. On 24 October 1949, United Nations Secretary-General Trygve Lie laid the cornerstone of the 39-storey building. On 21 August 1950, the Secretariat’s staff began moving into their new offices. The United Nations Headquarters buildings in New York were designed by an international team of 11 architects, including Oscar Niemeyer (Brazil) and Le Corbusier (Switzerland/France).
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Payment to the United Nations for all types of budgets is compulsory. Members pay according to an agreed-upon scale of assessment. This scale, reviewed every three years, is based on a country’s ability to pay, national income and population. The specialized organizations that form part of the United Nations System have budgets separate from the four United Nations budgets described above. The bulk of their resources emanate from voluntary contributions by governments, individuals and institutions.
Largest contributors to the 2017 United Nations regular budget
MEMBER STATES United States of America Japan China Germany France United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Brazil Italy Russian Federation Canada Spain Australia Republic of Korea Netherlands Mexico
CONTRIBUTIONS (United States Dollars) 610 836 578 268 768 094 219 928 933 177 392 495 134 911 588 123 916 530 106 146 738 104 064 341 85 739 243 81 102 438 67 830 626 64 887 504 56 613 445 41 148 173 39 843 204
CONTRIBUTIONS (Percentage of the budget) 22.0% 9.7% 7.9% 6.4% 4.9% 4.5% 3.8% 3.7% 3.1% 2.9% 2.4% 2.3% 2.0% 1.5% 1.4%
Source: www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=ST/ADM/SER.B/955
Top 10 financial providers to United Nations peacekeeping operations in 2017 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
United States of America China Japan Germany France United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Russian Federation Italy Canada Spain Other Member States
Source: www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/70/331/Add.1
28.5% 10.3% 9.7% 6.4% 6.3% 5.8% 4.0% 3.8% 2.9% 2.4% 20.1%
CHAPTER 1. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Good value for money The regular budget for the United Nations is approved by the General Assembly for a two-year period. The budget approved for 2016-2017 is $5.4 billion, which pays for United Nations activities, staff and basic infrastructure. For peacekeeping, the budget for the year from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 was $7.87 billion. In comparison, every year, the world spends nearly $2 trillion on military expenditures. Peace is far cheaper than war and a good value for money.
Funding the United Nations (2017) Most of the work of the United Nations is funded by contributions from all Member States. Additional funds come from commercial activities (guided tours, the sale of publications, databases, apps, etc.) or from a public or private entity that donates money to a trust fund managed by the United Nations for the purpose of a special project or programme.
Becoming a Member State of the United Nations Membership, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, “is open to all peace-loving States that accept the obligations contained in the United Nations Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able to carry out these obligations”. States are admitted by decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. In brief, the procedure is as follows: The requesting country or entity submits an application to the SecretaryGeneral and a letter formally stating that it accepts the obligations under the Charter. The Security Council considers the application. Any recommendation for admission must receive affirmative votes from 9 of the 15 members of the Council, provided that none of its five permanent members—China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America—has voted against the application. If the Council recommends admission, the recommendation is presented to the General Assembly for consideration. A two-thirds majority vote is necessary in the Assembly for admission of a new State. Membership becomes effective on the day the resolution for admission is adopted.
Permanent Observer States Non-Member States of the United Nations, which are members of one or more specialized agencies, can apply for the status of Permanent Observer. The status of a Permanent Observer is based purely on practice; there are no provi-
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sions for it in the United Nations Charter. The practice dates from 1946, when the Secretary-General accepted the designation of neutral Switzerland as a Permanent Observer to the United Nations. Switzerland became a Member State in 2002. By 2017, the Holy See (Vatican City) was the sole sovereign State with Permanent Observer status, and Palestine was the sole entity with such status. Many regional and international organizations are also observers of the work and annual sessions of the General Assembly.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES The official languages used at the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The working languages are English and French. During meetings, delegates may speak in any of the official languages, and the speech is interpreted simultaneously in the other official languages. Most United Nations documents are also issued in all six official languages. At times, a delegate may choose to make a statement using a non-official language. In such cases, the delegation must provide either an interpretation or a written text of the statement in one of the official languages.
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Membership grew from 51 States in 1945 to 193 today South Sudan officially broke away from Sudan on 9 July 2011. On 17 July 2011, the General Assembly admitted the Republic of South Sudan as the 193rd member of the United Nations, welcoming the newly independent country to the world community.
South Sudan’s national flag (fourth from left) flies at UN Headquarters following the admission of the country as the 193rd Member State. UN PHOTO/J.C. MCILWAINE
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NS O I AT ILY N ED FAM T I UN E TH
QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS FAMILY � The United Nations was initially conceived as a wartime alliance on 1 January 1942, and established as an international organization on 24 October 1945. To commemorate the creation of the United Nations, the world celebrates United Nations Day each year on 24 October. � The United Nations has four purposes: (1) to maintain international peace and security; (2) to develop friendly relations among nations; (3) to cooperate in solving international problems and promoting respect for human rights; and (4) to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. More than 30 affiliated organizations cooperate in this effort. They are known together as the United Nations System, and all have their own specific areas of work. � The United Nations is not a world government. However, it does provide the means to help resolve international conflicts and formulate policies on matters affecting all of us. The United Nations is a forum where all countries meet to discuss, elaborate and extend international law in areas such as human rights, international trade, the sea, and the fight against terrorism. � At the United Nations, all the Member States—large and small, rich and poor, with differing political views and social systems— have a voice and a vote in making decisions in the General Assembly. � The United Nations System works to promote respect for human rights, reduce poverty, fight disease and protect the environment. The United Nations leads international campaigns against drug trafficking and terrorism, as well as to eliminate violence against women and to protect natural ecosystems. � The United Nations and its agencies undertake a myriad of projects throughout the world, including assisting refugees; fighting AIDS and malaria; expanding food production; protecting labour; supporting education for all, and providing help in the wake of natural disasters and armed conflicts.
PRINCIPAL ORGANS OF THE UNITED NATIONS The Charter establishes six principal organs of the United Nations. This is a summary of their composition and functions.
General Assembly All members of the United Nations (currently 193 States) are represented in the General Assembly. Each nation, rich or poor, large or small, has one vote: China, which has 1,379 billion inhabitants, gets one vote; so does Tuvalu, with its 11,097 inhabitants (2016). The largest country in the world, the Russian Federation, has one vote, just like the Principality of Monaco, which is roughly the size of New York City’s Central Park. A Member State can lose its vote if it fails to pay its dues and owes the Organization an amount equal to or exceeding the contributions due for two preceding years. An exception is allowed if the Member State can show that conditions beyond its control contributed to this inability to pay. In the General Assembly, decisions on such issues as international peace and security, admission of new Member States and the United Nations budget are decided by a two-thirds majority. Other matters require only a simple majority. In recent years, a special effort has been made to reach decisions through consensus, rather than by taking a formal vote. The General Assembly Hall accommodates all delegations. Each delegation has six seats, and there is a gallery for the media and the public, making a total of 1,898 seats. UN PHOTO/MARCO CASTRO
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The General Assembly’s regular session begins on Tuesday in the third week of September and continues throughout the year. At the beginning of each regular session, the Assembly holds a general debate at which Heads of State or Government and others present views on a wide-ranging agenda of issues of concern to the international community, from war and terrorism to disease and poverty. Each year, the General Assembly elects a President who presides over the meetings. To ensure equitable geographical representation, the presidency rotates among five groups of countries: African States Asian States Eastern European States Latin American and Caribbean States Western European and other States
Functions The General Assembly is the principal organ that: Discusses and makes recommendations on any subject, except those being considered at the same time by the Security Council. Discusses questions related to military conflicts and the arms race. Discusses ways and means to improve the status of children, refugees, women and many others. Discusses issues related to sustainable development and human rights. Decides how much each Member State should pay to the United Nations and how this money is spent.
