UPSC Express

• The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that promotes international cooperation and peace building.
• The United Nations was established after the end of WWII on the 24th of October 1945 in order to prevent a similar global conflict from ever reoccurring.
• The United Nations replaced the ineffective League of Nations, which was created after the end of WWI.
• The United Nations has 193 member states.
• Its headquarters is situated in New York City.
• The UN aims to maintain international peace, promote human rights, encourage global disarmament, foster social and economic development, protect the environment, provide humanitarian aid in cases of famine, natural disaster, and armed conflict, and further sustainable development.

The UN General Assembly  formally appointed Antonio Guterres as the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, replacing Ban Ki-moon.

• He will serve for five years starting from January 1, 2017.
• The UN Secretary-General is the head of the United Nations Secretariat and is de facto spokesperson and leader of the UN.