United Nations: Principal Organs, Its Functions & History

The United Nations Organization (UNO) is the largest and most influential global body of international cooperation. Established in 1945 after World War II, its purpose was to prevent wars, maintain peace, and strengthen friendly relations among nations. Today, the UN has 193 member states and functions under the UN Charter, which outlines its principles and objectives.

At the heart of the UN system are the 6 principal organs of UN, also referred to as the 6 organs of UN or organs of the United Nations. When students ask what are the 6 organs of UNO, the answer lies in these core institutions: the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat, and Trusteeship Council. Together, these UN organs coordinate global peace, justice, and development.

Alongside the organs of UN, the UN’s specialized agencies such as WHO, UNESCO, and UNEP address global challenges in health, education, environment, and humanitarian aid, making the UNO central to international relations.

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What is United Nations Organization?

The UN was created as a successor to the League of Nations, which had failed to prevent World War II. The Charter of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945, laid out the vision of a new, stronger organization. The UN officially came into force on 24 October 1945, a date now celebrated as United Nations Day worldwide.

The purposes of the UN are enshrined in its Charter:

• To maintain international peace and security.
• To promote respect for human rights.
• To foster cooperation on economic, social, and cultural issues.
• To provide a platform where states can discuss and resolve disputes peacefully.

The organs of the United Nations make these goals actionable, dividing tasks across security, justice, diplomacy, and development.

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History of UNO

The history of UNO is closely tied to the lessons learned from the failures of the League of Nations.

• League of Nations (1920–1946): Formed after World War I under the Treaty of Versailles. It failed due to lack of participation by major powers (like the USA) and inability to prevent aggression (Japan in Manchuria, Italy in Ethiopia).
• World War II Conferences: Allied leaders began discussions for a new organization even before the war ended.
• Atlantic Charter (1941): Roosevelt and Churchill envisioned a new world order based on collective security.
• Moscow and Tehran Conferences (1943): Allies agreed on establishing an international organization.
• Yalta Conference (1945): Structure of the Security Council, including veto power, was finalized.
• San Francisco Conference (1945): 50 countries drafted and signed the UN Charter.
• Founding: On 24 October 1945, after ratification by the five permanent Security Council members and a majority of signatories, the UN officially came into existence.

The history of UNO is not just institutional—it represents a new global consensus: preventing the horrors of another world war and providing a platform for diplomacy.

Establishment of United Nations

The United Nations came into existence after the Second World War and was shaped by the plans and objectives of the Allied powers during that period. Founded in 1945, it is an international organization that now includes 193 Member States. The purposes and principles set out in its founding Charter guide the mission and operations of the UN. Empowered by this Charter and its distinctive global standing, United Nations addresses the major challenges of the 21st century, such as -

• maintaining peace and security
• tackling climate change
• promoting sustainable development
• defending human rights
• advancing disarmament
• fighting terrorism
• responding to humanitarian and health emergencies
• supporting gender equality
• strengthening governance
• ensuring food security and more

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United Nations PDF Download

Students can download ready-to-use United Nations notes PDF for quick revision before exams from the link below. The PDF contains:

• Complete details on 6 principal organs of UN and their functions
• Simplified explanation of what are the 6 organs of UNO
• Coverage of UN specialized agencies and roles
• History, structure, and organs of the United Nations
• Easy-to-read format for last-minute preparation
• Saves time and helps in answering questions correctly in exams

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6 Principal Organs of the United Nations

The United Nations is an international body committed to preserve global peace and ensure security for all people. The aims of United Nations is to build harmonious and cooperative relations among nations.

To understand organs of UN and their functions, it is important to learn about the principal organs of UN. What are the 6 organs of uno ?The organization carries out its work through six principal bodies, often referred to as the six organs of UNO. The united nations six principal organs includes include General Assembly, Security Council, Secretariat, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council and International Court of Justice. The following are in detail about each of these United Nations organs and functions.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the primary deliberative, policymaking and representative body among the organs of United Nations. It is the only UN organ that includes all 193 Member States, giving it universal representation. Every September, the full membership convenes in the General Assembly Hall in New York for its annual session and general debate which is attended by many heads of state who deliver addresses.

The Assembly has established various bodies to acknowledge various spectrum of issues and activities. It operates through six main committees each responsible for different areas: 

• disarmament and international security
• economic and financial matter
• social, humanitarian
• cultural issues
• special political and decolonization affairs
• administrative and budgetary matters
• legal questions

It is important to note that the decisions on most matters are taken by a simple majority vote. In addition to these main committees, the General Assembly has two Standing Committees that manage administrative and budgetary matters between sessions. It also oversees various subsidiary, ad hoc and other bodies that deal with specialized topics. 