Main Committees Because of the overwhelming number of questions it is called upon to consider, the General Assembly allocates items among its six Main Committees and other subsidiary organs. The Committees and organs discuss the issues, seeking as much as possible to harmonize the various positions different countries may have, and then present to a plenary (full) meeting of the Assembly draft resolutions and decisions for consideration. The six Main Committees are: The First Committee, which deals with issues of disarmament and international security. The Second Committee, which specializes in economic and financial questions.
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The Third Committee, which focuses on social, humanitarian and cultural topics. The Fourth Committee, which addresses special political issues and questions relating to decolonization. The Fifth Committee, which works on administrative and budgetary questions. The Sixth Committee, which reviews legal issues.
Examples of recent action by the General Assembly In September 2015, the 193 Member States of the United Nations adopted the historic 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which outlines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the associated 169 targets to be met globally by 2030. The SDGs build upon the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that were adopted by the General Assembly in 2000. In December 2010, the General Assembly declared 2011-2020 the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity. Protecting biodiversity is in our self-interest. Biological resources are the pillars upon which we build civilizations. The loss of biodiversity threatens our food supplies, our opportunities for recreation and tourism and our sources of wood, medicines and energy. It also interferes with essential ecological functions. In July 2010, the General Assembly created UN-Women, a historic step towards the realization of the Organization’s goals on gender equality and the empowerment of women. UN-Women brings together the resources and mandates of four previously distinct UN entities for greater impact. Empowering women sparks progress in education, health, productivity and the economy, and therefore boosts a country’s level of development.
Security Council While the General Assembly can discuss any world concern, the Security Council is primarily responsible for questions of peace and security.
Functions The Security Council is the principal organ that: Investigates any dispute or situation that might lead to international conflict. Recommends methods and terms of settlement. Recommends actions against any threat or act of aggression. Recommends to the General Assembly who should be appointed as Secretary- General of the United Nations.
The Security Council chamber, a gift from Norway, was designed by Norwegian artist Arnstein Arneberg. A large mural by Per Krohg (Norway), symbolizing the promise of future peace and individual freedom, covers most of the east wall. UN PHOTO/RIAK BAJORNAS
Membership The Security Council has 15 members. Five are permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. The other 10 non- permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms and are chosen on the basis of geographical representation. Some Member States have been advocating for changes in the membership of the Security Council. They want to increase the number of permanent members to include more of the world’s largest countries, and they argue that African issues represent 70 per cent of the Security Council’s work, yet the continent still lacks permanent representation.
Meetings The Security Council, unlike the General Assembly, does not hold regular meetings. Instead, it can be called to meet at any given time and on very short
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Five countries have the right to veto At the end of the Second World War, China, France, the Soviet Union (which was succeeded in 1990 by the Russian Federation), the United Kingdom and the United States played key roles in the establishment of the United Nations. The creators of the United Nations Charter thought that these five countries would continue to play important roles in the maintenance of international peace and security. So the “big five” were given a special voting power unofficially known as the “right to veto.” The drafters agreed that if any one of the “big five” cast a negative vote in the 15-member Security Council, the resolution or decision would not be approved.
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notice. Members take turns being President of the Security Council for a month at a time. They serve in the English-language alphabetical order of the names of the Member States they represent. To pass a resolution in the Security Council, 9 out of the 15 members must vote “yes”; however, if any of the five permanent members votes “no”—such a vote is often referred to as a veto—the resolution does not pass.
Examples of action taken by the Security Council In March 2016, the Security Council unanimously adopted new sanctions in response to North Korea’s nuclear tests and its launch of long-range missiles. In March 2017, the Council extended the monitoring of the sanctions regime. In July 2011, following the declaration of independence of South Sudan, the Council established the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), in an attempt to foster peace and security and to create favourable conditions for development in the new country. The Council established two international criminal tribunals to prosecute those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda during the 1990s. Following the terrorist attacks on the United States on 11 September 2001, the Council established its Counter-Terrorism Committee to help States increase their capability to combat terrorism.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the forum for discussion of economic questions, such as trade, transport and economic development, and social issues, such as poverty and better livelihoods. It also helps countries reach agreements on how to improve education and health conditions and how to promote respect for, and observance of, universal human rights and freedoms of people everywhere.
Functions The ECOSOC is the principal organ that: Promotes higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress. Identifies solutions to international economic, social and health problems. Facilitates international cultural and educational cooperation. Encourages universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
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The ECOSOC has the power to make or initiate studies and reports on these issues. It is also involved in the preparation and organization of major international conferences in the economic, social and related fields and is involved in the practical follow-ups to these conferences.
Membership The ECOSOC has 54 members that serve for three-year terms. Voting in the Council is by simple majority; each member has one vote. Each year, the ECOSOC holds several short sessions focused on the planning of its own work, often including representatives of civil society. The Council also holds an annual four-week “substantive” session in July to discuss matters of major or practical importance to all concerned countries, alternating the venue between Geneva and New York.
Subsidiary Bodies The ECOSOC has a variety of thematic commissions to administer the wide range of issues that fall within its purview, including: The Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The Commission for Social Development. The Commission on Population and Development. The Statistical Commission. The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. The Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission on Science and Technology for Development. The United Nations Forum on Forests. The Council also directs five regional commissions: The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), which also covers the countries of North America and the former USSR. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), which covers the Arab countries located in Asia and north Africa.
Trusteeship Council In 1945, when the United Nations was established, 11 non-self-governing territories (mostly in Africa and the Pacific Ocean) were placed under international supervision. The major goals of the trusteeship system were to promote the
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Decolonization In 1945, half of the world’s people lived in countries that were governed from outside. These countries, known as colonies, were controlled by a handful of major, mostly—but not only—European powers. Through the process known as decolonization, the United Nations has helped the colonies gain independence. The General Assembly, in 1960, adopted a declaration to urge the speedy independence of all colonies and peoples. The following year, it set up a Special Committee on Decolonization. As a result of the United Nations’ efforts, more than 80 former colonies are now themselves members of the Organization. Today, about one million people live in dependent territories. Many of the territories—for the most part small or isolated islands—wish to remain associated with their outside administering powers and have established autonomous local institutions to manage their own affairs. However, after the withdrawal of Spain as administering power in 1976, the question of the status of Western Sahara has yet to be resolved. This remains a focus of United Nations attention, with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) established in 1991. A referendum under discussion would invite the territory’s inhabitants to decide if they desire full independence as a sovereign State or integration with Morocco.
advancement of the inhabitants of such Trust Territories and their progression towards self-government or independence.
Membership The Trusteeship Council is composed of the permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States). Each member has one vote, and decisions are made by a simple majority.
Meetings Since the last Trust Territory—Palau, formerly administered by the United States—achieved self-government in 1994 and became a Member State of the United Nations, the Council formally suspended operations after nearly half a century. It may meet again if the need arises.
International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, was established by the Charter of the United Nations in 1945 and began its work in April 1946. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague
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(Netherlands). Of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York.
Functions The Court is the principal organ that: Settles legal disputes submitted by States in accordance with international law. Gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. States bring disputes before the Court in search of impartial solutions to their differences with other countries. By achieving peaceful settlement on such questions as land frontiers, maritime boundaries and territorial sovereignty, the Court has often helped prevent the escalation of disputes into larger conflicts that could lead to loss of life. All judgments passed by the Court are final and cannot be appealed.
