United Nations Research Guide  Tags: united_nations political_science history economics statistics mathematics_statistics law_government_documents political_science_public_admin  

The United Nations replaced the League of Nations in 1945. The United Nations Charter was signed on June 26, 1945 at San Francisco (3 Bevans 1153, UN Yearbook). The mandate of the United Nations includes peace and security, economic and social development, human rights, decolonization and international law. It is composed of six principal organs and currently there are 192 Member Sations.

Official United Nations Home Page (New York)
http://www.un.org/

A complete UN site, including sections for Conferences and Events, General Information, UN Documents (full-text), Publications & Sales, Databases, UN News (including the UN Journal, Daily Highlights & Press Releases), UN Around the World, and What's New. There are also sections covering the UN's main areas of concern: Peace & Security, International Law, Economic & Social Development, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Affairs. The entire site is searchable. This is an excellent starting point if one has not already identified a more specific information resource.

About the United Nations: Introduction to the Structure and Work in the UN
http://www.un.org/aboutun/

Category headings are Background Information, Main Bodies, Main Documents, Guided Tours, UN On-Line Tour, Who’s Who, Member States, Staff Services, and Mailing Address. Also has links to employment opportunities, internships at headquarters, recruitment through competitive examinations, media accreditations and an NGO Section.

Official Website Locator for the UNITED NATIONS System of Organizations
http://www.unsystem.org/

A consolidated effort to provide access to official UN web sites by various methods including an alphabetical index of all United Nations Organizations (UNOs); a classified index; a listing of which UNOs have online information for frequently requested items, e.g. conference schedules, library and documentation services, press releases, etc.; and a subject index. Also offers access to UN-related sites, including other international organizations.

Organization Chart of the UN System
http://www.un.org/aboutun/chart.html

Excellent printable version of the UN System with hot links to most of the UN organs.

Principal United Nations Offices Around the World
http://www.un.org/aroundworld/map/

This map of the world is a handy way to locate other UN web sites, including specialized agencies, programmes, and regional commissions. Has embedded hot links to offices listed.

United-Nations.start4all.com
http://united-nations.start4all.com/

Very useful, compact overview directory of information available from the UN and related organizations on the Internet.

General Assembly
http://www.un.org/ga/ (Main Site), http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/gasess.htm (Research Guide)

The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. It is composed of representatives of all Member States, each of which has one vote. Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new Members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority. Decisions on other questions are reached by a simple majority. These decisions may be adopted without a vote, or with a vote, which may be recorded, non-recorded or by roll-call.

Economic and Social Council
http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ecosoc/ (Main Site), http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/ecsess.htm (Guide)

The Economic and Social Council was established by the Charter as the principal organ, under the authority of the General Assembly, to promote: (a) higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development; (b) solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems; and international cultural and educational cooperation; and (c) universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. The council has 54 members who serve three-year terms. Voting in the Council is by simple majority; each member has one vote. Most of the work of the Council is carried out by its various commissions.

International Court of Justice
http://www.icj-cij.org/

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its seat is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). The Court has a dual role: to settle in accordance with international law the legal disputes submitted to it by States, and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized international organs and agencies. The Court is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council sitting independently of each other. It may not include more than one judge of any nationality. Elections are held every three years for one-third of the seats, and retiring judges may be re-elected. The Members of the Court do not represent their governments but are independent magistrates.

Secretariat
http://www.un.org/documents/st.htm

The Secretariat, an international staff working at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and all over the world, carries out the diverse day-to-day work of the Organization. It services the other principal organs of the United Nations and administers the programmes and policies laid down by them. At its head is the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five- year, renewable term.

Security Council
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc (Main Site), http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/scsess.htm (Research Guide)

The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is so organized as to be able to function continuously, and a representative of each of its members must be present at all times at United Nations Headquarters. The Council has 15 members-- five permanent members (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and United States) and 10 elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.

Trusteeship Council
http://www.un.org/documents/tc.htm

Composed of the permanent Security Council members. In November 1994 the last of the original 11 Trust Territories was removed from its administrative authority. Having completed its original mandate, the Council will meet in the future only as need arises.

The specialized agencies are separate, autonomous organizations related to the UN by special agreements. The following links will give detailed listings of these agencies with links to each agency's web sites and information.

IGO (International Governmental Organizations) Internet Sites
http://www.stanford.edu/group/Jonsson/igourl.html

Authored by Chuck Eckman, Jonsson Library of Government Documents, Stanford University.

International Governmental Organizations
http://www.library.northwestern.edu/govpub/resource/internat/igo.html

Maintained by Mike McCaffrey-Novis, International Documents Librarian at Northwestern University.

UN System Sites
http://www.un.org/aroundworld/

Links to other organizations affiliated with the UN.

UNDCCP List of United Nations and Other International Organizations’ Web Links
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/quick-Links.html

The UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention provides various links to UN web sites, Model UN web sites and related Non-UN web sites (grouped by subject).