Examples include the International Law Commission, UN Commission on International Trade Law, UN Institute for Training and Research, the Council for Namibia and UN Relief and Works Agency. Each year the Assembly elects a President to serve a one-year term.

Functions and Powers of General Assembly

Under the Charter of the United Nations, the General Assembly i.e., one of the principal organs of UN has a series of functions and powers. It can:

• Consider and recommend general principles of cooperation for maintaining international peace and security including measures related to disarmament
• Discuss any matters relating to peace and security and unless such issues are currently before the Security Council and make recommendations on them
• Deliberate and give recommendations on any issues within the scope of the Charter or affecting the roles of any of the organs of UN
• Initiate studies and make recommendations to promote international political cooperation, advance the development and codification of international law, foster human rights and fundamental freedoms and encourage international collaboration in economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, educational and health matters
• Offer proposals for the peaceful settlement of situations that could harm friendly relations between nations
• Receive and review reports from the Security Council and United Nations and its organs
• Approve the United Nations budget and set the financial contributions of Member States
• Elect non-permanent members of the Security Council and other UN councils and bodies and appoint the Secretary-General upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

This makes the General Assembly important among the principal organs of United Nations.

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Security Council

Among the principal organs of UN the Security Council holds the main duty for maintenance of international peace and security as established by the UN Charter. This body is composed of 15 members including five permanent members namely:

• China
• France
• Russia
• United Kingdom
• United States

The members were granted permanent status and veto power shows the balance of power in 1945. Every member has one vote but the decisions of the Council are binding and all Member States are required to follow them.

The Security Council plays an important role in understanding threats to peace or acts of aggression. It urges the parties involved in conflicts to resolve them through peaceful means and recommends appropriate steps or terms of settlement. When necessary the Council can impose sanctions or authorize the use of force to safeguard or restore international peace and security.

The Presidency of the Security Council rotates among its members every month, ensuring that leadership is shared. This important body is a cornerstone of the United Nations and its organs, demonstrating how the organs of UN work collectively to uphold global stability.

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Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

The Economic and Social Council is one of the principal organs of United Nations, is the main forum for coordination, policy dialogue and review on economic, social and environmental matters. It also guides the implementation of internationally agreed development goals.

As the UN’s central platform in these areas, the Council oversees the work of the UN system and its specialized agencies related to economic, social and environmental issues and supervises numerous subsidiary and expert bodies. The Council is made up of 54 Member States which are elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms with elections held in a staggered manner to ensure continuity. Every member has one vote.

Among the organs of UN, this body plays an essential role in fostering sustainable development. It provides a space for reflection, debate and generation of new ideas. Over time, one of its most significant contributions has been establishing a series of bodies dedicated to advancing economic progress, social development and human rights.

Secretariat

The United Nations Secretariat is one of the principal organs of UN comprising of the Secretary-General and thousands of international staff members responsible for carrying out the Organization’s daily activities as directed by the General Assembly and other organs of United Nations. The Secretary-General who serves as the chief administrative officer of the UN is appointed by the General Assembly based on the recommendation of the Security Council for a renewable term of five years.

Staff members of the Secretariat are recruited from around the world, reflecting the international character of the UN. They work both at headquarters and in various duty stations including on peacekeeping operations across the globe. This essential organ ensures that the mandates and decisions of the United Nations and its organs are implemented effectively in practice.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The idea of creating a world court dates back to the Covenant of the League of Nations, which called for proposals to establish such an institution. This led to the founding of the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ) in 1920 which encouraged the development of international dispute resolution mechanisms. After the Second World War, the PCIJ was replaced by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) described in Article 92 of the UN Charter as the principal judicial organ of United Nations.

Organization of the Court

The ICJ is composed of 15 judges elected regardless of nationality. These judges must be individuals of high moral standing who either meet the qualifications for appointment to the highest judicial offices in their home countries or are recognized experts in international law. Judges are elected by both the General Assembly and the Security Council voting separately based on nominations submitted by national groups of the Permanent Court of Arbitration or by special national groups in the case of UN members not represented there. Elections are held every three years to fill five seats and each judge serves a nine-year term with the possibility of re-election.

Jurisdiction of the Court

The ICJ settles conflicts in accordance with international law as it stands at the time of its decisions. Unlike legislative organs of United Nations the Court does not create law although the cases before it often involve political elements. The Court has two main types of jurisdiction:

• Contentious Jurisdiction
  This jurisdiction applies to legal disputes submitted by States that have consented to the Court’s authority. Such consent can be expressed in several ways:
  • Through a special agreement after a dispute arises (e.g., the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project case between Hungary and Slovakia).
  • By including a jurisdictional clause in a treaty that obliges the parties to submit disputes over the treaty’s interpretation or application to the ICJ.
  • Through a declaration recognizing the Court’s jurisdiction as compulsory regarding any State accepting the same obligation, under Article 36(2) of the Statute—commonly known as the Optional Clause.
• Advisory Jurisdiction
  The ICJ also issues advisory opinions when requested by the General Assembly, the Security Council or other United Nations and its organs and specialized agencies. These opinions are limited to legal questions within the scope of the requesting body’s activities and are not binding.