Membership The Court is composed of 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council. No two judges can be from the same country, and it takes a majority of nine judges to make a decision. The Court is assisted by a Registry, its administrative organ. After an international competition, French architect Louis Cordonnier won the design of the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. It has housed the International Court of Justice and its predecessors since 1913. UN PHOTO
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Cases and Advisory Opinions In its judgments, the Court has addressed international disputes involving economic rights, environmental protection, rights of passage, the use of force, interference in the internal affairs of States, diplomatic relations, hostage-taking, the right of asylum and nationality. From 1946 to 2017, the International Court of Justice had considered some 165 cases, issued numerous judgments on disputes brought to it by States and issued advisory opinions in response to requests by a range of United Nations organizations. The number of cases submitted to the Court has increased significantly since the 1970s, when it decided only one or two cases at any given time. In 2017, there were 15 cases pending in the Court, including one (Ukraine v. Russian Federation) under active consideration. The Court’s advisory opinions have dealt with, among other things, membership admission to the United Nations, reparation for injuries suffered in the service of the United Nations, the territorial status of Western Sahara and the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons.
Secretariat The Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General, consists of staff representing nationalities from all over the world. They carry out the day-to-day work of the United Nations; their duties are as varied as the problems dealt with by the Organization. These range from administering peacekeeping operations to mediating international disputes to surveying social and economic trends. The Secretariat serves the other organs of the United Nations and is responsible for administering the programmes and policies laid down by them.
Functions The Secretariat is the principal organ that: Administers peacekeeping operations, mediates international disputes and organizes humanitarian relief programmes. Surveys economic and social trends, prepares studies on human rights, sustainable development and other areas of concern, and produces a variety of publications. Lays the groundwork for international agreements. Informs the world—the media, governments, non-governmental organizations, research and academic networks, schools and colleges and the general public—about the work of the United Nations. Assists in carrying out the decisions of the United Nations. Organizes international conferences on subjects of vital concern for humankind. Interprets speeches and translates documents into the six official languages of the United Nations.
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The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is not a United Nations agency but an integral part of the United Nations Secretariat. Headquartered in Geneva, it represents the world’s commitment to universal ideals of human dignity. OHCHR works with all governments to help promote and implement human rights worldwide. OHCHR provides expertise and technical training in the administration of justice, legislative reform and electoral process, to help implement international human rights standards around the world. OHCHR also assists other entities with the protection of human rights; helps all women, children and men realize their rights and legitimate aspirations; and speaks out in the face of human rights violations committed by State and non-State actors. There are still many human rights violations taking place today, which necessitate the independent and objective scrutiny of the United Nations.
Secretary-General The Charter of the United Nations describes the Secretary-General as the chief administrative officer of the Organization, who shall act in this capacity and perform “functions as are entrusted” to him or her by the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and other United Nations organs. The Secretary-General is assisted by staff from all countries—people referred to as “international civil servants.” Unlike traditional diplomats, who represent a particular country and its interests, international civil servants work for all 193 Member States and take their orders not from governments but from the Secretary-General. They are independent from political and other forms of interference and place the interests of the Organization above their own.
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The Secretary-General does not act alone The Secretary-General does not act without the support and approval of the United Nations Member States. Any course of action, whether it concerns sending peacekeeping troops to war-torn areas or helping a country rebuild after a war or a natural disaster, must be set by the Member States.
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Role of the Secretary-General The Secretary-General: Proposes issues to be discussed by the General Assembly or any other organ of the United Nations. Brings to the attention of the Security Council any problem that he or she feels may threaten world peace. Acts as a “referee” in disputes between Member States.
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António Guterres, Secretary-General António Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, took office on 1 January 2017. Having witnessed the suffering of the most vulnerable people on earth in refugee camps and in war zones, Mr. Guterres resolved to make human dignity the core of his work and to serve as a peace broker, a bridge-builder and a promoter of reform and innovation. Mr. Guterres served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from June 2005 to December 2015, heading one of the world’s foremost humanitarian organizations during some of the most serious displacement crises in decades. Today’s conflicts have led to a huge rise in UNHCR’s activities, as the number of people displaced rose from 38 million in 2005 to over 65 million in 2017. Before joining UNHCR, Mr. Guterres spent more than 20 years in government and public service. He served as prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, during which time he was heavily involved in the international effort to resolve the crisis in East Timor. As president of the European Council in early 2000, he led the adoption of the Lisbon Agenda for growth and jobs, and co-chaired the first European Union-Africa summit. He was a member of the Portuguese Council of State from 1991 to 2002. Mr. Guterres was elected to the Portuguese Parliament in 1976, where he served as a member for 17 years. During that time, he chaired the Parliamentary Committee for Economy, Finance and Planning, and later the Parliamentary Committee for Territorial Administration, Municipalities and Environment. He was also leader of his party’s parliamentary group. From 1981 to 1983, Mr. Guterres was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where he chaired the Committee on Demography, Migration and Refugees.
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Offers his or her “good offices”—steps taken publicly and in private, drawing upon the Secretary-General’s independence, impartiality and integrity, as well as his or her prestige and the weight of the international community, to prevent international disputes from arising, escalating or spreading. Appointment of the Secretary-General The Secretary-General is appointed for a period of five years by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. There have been nine Secretaries-General since the United Nations was created. The appointment of the Secretary-General follows a regional rotation. United Nations Secretaries-General Those who have served as Secretary-General since the creation of the United Nations are:
Trygve Lie (Norway) 1946-1952
Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden) 1953-1961
U Thant (Burma) 1961-1971
Kurt Waldheim (Austria) 1972-1981
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (Peru) 1982-1991
Boutros Boutros-Ghali (Egyp) 1992-1996
Kofi Annan (Ghana) 1997-2006
Ban Ki-moon (South Korea) 2007-2016
António Guterres (Portugal) 2017-present
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Four main offices United Nations Headquarters in New York (UNHQ) The United Nations Headquarters in New York (United States of America) by the numbers: 193 diplomatic delegations representing Member States, who send more than 5,000 people to New York each year for the annual sessions of the General Assembly. About 5,500 international staff members. One million visitors touring the Headquarters every year. 2,000 journalists permanently accredited and nearly 3,500 present during major events and meetings. More than 5,000 non-governmental organizations accredited to the United Nations.
United Nations Headquarters in New York UN PHOTO
United Nations Office at Geneva UN PHOTO/FERRÉ
United Nations Office at Nairobi UN PHOTO
United Nations Office at Vienna UN PHOTO/GARTEN
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United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) The United Nations Office at Geneva (Switzerland), the European regional headquarters, serves as the base for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Office of the High-Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) among others. The United Nations office at Geneva by the numbers: 184 diplomatic delegations representing Member States. Around 8,500 staff members working for the United Nations and its specialized agencies, funds and programmes. About 100,000 visitors touring the Palais des Nations every year. 230 journalists permanently accredited. Hundreds of non-governmental organizations accredited to the United Nations. Approximately 9,960 meetings organized every year. United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) The United Nations Office at Nairobi (Kenya) serves as the global headquarters of the United Nations Environment (UNEP) and the United Nations Programme for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat). The United Nations Office at Nairobi by the numbers: 146 diplomatic delegations representing Member States. 2,800 staff working at UNEP and UN-Habitat. An array of diplomatic gatherings and peacebuilding initiatives. Hundreds of people working for non-governmental organizations accredited to the United Nations. United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) The United Nations Office at Vienna (Austria) serves as headquarters for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The United Nations Office at Vienna by the numbers: Dozens of diplomatic delegations representing Member States. 4,000 employees working for the Vienna-based United Nations organizations. Approximately 2,000 international conferences and meetings held annually.
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About the Regional Offices The Palais des Nations The United Nations Office at Geneva building previously hosted the headquarters of the League of Nations, the precursor to the United Nations. At the end of the Second World War, the League gave way to the United Nations, which inherited its physical assets, including an imposing architectural edifice referred to as the Palais des Nations (Palace of Nations).
The United Nations and Kenya The United Nations has heavily invested in wildlife conservation, forest restoration and ecotourism, all of which provide unquantifiable economic benefits for local residents. It has supported thousands of communitybased projects, touching hundreds of thousands of lives in Kenya.
