The United Nations and its System of specialized agencies, funds, and programmes affect every aspect of people’s lives around the world. Its work includes responding to and recovering from humanitarian crises and civil wars, providing refugee assistance, promoting sustainable development, clearing landmines, and fighting international terrorism, while working to bring the world’s poorer countries into economic prosperity.
The General Assembly is the main deliberative body, with each Member State having one vote and key issues decided by a two-thirds majority. It elects the members of the Security Council and approves their terms of office and the budget of the Organization. It also performs functions with respect to the international trusteeship system and may call for conferences on matters of global importance.
The Secretariat is the executive wing of the UN and carries out the policies set by the deliberative bodies, under the overall guidance of the Secretary-General. It is made up of a large number of departments and offices located worldwide, with headquarters in New York City. The Secretariat and its staff, who are international civil servants, take an oath not to seek or receive instructions from any government or outside authority in the performance of their duties. They also take an oath of confidentiality.
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