The United Nations is an international organization formed by 191 sovereign States, established after World War II to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations, promote social progress, better living standards and human rights.

The members are gathered around the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out the rights and duties of the International Community States.

The United Nations has six main organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat. All are localized in the headquarters of the UN, in New York, except the Court, which is located in the Hague, the Netherlands.

Specialized agencies which work in many different areas as health, agriculture, civil aviation, meteorology and labor are linked to the UN, as for example: WHO (World Health Organization), ILO (International Labour Organization), World Bank and IMF (International Monetary Fund). These specialized agencies, with the United Nations and other programs and funds (such as the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF), put together the United Nations System.