“United Nations City” in Vienna The United Nations Office at Vienna, also known as the Vienna International Centre (VIC), opened in August 1979. The six Y-shaped office towers were designed to let staff work in natural sunlight rather than artificial light in almost every office. Locally, the Vienna International Centre, which is situated on the outskirts of the Austrian capital, is often referred to as “United Nations City.”
THE UNITED NATIONS: A FAMILY OF SPECIALIZED ENTITIES There are 15 specialized agencies and 24 programmes, funds and other bodies with specific responsibilities all related to the United Nations. These programmes and bodies, together with the United Nations itself, compose the United Nations System. The various entities belonging to the United Nations system are listed below by type of organization, and in alphabetical order within each type.
Agencies Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) The Food and Agriculture Organization works to eradicate hunger and malnutrition and to raise levels of nutrition. It also assists Member States in the sustainable development of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, helping them move towards achieving food security. Combating hunger and malnutrition has important indirect effects on children, such as reducing child labour, allowing to attend school and improving their health.
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International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) The International Civil Aviation Organization assures the safe, secure, orderly and sustainable development of international air transport while minimizing the adverse effect of global civil aviation on the environment. In an effort to combat child trafficking, it recommends that all countries require a separate passport for each child.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) The International Fund for Agricultural Development is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries. About 75 per cent of the world’s poorest people—that is, about one billion women, children and men—live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and related activities for their livelihoods. IFAD invests in agriculture and rural development projects that reach poor, marginalized and vulnerable people in rural areas and helps create the conditions they need to improve their lives.
International Labour Organization (ILO) The International Labour Organization formulates policies and programmes to promote the basic human rights of workers, improve working and living conditions and enhance employment opportunities. It also leads efforts to eradicate child labour worldwide.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) The International Maritime Organization is responsible for improving the safety and security of international shipping and for preventing marine pollution from ships. It is also involved in legal matters such as liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund promotes the stability of the global monetary and financial system. It advises on key economic policies, provides temporary financial assistance and training, promotes growth and strives to alleviate poverty.
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) The International Telecommunications Union is committed to connecting the world. The global international telecommunications network is one of the largest and most sophisticated engineering feats ever accomplished, and ITU is at its very heart. ITU negotiates agreements on technologies, services and allocation of global resources like radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbital positions, creating a seamless global communications system that is robust, reliable and constantly evolving.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization promotes international cooperation and facilitates the exchange of information in the fields of education, science, culture and communications. It works to safeguard the world’s cultural heritage. It aims to empower, educate and inspire young people, and seeks to preserve the cultural and natural heritage of humanity.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) The United Nations Industrial Development Organization promotes and accelerates sustainable industrial growth in developing countries and economies in transition. It aims to give each country an opportunity to create a flourishing productive sector, increase its participation in international trade and safeguard its environment.
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Universal Postal Union (UPU) The Universal Postal Union sets the rules for international mail exchanges. It makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel and financial services and to improve the quality of service for customers. It also provides technical assistance where needed.
World Bank The World Bank aims to overcome poverty, enhance economic growth while caring for the environment and create individual opportunities and hope. To this end, it provides low-interest loans, interest-free credits and grants to developing countries to be invested in education, health, public administration, infrastructure, financial and private-sector development, agriculture and environmental and natural resource management.
World Health Organization (WHO) The World Health Organization is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda and setting norms and standards. Today, health is a shared responsibility, involving equitable access to essential care and collective protection against transboundary epidemic threats. Special emphasis is given to children’s health, since they are more vulnerable to malnutrition and infectious diseases, many of which are preventable and treatable.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) The World Intellectual Property Organization ensures that the rights of creators and owners of intellectual property—people such as musicians, writers, scientists and inventors—are protected worldwide and that creators are, therefore, recognized and rewarded for their ingenuity and creativity.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) The World Meteorological Organization coordinates global scientific research and data on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources. WMO also provides vital information for early warnings of weather-, climate- and water-related phenomena, which cause nearly three quarters of all natural disasters, to save lives and minimize damage to property.
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) The World Tourism Organization promotes the development of responsible, environmentally and socially friendly and universally accessible tourism. Tourism alone represents 5 per cent of the total economic activity and 6 to 7 per cent of the overall number of jobs worldwide. UNWTO is engaged in a global campaign to protect children from all forms of exploitation in tourism, including sexual exploitation, child labour and trafficking.
Funds and programmes United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) The United Nations Children’s Fund is the main United Nations organization defending, promoting and protecting children’s rights. It focuses especially on the world’s most disadvantaged children. On the ground, UNICEF promotes education for all boys and girls, immunizes against common childhood diseases and provides other health services, water and nutrition to children and adolescents.
42 THE ESSENTIAL UN
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development promotes the integration of developing countries into the world economy. It helps shape debates and thinking on development and ensures that the policies of different countries and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) The United Nations Development Programme is a global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources in order to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 177 countries, working with local inhabitants to find their own solutions to global and national development challenges.
UN-Women, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women UN-Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women seeks to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, to empower women and to achieve gender equality worldwide. In particular, UN-Women aims to uphold the human rights of girls, protecting them from all forms of violence and abuse and ensuring their access to health services and education.
United Nations Environment (UNEP) United Nations Environment is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees provides legal protection for displaced people and seeks long-lasting solutions to their problems by helping them either return voluntarily to their homes or settle in other countries. Nearly 50 per cent of the refugees worldwide are children. The UNHCR aims to uphold their rights, seeking to reunite them with their families and caregivers; protecting them from sexual exploitation, abuse, violence and military recruitment; and offering them education and training.
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) The United Nations Human Settlements Programme is working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime focuses on organized crime and trafficking, building criminal justice systems, preventing illicit drug use and the spread of HIV among drug users and other vulnerable groups, ending corruption and preventing terrorism. Monitoring drug and crime trends and threats, it provides data that can help define drug and crime control priorities and help countries tackle these problems.
CHAPTER 2. THE UNITED NATIONS FAMILY 43
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) The United Nations Population Fund promotes the right of women, men and children to enjoy a healthy life. The Fund supports countries in using population data to determine policies and programmes that help reduce poverty and ensure every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East provides assistance, protection and advocacy for registered Palestine refugees. It offers education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, community support, microfinance and emergency response, including in times of armed conflict.
World Food Programme (WFP) The World Food Programme combats global hunger, which afflicts one out of every seven people on Earth. In emergencies, it is on the frontline, delivering food to save the lives of victims of war and natural disasters. After an emergency has passed, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild. Thanks to the school meals programmes, WFP directly affects the lives of millions of children, providing them with vital nourishment that in turn improves their health and boosts their attendance in school.
Research and training institutes United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research promotes research, creative thinking and dialogue on the disarmament and security challenges of today and tomorrow. The Institute deals with topics as diverse as nuclear materials, control of small arms ammunition, the security of refugee camps, disarmament as humanitarian action, peacekeeping and remote sensing technologies in the service of peace.
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) The United Nations Institute for Training and Research carries out research and training activities and develops pedagogical materials. Often working with other academic institutions, it offers instruction in the fields of peace and security, human rights, social and economic development, the environment, multilateral diplomacy and international cooperation.
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute tackles the threat of crimes to peace, development and political stability. Its goals are to advance an understanding of crime-related problems, to foster fair and efficient criminal justice systems, including juvenile justice, to support the respect of international instruments of justice and other standards and to facilitate international law enforcement cooperation and judicial assistance.
44
THE ESSENTIAL UN
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) The mission of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development is to generate knowledge and articulate policy alternatives on contemporary development issues, thereby contributing to the broader goals of the United Nations system of reducing poverty and inequality, advancing well-being and human rights, and creating more democratic and just societies. The Institute was established as an autonomous space within the United Nations system for the conduct of policy-relevant, cutting-edge research on social development that is pertinent to the work of the United Nations Secretariat, specialized agencies and national institutions.
