United nations

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded on October 24, 1945, after World War II, with the aim of preventing future conflicts and fostering international cooperation. It currently has 193 member states. The UN's mission is to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations.

The main organs of the UN are:

1. **General Assembly**: A deliberative body where all member states have equal representation. It discusses and makes decisions on international issues covered by the UN Charter.
2. **Security Council**: Responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It has 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
3. **International Court of Justice**: Settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on international legal issues.
4. **Secretariat**: Conducts the day-to-day work of the UN, headed by the Secretary-General.
5. **Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)**: Coordinates the economic and social work of the UN and its specialized agencies and institutions.
6. **Trusteeship Council**: Established to oversee the administration of trust territories and ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the territories for self-governance and independence. Its operations have been suspended since the last trust territory achieved independence.

The UN also has various specialized agencies, funds, and programs, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), each addressing different global issues.

The UN is headquartered in New York City, with additional major offices in Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi.