The work of the UN
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The United Nations is a global organization where countries come together to discuss and address shared challenges. Simply put, the UN focuses on any issue that crosses borders and can affect relations between countries.
Founded at the end of the Second World War, its main purpose is to maintain international peace and security and to prevent such conflicts from happening again. To support this goal, the UN also works on human rights, humanitarian assistance, and social and economic development.
Today, 193 countries are members of the United Nations, making it one of the most globally representative organizations in the world. It is unique: no other platform brings together countries from all regions to discuss all global issues openly.
The UN addresses many issues that affect people’s daily lives, including preventing the spread of diseases, combatting crime, preventing conflict, managing waste, sharing resources, defending human rights, protecting the environment, and more.
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The United Nations is governed by its Member States who take all major decisions about the UN’s work. They meet annually at the General Assembly and, throughout the year, at numerous thematic meetings and conferences, such as the Human Rights Council and the Ocean Conference.
The UN Secretariat facilitates this process. It organizes the meetings, provides the necessary technology, language and security services, and manages the conference facilities.
During these gatherings, representatives of Member States negotiate joint decisions – resolutions, treaties, accords, or political declarations. Some are legally binding, while others express shared priorities or commitments.
Many are later incorporated into national legislation or policies, guiding governments’ actions at national and local levels. The UN system may help government to implement their decisions, for example in the fields of:
- climate action
- education
- public health
- disaster risk reduction and response
- protecting refugees
- delivering humanitarian aid
- promoting sustainable development
- defending human rights
Some agreements directly instruct UN entities to undertake specific tasks. Some examples:
- Investigations: The General Assembly established the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic to determine the fate and whereabouts of thousands of persons who went missing during the Syrian civil war.
- Research: UNCTAD produces monthly analyses on global trade to help Member States follow developments in global markets.
- Meetings on emerging issues: In August 2025, the UN General Assembly established the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, the first global scientific body on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Panel brings together leading experts to assess how AI is transforming our lives.
The scope of the UN’s work is wide and varied, reflecting the many challenges faced by the international community.
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The UN system is large and complex. It is comprised of the UN Secretariat and a family of more than 30 UN organizations. Around 130,000 people from almost 200 different states and territories work across the globe for UN bodies.
193 States are Members of the United Nations. Combined, they govern around 8.3 billion citizens, more than 99% of the global population. The UN’s decisions are truly universal.
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Under the UN Charter, the UN Security Council can investigate disputes, impose sanctions, authorize peace operations, and take measures to maintain international peace and security.
Other UN bodies have limited powers specific to their mandates. For example, the General Assembly approves the UN budget and can make non-binding recommendations related to any issue within the scope of the UN Charter, while the Human Rights Council can appoint experts and investigative bodies to look into various human rights issues.
However, the authority of all UN entities is framed by its Member States, who must direct and enforce their actions. The organization cannot work independently without Member States’ agreement. Therefore, the UN cannot act as a “world police” watching over countries. Its role is to help countries work together, not to control or punish them.