United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) The United Nations System Staff College runs courses for United Nations personnel, assisting the staff of United Nations organizations in developing the skills and competencies needed to meet today’s global challenges.
United Nations University (UNU) The United Nations University contributes to the advancement of knowledge in fields relevant to the United Nations and to the application of that knowledge in formulating sound principles, policies, strategies and programmes for action. Its activities are focused on five interlinked, interdependent thematic clusters: peace, security and human rights; human and socio-economic development and good governance; global health, population and sustainable livelihoods; global change and sustainable development, and science, technology, innovation and society.
Other entities Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS is an innovative partnership that garners support for achieving complete access for all to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. The objective is zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. Since this mandate requires long-term investment, the strategy is to bolster prevention, treatment, care and support, as well as human rights and gender equality for all those who are affected.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) was established to facilitate the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). It was created to be the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster risk reduction, and ensures synergies among the relevant activities of United Nations agencies and regional organizations, and related activities in socioeconomic and humanitarian fields. It aims to build resilient nations and communities, an essential condition for sustainable development.
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) The United Nations Office for Project Services aims to expand the capacity of the United Nations System and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. Core services include human resources and financial management as well as the procurement of material and other services.
CHAPTER 2. THE UNITED NATIONS FAMILY 45
Related organizations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) The International Atomic Energy Agency serves as the global focal point for nuclear cooperation. It assists countries in planning for and using nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes, such as the generation of electricity, and it develops nuclear safety standards. IAEA also uses a system of inspections to ensure that States comply with their commitment to use nuclear material and facilities only for peaceful purposes.
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is dedicated to the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. The main obligation under the Convention is the prohibition of use and production of chemical weapons, as well as the destruction of all chemical weapons. The destruction activities are verified by the OPCW which also verifies that toxic chemicals that States produce are not intended for use as weapons of mass destruction.
Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-TestBan Treaty Organization promotes the Comprehensive NuclearTest-Ban Treaty, which prohibits nuclear explosions by anyone anywhere on the Earth’s surface, in the atmosphere, underwater or underground. CTBTO also has a monitoring system set up around the world to make sure that no nuclear explosion goes undetected. The Treaty will enter into force when the required number of countries ratifies it.
World Trade Organization (WTO) The World Trade Organization is a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements and settle trade disputes. It operates a system of trade rules. WTO is the place where Member States try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.
46 THE ESSENTIAL UN
MESSENGERS OF PEACE AND GOODWILL AMBASSADORS The United Nations Messengers of Peace and Goodwill Ambassadors help focus attention on the work of the United Nations. From the earliest days of the United Nations, actors, artists, sportsmen and women, gymnasts, designers, musicians, ballet dancers, astronauts, entrepreneurs, scientists, writers, philosophers, fashion models and members of governments and royal families—talented and compassionate women and men from around the world—have lent their names, public recognition and fame in support of the United Nations’ work for a better world. While Goodwill and Honorary Ambassadors mainly promote the work of the United Nations agencies they represent, the Messengers of Peace champion the work of the United Nations in general and are appointed directly by the Secretary-General. The Messengers of Peace are initially chosen for a period of two years, although some of the Messengers have served for much longer.
MESSENGERS
OF PEACE HRH Princess Haya
Daniel Baremboim
Paulo Coelho
Leonardo DiCaprio
Michael Douglas
Jane Goodall
Lang Lang
Yo-Yo Ma
Midori Gotō
Edward Norton
Charlize Theron
Stevie Wonder
Malala Yousafzai
L A N TIO ION I D AD MAT R O F IN
Read the full book on un-ilibrary.org for free: http://bit.ly/2Jd5h6g
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Can individuals join the United Nations as members? No, only independent countries with international recognition from other States can become members of the United Nations.
How can individuals support the United Nations? Individuals can support the work of the United Nations through international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Some of them collaborate with the United Nations Department of Public Information and provide the United Nations with valuable links to people around the world.
United Nations Associations There are United Nations Associations in more than 100 countries, often with many local chapters (e.g. UNA-Australia, UNA-Canada, UNA-New Zealand, UNA-South Africa, UNA-UK, etc.), as well as the global union of national associations, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA). Most United Nations Associations have youth programmes and wings either within their scope of work or as separate United Nations Youth Associations (UNYA). You can find out more about how youth can get involved by contacting your local UNA directly. For more information, visit the site of the World Federation of United Nations Associations: www.wfuna.org.
National offices of United Nations agencies The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has national committees in many countries that spread awareness about UNICEF’s programmes and raise funds to help them become a reality. Some 3,600 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) clubs, centres and associations (all affiliated with UNESCO) in over 90 countries undertake activities in the areas of education, science, culture and communication.
United Nations Information Centres (UNICS) The United Nations maintains Information Centres (UNICs) and other major contact points all over the world. You can find a list of UNICs online at: http://unic.un.org
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) If you have a skill in such fields as agriculture, medicine, education, information technology, vocational training, the promotion of human rights or industry—as
142 THE ESSENTIAL UN
well as the necessary flexibility and commitment—the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme may be right for you. The programme places volunteers, for a one-to-two-year period, with an appropriate United Nations development project in a developing country. For more information on the programme, visit www.unv.org
Campaigns and social media You can get involved in specific campaigns advertised throughout the United Nations and those of other organizations in the United Nations family. These campaigns aim to feed hungry people, stop rape in conflict, eliminate violence against women, end child labour and more. You can also participate in the conversation on social media such as Facebook and Twitter. The UN family has a significant presence in social media, one example being www.facebook.com/unpublications.
How can young people get to know and experience the United Nations? Young people are a top priority for the United Nations, as they represent a new generation of support. Several hundred Model United Nations conferences are organized every year at all educational levels, from primary school to university, in many different configurations and countries. Many of today’s leaders in law, government, business and the arts participated in Model United Nations programmes during their childhood. At the Global Model United Nations (GMUN) Conference, students from every region of the world role-play as foreign diplomats and participate in simulated sessions of the United Nations General Assembly and other multilateral bodies in the United Nations system. While preparing for a Model United Nations conference, students develop leadership, research, writing, public speaking and problem-solving skills that they will use throughout their lives. In addition, participation encourages consensus building, conflict resolution and cooperation. Global Model United Nations offers two unique innovations: It uses Rules of Procedure that more closely represent how the United Nations functions. It provides unparalleled access to United Nations officials and diplomats prior to and during the conference. Each delegation representing a Member State is made up of students from different countries.
Can the United Nations provide me with financial assistance? The United Nations does not provide financial assistance to students and has no general scholarship or student exchange programme.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does the United Nations accept student interns? The United Nations provides opportunities for students enrolled in a graduate programme to undertake an internship at its Headquarters in New York and at other major locations of the Organization. You can find more information on the internship programme at www.un.org/depts/ OHRM/sds/internsh/index.htm or http://social.un.org/index/Youth/UNOpportunities/ Internships.aspx.
Working at the United Nations The United Nations Secretariat is looking for competent and motivated individuals with a strong belief in the Organization’s purpose and mandates, who are willing to dedicate themselves to a rewarding international career in different locations around the world. The United Nations provides an opportunity to serve in a dynamic, multicultural environment in a variety of jobs in the support of global causes. If you are exploring the possibility of a career with the United Nations, browse the job openings and apply. All job openings in the United Nations Secretariat are published on the United Nations Careers Portal, careers.un.org (also available in French). There, you can create your profile, review available listings and submit your application online. Candidates for jobs in the General Service and related categories, including those in the trades and crafts, security and safety, secretarial and other support positions, are recruited locally.