As one of the principal organs of UN the International Court of Justice plays an important role in upholding the rule of law and resolving disputes peacefully, reinforcing the objectives of the United Nations and its organs to promote international stability and justice.

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Trusteeship Council

The United Nations Trusteeship Council, one of the principal organs of United Nations was established in 1945 under Chapter XIII of the UN Charter. A trust territory refers to a non-self-governing region placed under the administrative authority designated by the Trusteeship Council of the UN. These territories were the direct successors of the remaining League of Nations mandates. Originally, a League of Nations mandate was a legal structure used after the First World War to transfer the control of certain regions from one country to another based on internationally accepted terms agreed upon by the League for administering these areas.

When the League of Nations dissolved in 1946 its mandates transitioned into United Nations trust territories. The Trusteeship Council was tasked with overseeing 11 such territories, administered by seven Member States and to ensure that proper measures were undertaken to guide them toward self-government or full independence. By 1994 all these territories had successfully achieved self-rule or sovereignty led to the Trusteeship Council, an important body among the organs of United Nations to suspend its operations on 1 November 1994. This marked the fulfillment of its mandate and a significant chapter in the history of the United Nations and its organs.

UN Specialized Agencies

The UN’s effectiveness also comes from its specialized agencies, which are autonomous organizations linked through ECOSOC. They extend the reach of the UN into specific areas of global concern.

• World Health Organization (WHO): Directs international health, combats pandemics (e.g., COVID-19).
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): Promotes cultural heritage, world heritage sites, and education reforms.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): Leads global food security and agricultural development.
• International Monetary Fund (IMF): Ensures global financial stability, provides loans.
• World Bank Group: Funds development and poverty reduction projects.
• International Labour Organization (ILO): Sets labor standards, protects workers’ rights.
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): Protects patents and intellectual property rights.
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): Regulates international air transport.

Significance of Specialized Agencies

• They provide technical expertise to complement the broader political work of the organs of the United Nations.
• They deliver on-ground results, such as vaccines through WHO, literacy programs through UNESCO, and poverty alleviation projects through the World Bank.
• They represent the functional dimension of the UN, proving that the organization is not limited to debates but also engages in practical global problem-solving.

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What is UN’s Contribution to World?

Since its creation, the UN has left a deep mark:

• Peacekeeping missions in conflict zones like Congo, Cyprus, Lebanon.
• Adoption of landmark treaties, e.g., Paris Agreement on climate change.
• Promotion of human rights through conventions and monitoring bodies.
• Adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to fight poverty, inequality, and climate change.

What About UN’s Cooperation with India?

India has been an active player in the UN from the very beginning:

• Peacekeeping: India is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping forces.
• Security Council: India seeks permanent membership to reflect its global role.
• Development: Collaborates with UNDP, UNICEF, and WHO on development, education, and health.
• Global Issues: Active on climate change, counter-terrorism, and equitable global order.

Challenges Faced by the UN & What Reforms Can Be Brought?

The challenges faced by the UN are as follows-

• Over-dependence on few countries for funding.
• Deadlocks in the Security Council due to veto.
• Limited representation for Africa, Asia, and Latin America in decision-making.
• Geopolitical tensions reducing trust in multilateralism.

Reforms Needed:

• Security Council enlargement.
• Restricting veto misuse.
• More autonomy and funding for peacekeeping.
• Stronger role in global health and climate action.

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Conclusion

The United Nations Organization is the backbone of international governance. The United Nations six principal organs includes the General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, ICJ, Secretariat, and Trusteeship Council. These 6 principal organs of UN form the core structure of cooperation and decision-making. For anyone asking what are the 6 organs of UNO or the 6 organs of UN, the answer lies in these fundamental UN organs that manage peace, justice, development, and administration.

The history of UNO shows how it emerged from the ashes of war to prevent future conflicts. The organs of UNO, along with specialized agencies, extend the mission of the United Nations into daily life, covering food, health, labor, education, and finance. These United Nations organs highlight the importance of global collaboration in every aspect of society.

Despite its shortcomings, the organs of United Nations and their functions remain indispensable. Strengthened by reforms, the organs of United Nations and the organs of the United Nations can ensure that peace, justice, and cooperation envisioned in 1945 continue to guide the organs of UN and the 6 organ of UN in the 21st century.

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