3.3 Main Organs of the UN: Overview and Functions

The United Nations operates through six main organs, each with distinct roles. The General Assembly and Security Council tackle global issues and peace, while ECOSOC focuses on development. The ICJ settles legal disputes, and the Secretariat manages operations.

These organs vary in composition and power. The General Assembly includes all member states, while the Security Council has permanent and rotating members. Reform efforts aim to enhance effectiveness and address challenges like bureaucracy and veto power deadlocks.

Overview of UN Main Organs

Main organs of United Nations

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• General Assembly deliberates global issues fosters multilateral negotiations makes non-binding recommendations to Member States (climate change, human rights)

• Security Council maintains international peace and security authorizes military interventions recommends Secretary-General appointment admits new UN members (Syria conflict, North Korea sanctions)

• Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) coordinates UN's economic and social work promotes international development cooperation (sustainable development goals, humanitarian aid)

• Trusteeship Council supervised trust territories operations suspended since 1994 remains on paper (Palau, Somalia)

• International Court of Justice (ICJ) settles legal disputes between states provides advisory opinions on international law (border disputes, treaty interpretations)

• Secretariat administers UN programs and policies conducts research provides logistical support headed by Secretary-General (peacekeeping operations, climate reports)

Composition and powers of organs

• General Assembly
  • All 193 UN member states represented
  • Approves UN budget elects Security Council non-permanent members appoints Secretary-General
  • One country one vote two-thirds majority for important questions simple majority for other matters
• Security Council
  • 15 members (5 permanent: China, France, Russia, UK, USA; 10 non-permanent)
  • Imposes sanctions authorizes force establishes peacekeeping operations
  • 9 affirmative votes required permanent members hold veto power on substantive matters
• Economic and Social Council
  • 54 members elected by General Assembly
  • Conducts studies on global economic and social issues makes policy recommendations
  • Decisions made by majority vote
• Trusteeship Council
  • Comprised of 5 permanent Security Council members
  • Currently inactive simple majority voting when operational
• International Court of Justice
  • 15 judges elected by General Assembly and Security Council
  • Issues binding rulings between states provides advisory opinions
  • Decisions made by majority vote of present judges
• Secretariat
  • International staff at worldwide duty stations
  • Prepares reports implements UN decisions provides administrative support
  • Hierarchical structure led by Secretary-General

Effectiveness of UN organs

• General Assembly
  • Provides universal forum for global issues adopts numerous resolutions
  • Resolutions lack legal binding power slow decision-making process
• Security Council
  • Takes swift action in crises implements peacekeeping operations
  • Veto power causes deadlocks uneven geographical representation
• Economic and Social Council
  • Coordinates UN development work engages with NGOs and civil society
  • Limited authority over specialized agencies overlaps with other UN bodies
• Trusteeship Council
  • Completed mandate for trust territories
  • No current function
• International Court of Justice
  • Resolves complex interstate disputes contributes to international law development
  • Lacks enforcement mechanism jurisdiction depends on state consent
• Secretariat
  • Provides institutional continuity implements global UN programs
  • Faces bureaucratic inefficiencies vulnerable to member state political pressures

Reforms of UN organs

• General Assembly streamlines agenda improves working methods enhances transparency

• Security Council debates membership expansion introduces informal "Arria formula" meetings

• Economic and Social Council creates Development Cooperation Forum strengthens humanitarian assistance coordination

• Trusteeship Council considers repurposing for global commons (oceans, space)

• International Court of Justice increases use of specialized chambers encourages wider compulsory jurisdiction acceptance

• Secretariat implements management reforms promotes gender parity strengthens whistleblower protection

• Cross-cutting reforms

  1. Establish UN Global Compact for business engagement
  2. Implement Sustainable Development Goals as unifying framework
  3. Create Peacebuilding Commission for post-conflict challenges