Competitive Examinations The United Nations offers the Young Professionals Programme for Junior Professionals, a recruitment initiative that brings new talent to the Organization through an annual entrance examination. The United Nations also holds examinations for positions requiring special language skills. Information on both types of competitive examinations is available online at careers.un.org
Associate Experts Programme This programme offers young professionals who are graduates from universities or institutions of higher education an opportunity to work on development or regional projects and acquire professional experience in their fields with the technical cooperation of the United Nations Secretariat. More information on the programme can be found at http://esa.un.org/techcoop/ associateexperts/index.html.
Job Opportunities in the United Nations System If you are interested in working for other United Nations agencies, funds or programmes, please visit their websites directly. Most websites can be accessed
143
144 THE ESSENTIAL UN
through the links found at the International Civil Service Commission: http:// icsc.un.org/secretariat/includes/joblinks.asp.
Warning to Applicants There are job advertisements and offers that falsely state that they are from the United Nations. Please be aware that the United Nations does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.
Where can I get information about a United Nations Member State’s position on various current issues? You can obtain such information from the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of the country concerned. The list of contact information and websites for the Member States can be found at www.un.org/en/members.
UNITED NATIONS OBSERVANCES United Nations observances contribute to the achievement of the purposes of the United Nations Charter and promote awareness of and action on important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human rights issues. They provide a useful means for the promotion of international and national action and stimulate interest in United Nations activities and programmes. For more information, visit www.un.org/en/events/observances/index.shtml.
International Decades 2016–2025
United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition
2015–2024
International Decade for People of African Descent
2014–2024
United Nations Decade of Sustainable Energy for All
2011–2020
Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism United Nations Decade on Biodiversity Decade of Action for Road Safety
2010–2020
United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification
2008–2017
Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty
2006–2016
Decade of Recovery and Sustainable Development of the Affected Regions (third decade after the Chernobyl disaster)
International Years 2017
International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
2016
International Year of Pulses
2015
International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies International Year of Soils (FAO)
2014
International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Annual Weeks First week of February
World Interfaith Harmony Week
21–27 March
Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination
19–23 April
Global Soil Week
24–30 April
World Immunization Week (WHO)
25–31 May
Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories
1–7 August
World Breastfeeding Week (WHO)
4–10 October
World Space Week
24–30 October
Disarmament Week
The week of 11 November International Week of Science and Peace
146 THE ESSENTIAL UN
Annual Days 27 January
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
4 February
World Cancer Day (WHO)
6 February
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (WHO)
11 February
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
13 February
World Radio Day (UNESCO)
20 February
World Day of Social Justice
21 February
International Mother Language Day (UNESCO)
1 March
Zero Discrimination Day (UNAIDS)
3 March
World Wildlife Day
8 March
International Women’s Day
20 March
International Day of Happiness French Language Day
21 March
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination World Poetry Day International Day of Nowruz World Down Syndrome Day International Day of Forests
22 March
World Water Day
23 March
World Meteorological Day (WMO)
24 March
International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims World Tuberculosis Day (WHO)
25 March
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members
2 April
World Autism Awareness Day
4 April
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
6 April
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
7 April
World Health Day (WHO) International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda
12 April
International Day of Human Space Flight
20 April
Chinese Language Day
22 April
International Mother Earth Day
23 April
World Book and Copyright Day (UNESCO) English Language Day Spanish Language Day
25 April
World Malaria Day (WHO)
26 April
International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day World Intellectual Property Day (WIPO)
28 April
World Day for Safety and Health at Work (ILO)
UNITED NATIONS OBSERVANCES 147
29 April
Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare
30 April
International Jazz Day (UNESCO)
3 May
World Tuna Day World Press Freedom Day
8–9 May 10 May 15 May 17 May 21 May 22 May 23 May 29 May 31 May 1 June 4 June 5 June 6 June 8 June 12 June 13 June 14 June 15 June 16 June 17 June 19 June 20 June 21 June 23 June 25 June 26 June 30 June First Saturday of July 11 July 15 July 18 July 28 July 30 July 9 August 12 August 19 August
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War World Migratory Bird Day (UNEP) "Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon International Day of Families World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (ITU) World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development International Day for Biological Diversity International Day to End Obstetric Fistula International Day of UN Peacekeepers World No-Tobacco Day (WHO) Global Day of Parents International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression World Environment Day (UNEP) Russian Language Day World Oceans Day World Day Against Child Labour (ILO) International Albinism Awareness Day World Blood Donor Day (WHO) World Elder Abuse Awareness Day International Day of Family Remittances World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict World Refugee Day International Day of Yoga International Widows’ Day United Nations Public Service Day Day of the Seafarer (IMO) International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture International Asteroid Day International Day of Cooperatives World Population Day World Youth Skills Day Nelson Mandela International Day World Hepatitis Day (WHO) International Day of Friendship World Day against Trafficking in Persons International Day of the World’s Indigenous People International Youth Day World Humanitarian Day
148 THE ESSENTIAL UN
23 August
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition (UNESCO)
29 August
International Day against Nuclear Tests
30 August
International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
5 September
International Day of Charity
8 September
International Literacy Day (UNESCO)
12 September
United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 September
International Day of Democracy
16 September
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
21 September
International Day of Peace
26 September
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 September
World Tourism Day (UNWTO)
28 September
World Rabies Day (WHO)
Last Thursday of September World Maritime Day (IMO) 1 October
International Day of Older Persons
2 October
International Day of Non-Violence
First Monday in October
World Habitat Day
5 October
World Teachers’ Day (UNESCO)
9 October
World Post Day (UPU)
10 October
World Mental Health Day (WHO)
11 October
International Day of the Girl Child
13 October
International Day for Disaster Reduction
15 October
International Day of Rural Women
16 October
World Food Day (FAO)
17 October
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
20 October
World Statistics Day
(every 5 years, beginning in 2010)
24 October
United Nations Day World Development Information Day
27 October
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (UNESCO)
31 October
World Cities Day
2 November
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
5 November
World Tsunami Awareness Day
6 November
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
10 November
World Science Day for Peace and Development (UNESCO)
14 November
World Diabetes Day (WHO)
16 November
International Day for Tolerance
Third Thursday in November World Philosophy Day (UNESCO) Third Sunday in November
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WHO)
19 November
World Toilet Day
20 November
Africa Industrialization Day Universal Children’s Day
21 November
World Television Day
25 November
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
UNITED NATIONS OBSERVANCES 149
29 November
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
1 December
World AIDS Day
