United Nations Master Reviewer

A comprehensive vocabulary reviewer covering United Nations history, principal organs, specialized agencies, membership rules, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Charter of the United Nations

The founding treaty of the United Nations, signed on 26 June 1945 and entered into force on 24 October 1945, that establishes its purposes, principles, structure, and membership rules.

United Nations Day

An annual observance celebrated on 24 October marking the day in 1945 when the UN Charter entered into force and the Organization officially came into existence.

League of Nations

The predecessor international organization created in 1919 after World War I to preserve peace, which ultimately failed to prevent World War II.

Atlantic Charter

A 1941 statement issued by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill establishing fundamental principles for a post-war world order.

Declaration by United Nations

A wartime declaration signed on 1 January 1942 by 26 Allied nations that marked the first official use of the name 'United Nations.'

Dumbarton Oaks Proposals

A set of structural proposals formulated in 1944 that outlined the framework for the future United Nations organization.

San Francisco Conference

The United Nations Conference on International Organization held from 25 April to 26 June 1945, where delegates from 50 countries drafted the UN Charter.

Original Member States

The 51 founding countries of the UN, consisting of the 50 nations that signed the Charter at the San Francisco Conference plus Poland, which signed later as the 51st original member.

Non-Member Observer States

States recognized with observer status that participate in the UN but do not hold membership; currently consisting of the Holy See and the State of Palestine.

General Assembly (GA)

The primary deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN where all 193 Member States have equal representation with one vote each.

Security Council (SC)

The principal organ holding primary responsibility for international peace and security, consisting of 15 members: 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members serving two-year terms.

Permanent Five (P5)

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Veto Power

The special authority granted exclusively to the five permanent members of the Security Council to block the adoption of any substantive draft resolution.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

A principal UN organ composed of 54 members elected by the General Assembly for staggered three-year terms to coordinate international economic, social, and environmental work.

Trusteeship Council

A principal organ created to oversee the administration of Trust Territories, which suspended regular operations on 1 November 1994 after Palau achieved independence.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The principal judicial organ of the UN, seated at The Hague, Netherlands, comprising 15 judges elected for nine-year terms to resolve legal disputes between States.

UN Secretariat

The principal organ responsible for the day-to-day administration of the UN, headed by the Secretary-General and staffed by international civil servants.

Secretary-General

The chief administrative officer of the UN and chief diplomat, recommended by the Security Council and appointed by the General Assembly for a renewable five-year term.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

A landmark milestone document adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948 setting out fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

Pact for the Future

A framework adopted by the General Assembly in 2024 to strengthen multilateral cooperation, featuring the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations as annexes.

UN80 Initiative

An organizational reform effort launched around the 80th anniversary of the UN in 2025 focused on strengthening efficiency and improving delivery.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A set of 17 global goals adopted under the 2030 Agenda in 2015 designed to integrate economic, social, and environmental development while leaving no one behind.

SDG 1: No Poverty

The Sustainable Development Goal dedicated to ending poverty in all its forms everywhere.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The Sustainable Development Goal focused on ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The Sustainable Development Goal calling for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

The Sustainable Development Goal aimed at conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The Sustainable Development Goal aimed at protecting, restoring, and sustainably using terrestrial ecosystems, managing forests, combating desertification, and halting biodiversity loss.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The Sustainable Development Goal focused on promoting peaceful, inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The Sustainable Development Goal that seeks to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

Peacekeeping

A practical UN operational tool deployed with the consent of main parties, adherence to impartiality, and non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.

Multilateralism

Cooperation and diplomatic engagement among three or more nations, typically conducted through international institutions.

Specialized Agency

An autonomous international organization legally separate from the UN but linked to it through a negotiated agreement coordinating within the UN system.

Refugee

A person outside their country of nationality or habitual residence who meets specific legal criteria requiring international protection.

Internally Displaced Person (IDP)

An individual who has been forced to flee their home but has not crossed an internationally recognized State border.

Asylum-Seeker

An individual who has formally applied for international protection as a refugee but whose claim has not yet been definitively adjudicated.

Ratification

The formal domestic and international act by which a State establishes its consent to be legally bound by a treaty.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

A UN agency mandated to advocate for and protect the rights, health, education, and well-being of children worldwide.

World Health Organization (WHO)

The specialized agency of the UN responsible for directing and coordinating international public-health matters.

World Food Programme (WFP)

The food-assistance branch of the UN that delivers emergency nutrition support and humanitarian relief during crises.

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

The UN Secretariat office tasked with mobilizing and coordinating international humanitarian response efforts.