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158  NE W Y ORK CIT Y AREA B Y AREA

The Work of the United Nations

The goals of the United Nations are pursued by three UN Security Council, it also
councils and a General Assembly comprising all of its member appoints the judges of the
nations. The Secretariat carries out the administrative work International Court of Justice,
of the organization. Guided tours allow visitors to see the based in the Netherlands.
Security Council Chamber. Often there is a chance to briefly
observe a meeting.
Secretary General Translators interpret
debates in Arabic, Chinese,
French, Russian, Spanish,
or English.
Mural symbolizing peace and freedom by
Per Krohg (Norway)
Security Council
The most powerful part of
the UN is the Security Council.
It strives to achieve international
peace and security and
intervenes in crises such as
Reporters the fighting in Iraq and
Afghanistan. It is the only
body whose decisions member
states are obliged to obey,
Public gallery as well as the only one in
continuous session.
Nation Public entrance Five of its members – China,
delegates sit in France, the Russian Federation,
alphabetical order by
country, but who sits at the the United Kingdom, and the
front is decided before every United States – are permanent.
session by drawing lots. General Assembly Hall The other nations are elected by
the General Assembly to serve
two-year terms.
General Assembly
Assembly also appoints the When international conflicts
The General Assembly is the Secretary General (on the arise, the Council first tries to
governing body of the UN recommendation of the Security seek agreement by mediation.
and has regular sessions each Council), approves the UN If fighting breaks out, it may
year from mid-September to budgets, and elects the issue cease-fire orders and
mid-December. Special sessions non-permanent members of impose military or economic
are also held when the Security the Councils. Together with the sanctions. It could also decide
Council or a majority of members to send UN peacekeeping
request one. All of the member missions into troubled areas to
states are represented with an separate opposing factions until
equal vote, regardless of size. issues can be resolved through
The General Assembly may diplomatic channels.
discuss any international Military intervention is the
problem raised by the members Council’s last resort. UN forces
or by other UN bodies. Although may be deployed, and peace-
it cannot enact laws, its keeping forces are resident in
recommen dations strongly such places as Cyprus and the
influence world opinion; these Middle East.
require a two-thirds majority vote.
Lots are drawn before
each session to determine the Trusteeship Council
seating in the chamber for the The smallest of the councils,
delegations. All 1,898 seats in this is the only UN body whose
the chamber are equipped with workload is decreasing. The
earphones that offer simul- Foucault’s Pendulum (Holland); its slowly council was established in 1945
taneous translations in several rotating swing is proof of the earth’s with the goal of fostering
languages. The General rotation on its axis peaceful independence for

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