2 December
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3 December
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
5 December
World Soil Day International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
7 December
International Civil Aviation Day (ICAO)
9 December
International Anti-Corruption Day International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime
10 December
Human Rights Day
11 December
International Mountain Day
18 December
International Migrants Day Arabic Language Day
20 December
International Human Solidarity Day
The United Nations System THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM Subsidiary Organs UN PRINCIPAL • Main Committees ORGANS
Funds and Programmes 1 UNDP United Nations Development Programme
• Disarmament Commission
• UNCDF United Nations Capital
• Human Rights Council
Development Fund
• International Law Commission
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• UNV United Nations Volunteers
• Joint Inspection Unit (JIU)
UNEP 8 United Nations Environment Programme
• Standing committees and ad hoc bodies
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UN-Habitat 8 United Nations Human Settlements Programme UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund WFP World Food Programme (UN/FAO)
SECURITY COUNCIL Subsidiary Organs • Counter-Terrorism Committee
• International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
• International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
• Military Staff Committee
Functional Commissions • Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
ECA Economic Commission for Africa
• Narcotic Drugs
ECE Economic Commission for Europe
• Population and Development
ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
• Science and Technology for Development
ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
• Social Development
ESCWA Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
• Statistics
SECRETARIAT
Regional Commissions 8
• Status of Women • United Nations Forum on Forests
Departments and Offices 9 EOSG Executive Office of the Secretary-General
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
OLA Office of Legal Affairs
DESA Department of Economic and Social Affairs DFS Department of Field Support 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
TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL 6
DSS Department of Safety and Security OCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ODA Office for Disarmament Affairs OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
OIOS Office of Internal Oversight Services
OSAA Office of the Special Adviser on Africa PBSO Peacebuilding Support Office SRSG/CAAC Office of the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral for Children and Armed Conflict SRSG/SVC Office of the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral on Sexual Violence in Conflict SRSG/VAC Office of the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral on Violence Against Children
UNISDR United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction UNODC1 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
© 2017 United Nations. All rights reserved worldwide
e
c
Related Organizations
Research and Training UNIDIR United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
CTBTO Preparatory Commission Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
UNITAR United Nations Institute for Training and Research
IAEA1, 3 International Atomic Energy Agency ICC International Criminal Court
UNSSC United Nations System Staff College
IOM 1 International Organization for Migration
UNU United Nations University
ISA International Seabed Authority
ITLOS International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Other Entities
OPCW 3 Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
ITC International Trade Centre (UN/WTO) 1,8
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
WTO 1, 4 World Trade Organization
UNHCR 1 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNOPS1 United Nations Office for Project Services UNRWA1 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Peacebuilding Commission
1
UN-Women United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
HLPF High-level political forum on sustainable development
Specialized Agencies1, 5
• Peacekeeping operations and political missions • Sanctions committees (ad hoc)
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• Standing committees and ad hoc bodies
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development ILO International Labour Organization IMF International Monetary Fund
Other Bodies
IMO International Maritime Organization ITU International Telecommunication Union
• Committee for Development Policy
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Committee of Experts on Public Administration
UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization
• Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations
UNWTO World Tourism Organization UPU U niversal Postal Union
• Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
WHO World Health Organization
UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO World Meteorological Organization
UNGEGN United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names
WORLD BANK GROUP 7
• IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and
Research and Training
Development
• IDA International Development Association • IFC International Finance Corporation
UNICRI United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute UNRISD United Nations Research Institute for Social Development Notes: 1 2 3 4
UNOG United Nations Office at Geneva
5
UN-OHRLLS Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
7
UNON Unite d Nations Office at Nairobi
8 9
UNOP 2 United Nations Office for Partnerships UNOV United Nations Office at Vienna
6
Members of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB). UN Office for Partnerships (UNOP) is the UN’s focal point vis-a-vis the United Nations Foundation, Inc. IAEA and OPCW report to the Security Council and the General Assembly (GA). W TO has no reporting obligation to the GA, but contributes on an ad hoc basis to GA and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) work on, inter alia, finance and development issues. S pecialized agencies are autonomous organizations whose work is coordinated through ECOSOC (intergovernmental level) and CEB (inter-secretariat level). The Trusteeship Council suspended operation on 1 November 1994, as on 1 October 1994 Palau, the last United Nations Trust Territory, became independent. I nternational Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are not specialized agencies in accordance with Articles 57 and 63 of the Charter, but are part of the World Bank Group. The secretariats of these organs are part of the UN Secretariat. The Secretariat also includes the following offices: The Ethics Office, United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services, Office of Administration of Justice and the Office on Sport for Development and Peace
This Chart is a reflection of the functional organization of the United Nations System and for informational purposes only. It does not include all offices or entities of the United Nations System.
Published by the United Nations Department of Public Information D PI/2470 rev.5 —17-00023—March 2017
MEMBER STATES Membership in the United Nations has grown from 51 States in 1945 to 193 in 2018. States are admitted by decision of the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Security Council. Member State
Population (est.) For 2017
Afghanistan
29,117,000
19 November 1946
Albania
3,169,000
14 December 1955
Algeria
35,423,000
Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda
87,000 18,993,000 89,000
Date of admission
8 October 1962 28 July 1993 1 December 1976 11 November 1981
Argentina
40,666,000
Armenia
3,090,000
Australia
21,512,000
1 November 1945
Austria
8,387,000
14 December 1955
Azerbaijan
8,934,000
2 March 1992
Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados
24 October 1945 2 March 1992
346,000
18 September 1973
807,000
21 September 1971
164,425,000
17 September 1974
257,000
Belarus
9,588,000
Belgium
10,698,000
9 December 1966 24 October 1945 27 December 1945
Belize
313,000
25 September 1981
Benin
9,212,000
20 September 1960
708,000
21 September 1971
Bhutan Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
10,031,000
14 November 1945
Bosnia and Herzegovina
3,760,000
22 May 1992
Botswana
1,978,000
17 October 1966
195,423,000
24 October 1945
Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria
407,000
21 September 1984
7,497,000
14 December 1955
16,287,000
20 September 1960
8,519,000
18 September 1962
Cambodia
15,053,000
14 December 1955
Cameroon
19,958,000
20 September 1960
Canada
33,890,000
9 November 1945
Burkina Faso Burundi
Cape Verde Central African Republic
513,000
16 September 1975
4,506,000
20 September 1960
Chad
11,506,000
20 September 1960
Chile
17,135,000
24 October 1945
China
1,354,146,000
24 October 1945
Colombia
46,300,000
5 November 1945
154 THE ESSENTIAL UN
Member State Comoros
Population (est.) For 2017 691,000
Date of admission 12 November 1975
Congo
3,759,000
20 September 1960
Costa Rica
4,640,000
2 November 1945
