A global intergovernmental organization, the United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945 after the Second World War with an articulated mission to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, and serve as a centre for harmonizing actions of states in achieving those goals. Its founders were committed to a number of concrete, measurable and inclusive goals – including promoting social progress, better living standards for the world’s people, and universal respect for human rights.
The UN has 193 member states, representing almost every country in the world. The United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom are permanent members of the Security Council, which makes decisions by simple majority; there are no vetoes. The General Assembly, ECOSOC, and other bodies make recommendations to the Council on economic, social, cultural, educational, and humanitarian issues.
The judicial organ of the United Nations is the International Court of Justice, which settles legal disputes submitted by member states according to international law and gives advisory opinions on legal questions submitted by UN agencies. The Court has 15 judges and its judgments are final; there are no appeals.
The executive branch of the United Nations is headed by the Secretary-General, who acts as a diplomat, advocate, civil servant and chief executive officer. Antonio Guterres is the current Secretary-General, serving his second five-year term, having been sworn in on 24 April 2017. Dag Hammarskjold served as the first Secretary-General from 1946 to 1952.