United Nations: History, membership, objectives and structure

The United Nations (UN) is the world’s foremost international organization dedicated to peace, security, cooperation, and development. It was founded on 24 October 1945, in the aftermath of World War II, when 51 nations signed the UN Charter in San Francisco. The devastation of the war and the failure of the League of Nations highlighted the urgent need for a stronger global institution to prevent conflicts and promote collective security. The UN officially came into existence when the Charter was ratified by the majority of signatory nations, including the five permanent members of the Security Council. Since then, 24 October is celebrated annually as United Nations Day.
From its modest beginnings, the UN has grown into a near-universal organization, serving as the world’s largest forum for multilateral dialogue and international cooperation.
Current Membership
As of 2025, the United Nations has 193 member states, encompassing virtually every recognized sovereign nation in the world. South Sudan, which joined in 2011, is the most recent member. The UN also recognizes two observer states: the Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine.
Membership in the UN signifies equal sovereignty of states, regardless of their size, wealth, or political system, under the principle of “sovereign equality” enshrined in the Charter.
Objectives of the UN
The purposes of the United Nations, as laid down in its Charter, include:
– Maintaining international peace and security by preventing conflicts, mediating disputes, and deploying peacekeeping missions.
– Promoting friendly relations among nations based on equal rights and self-determination.
– Encouraging international cooperation in solving global issues-economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian.
– Promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without discrimination.
– Serving as a center for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve common goals.
Over the decades, these objectives have expanded to include sustainable development, climate action, gender equality, and humanitarian relief.

Composition of the UN- The General Assembly (GA)

The General Assembly is the deliberative organ of the UN where all 193 member states have equal representation, each with one vote. It meets annually in regular sessions, usually beginning in September.
– Functions: Debates major issues, approves the UN budget, admits new members, and elects non-permanent members of the Security Council.
– GA President: The Assembly elects a President annually, on a rotational basis among regional groups, to preside over sessions and guide discussions.
The Security Council (UNSC)
The Security Council is the executive organ responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
– Membership: It has 15 members – 5 permanent (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
– Powers: The Council can impose sanctions, authorize military action, and establish peacekeeping missions. Each permanent member holds veto power, allowing them to block substantive resolutions.
The Secretary-General
The Secretary-General is the chief administrative officer and the symbolic leader of the United Nations. Appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council, the Secretary-General serves a five-year renewable term.
Duties and Powers:
– Acts as the head of the UN Secretariat.
– Brings attention to threats to peace.
– Mediates disputes and undertakes “good offices” diplomacy.
– Oversees peacekeeping operations and humanitarian programs.
– Serves as a spokesperson for the international community on global issues.
The Secretary-General thus plays both a political and administrative role, embodying the values and vision of the UN Charter.
Major Organs and Specialized Wings
Besides the General Assembly, Security Council, and Secretariat, the UN system encompasses various organs, specialized agencies, and programs:
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Based in The Hague, Netherlands, it is the principal judicial organ of the UN, settling legal disputes between states and giving advisory opinions on legal questions.
UN Peacekeepers
Often called the “Blue Helmets,” they are deployed to conflict zones to maintain ceasefires, protect civilians, support elections, and aid post-conflict recovery.
UN Women
Established in 2010, it is the UN entity dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women worldwide.
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)
Focuses on child welfare, health, and education.
WHO (World Health Organization)
Directs international health efforts and coordinates responses to global pandemics.
UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
Protects refugees and stateless people, providing aid and seeking durable solutions.
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
Works to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development.
WFP (World Food Programme)
Addresses global hunger and food security.
These specialized agencies and programs reflect the UN’s wide-ranging role in global governance-beyond security, into development, rights, and humanitarian aid.
The United Nations, despite criticisms and challenges, remains the most important global forum for dialogue and cooperation. With 193 members, it is both a symbol and a mechanism of collective responsibility. Its organs-General Assembly, Security Council, and Secretariat-along with specialized agencies like the ICJ, UN Women, and peacekeeping forces, illustrate its multidimensional mandate.
In an era of climate change, pandemics, migration crises, and geopolitical conflicts, the UN’s objectives of peace, cooperation, and human dignity remain as vital today as they were in 1945.