Côte d’Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus
21,571,000 4,410,000 11,204,000 880,000
20 September 1960 22 May 1992 24 October 1945 20 September 1960
Czech Republic
10,411,000
19 January 1993
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
23,991,000
17 September 1991
Democratic Republic of the Congo
67,827,000
20 September 1960
Denmark Djibouti Dominica
5,481,000
24 October 1945
879,000
20 September 1977
67,000
18 December 1978
Dominican Republic
10,225,000
24 October 1945
Ecuador
13,775,000
21 December 1945
Egypt
84,474,000
24 October 1945
6,194,000
24 October 1945
El Salvador Equatorial Guinea
693,000
12 November 1968
Eritrea
5,224,000
28 May 1993
Estonia
1,339,000
17 September 1991
Ethiopia
84,976,000
13 November 1945
Fiji
854,000
13 October 1970
Finland
5,346,000
France
62,637,000
Gabon
1,501,000
20 September 1960
Gambia
1,751,000
21 September 1965
Georgia
4,219,000
31 July 1992
Germany
82,057,000
18 September 1973
Ghana
24,333,000
8 March 1957
Greece
11,183,000
25 October 1945
Grenada
14 December 1955 24 October 1945
104,000
17 September 1974
Guatemala
14,377,000
21 November 1945
Guinea
10,324,000
12 December 1958
1,647,000
17 September 1974
761,000
20 September 1966
Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti
10,188,000
24 October 1945
Honduras
7,616,000
17 December 1945
Hungary
9,973,000
14 December 1955
329,000
19 November 1946
Iceland India Indonesia
1,214,464,000 232,517,000
30 October 1945 28 September 1950
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
75,078,000
24 October 1945
Iraq
31,467,000
21 December 1945
MEMBER STATES
Member State
Population (est.) For 2017
Date of admission
Ireland
4,589,000
14 December 1955
Israel
7,285,000
11 May 1949
Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan
60,098,000
14 December 1955
2,730,000
18 September 1962
126,995,000
18 December 1956
6,472,000
14 December 1955
Kazakhstan
15,753,000
2 March 1992
Kenya
40,863,000
16 December 1963
Kiribati
100,000
Kuwait
3,051,000
14 May 1963
Kyrgyzstan
5,550,000
2 March 1992
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
6,436,000
14 December 1955
Latvia
2,240,000
17 September 1991
Lebanon
4,255,000
24 October 1945
Lesotho
2,084,000
17 October 1966
Liberia
4,102,000
2 November 1945
Libya
6,546,000
14 December 1955
Liechtenstein Lithuania
14 September 1999
36,000
18 September 1990
3,255,000
17 September 1991
Luxembourg
492,000
Madagascar
20,146,000
20 September 1960
Malawi
15,692,000
1 December 1964
Malaysia
27,914,000
17 September 1957
Maldives
314,000
21 September 1965
13,323,000
28 September 1960
Mali Malta Marshall Islands
410,000 63,000
24 October 1945
1 December 1964 17 September 1991
Mauritania
3,366,000
27 October 1961
Mauritius
1,297,000
24 April 1968
Mexico Micronesia (Federated States of) Moldova (Republic of) Monaco Mongolia Montenegro
110,645,000 111,000 3,576,000 33,000 2,701,000 626,000
7 November 1945 17 September 1991 2 March 1992 28 May 1993 27 October 1961 28 June 2006
Morocco
32,381,000
12 November 1956
Mozambique
23,406,000
16 September 1975
Myanmar
50,496,000
19 April 1948
Namibia
2,212,000
23 April 1990
Nauru
10,000
Nepal
29,853,000
14 September 1999 14 December 1955
Netherlands
16,653,000
10 December 1945
New Zealand
4,303,000
24 October 1945
155
156 THE ESSENTIAL UN
Member State Nicaragua Niger
Population (est.) For 2017 5,822,000 15,891,000
Date of admission 24 October 1945 20 September 1960
Nigeria
158,259,000
Norway
4,855,000
27 November 1945
Oman
2,905,000
7 October 1971
Pakistan Palau
184,753,000
7 October 1960
30 September 1947
21,000
15 December 1994
Panama
3,508,000
13 November 1945
Papua New Guinea
6,888,000
10 October 1975
Paraguay
6,460,000
24 October 1945
Peru
29,496,000
31 October 1945
Philippines
93,617,000
24 October 1945
Poland
38,038,000
24 October 1945
Portugal
10,732,000
14 December 1955
1,508,000
21 September 1971
Republic of Korea
48,501,000
17 September 1991
Romania
21,190,000
14 December 1955
Qatar
Russian Federation Rwanda
140,367,000
24 October 1945
10,277,000
18 September 1962
52,000
23 September 1983
Saint Lucia
174,000
18 September 1979
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
109,000
16 September 1980
Samoa
179,000
15 December 1976
Saint Kitts and Nevis
San Marino Sao Tome and Principe
32,000 165,000
2 March 1992 16 September 1975
Saudi Arabia
26,246,000
24 October 1945
Senegal
12,861,000
28 September 1960
Serbia Seychelles
9,856,000
1 November 2000
85,000
21 September 1976
Sierra Leone
5,836,000
27 September 1961
Singapore
4,837,000
21 September 1965
Slovakia
5,412,000
19 January 1993
Slovenia
2,025,000
22 May 1992
Solomon Islands Somalia
536,000
19 September 1978
9,359,000
20 September 1960
South Africa
50,492,000
South Sudan
8,260,490
7 November 1945 14 July 2011
Spain
45,317,000
14 December 1955
Sri Lanka
20,410,000
14 December 1955
Sudan
43,192,000
12 November 1956
Suriname
524,000
Swaziland
1,202,000
4 December 1975 24 September 1968
Sweden
9,293,000
19 November 1946
MEMBER STATES
Member State Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic
Population (est.) For 2017 7,595,000 22,505,000
Tajikistan
7,075,000
Thailand
68,139,000
Date of admission 10 September 2002 24 October 1945 2 March 1992 16 December 1946
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
2,043,000
8 April 1993
Timor-Leste
1,171,000
27 September 2002
Togo
6,780,000
20 September 1960
104,000
14 September 1999
1,344,000
18 September 1962
Tunisia
10,374,000
12 November 1956
Turkey
75,705,000
24 October 1945
Tonga Trinidad and Tobago
Turkmenistan Tuvalu
5,177,000 10,000
2 March 1992 5 September 2000
Uganda
33,796,000
25 October 1962
Ukraine
45,433,000
24 October 1945
4,707,000
9 December 1971
United Kingdom
61,899,000
24 October 1945
United Republic of Tanzania
45,040,000
14 December 1961
United Arab Emirates
United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu
317,641,000 3,372,000 27,794,000 246,000
24 October 1945 18 December 1945 2 March 1992 15 September 1981
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
29,044,000
15 November 1945
Viet Nam
89,029,000
20 September 1977
Yemen
24,256,000
30 September 1947
Zambia
13,257,000
1 December 1964
Zimbabwe
12,644,000
25 August 1980
157
FLAGS OF THE MEMBER STATES
AFGHANISTAN
ALBANIA
ALGERIA
ANDORRA
ANGOLA
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
ARGENTINA
ARMENIA
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRIA
AZERBAIJAN
BAHAMAS
BAHRAIN
BANGLADESH
BARBADOS
BELARUS
BELGIUM
BELIZE
BENIN
BHUTAN
BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
BOTSWANA
BRAZIL
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
BULGARIA
BURKINA FASO
BURUNDI
CABO VERDE
CAMBODIA
CAMEROON
CANADA
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
CHAD
CHILE
CHINA
COLOMBIA
COMOROS
CONGO
COSTA RICA
CÔTE D’IVOIRE
CROATIA
CUBA
CYPRUS
CZECH REPUBLIC
DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
DENMARK
DJIBOUTI
DOMINICA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ECUADOR
EGYPT
EL SALVADOR
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
ERITREA
ESTONIA
ETHIOPIA
FIJI
FINLAND
FRANCE
GABON
GAMBIA
GEORGIA
GERMANY
GHANA
GREECE
GRENADA
GUATEMALA
GUINEA
GUINEA-BISSAU
GUYANA
HAITI
HONDURAS
HUNGARY
ICELAND
INDIA
INDONESIA
IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
IRAQ
IRELAND
ISRAEL
ITALY
JAMAICA
JAPAN
JORDAN
KAZAKHSTAN
KENYA
KIRIBATI
KUWAIT
KYRGYZSTAN
LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
LATVIA
LEBANON
LESOTHO
LIBERIA
LIBYA
LIECHTENSTEIN
LITHUANIA
LUXEMBOURG
MADAGASCAR
MALAWI
MALAYSIA
MALDIVES
MALI
MALTA
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MAURITANIA
MAURITUS
MEXICO
MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES OF)
MONACO
MONGOLIA
MONTENEGRO
MOROCCO
MOZAMBIQUE
MYANMAR
NAMIBIA
NAURU
NEPAL
NETHERLANDS
NEW ZEALAND
NICARAGUA
NIGER
NIGERIA
NORWAY
OMAN
PAKISTAN
PALAU (REPUBLIC OF)
PANAMA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PARAGUAY
PERU
PHILIPPINES
POLAND
PORTUGAL
QATAR
ROMANIA
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
RWANDA
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
SAINT LUCIA
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
SAMOA
SAN MARINO
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
SAUDI ARABIA
SENEGAL
SERBIA
SEYCHELLES
SIERRA LEONE
SINGAPORE
SLOVAKIA
SLOVENIA
SOLOMON ISLANDS
SOMALIA
SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH SUDAN
SPAIN
SRI LANKA
SUDAN
SURINAME
SWAZILAND
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
TAJIKISTAN
THAILAND
THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
TIMOR-LESTE
TOGO
TONGA
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
TUNISIA
TURKEY
TURKMENISTAN
TUVALU
UGANDA
UKRAINE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
URUGUAY
UZBEKISTAN
VANUATU
VENEZUELA (BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF)
VIETNAM
YEMEN
ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE
HOLY SEE
STATE OF PALESTINE
REPUBLIC OF KOREA REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
NON-MEMBER OBSERVER STATE
Every effort has been made to ensure that the images and text of this poster are complete and accurate. Due to technical reasons, some colours and designs may not comply exactly with official specifications of the flags. All images current as of December 2017.
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