What are the six principal organs of the United Nations?

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The United Nations operates through six principal organs, which are established by the UN Charter to carry out the organization's work. These organs are:12

  • General Assembly: The main deliberative body, where all member states are represented to discuss international issues and make recommendations.3
  • Security Council: Charged with the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.4
  • Economic and Social Council: Responsible for coordinating the economic, social, and humanitarian activities of the UN and its specialized agencies.2
  • Trusteeship Council: Established to provide international supervision for trust territories; it suspended operations in 1994 after the last trust territory, Palau, gained independence.5
  • International Court of Justice: The principal judicial organ of the UN, located at The Hague, which settles legal disputes between states.6
  • Secretariat: The administrative arm of the UN, which carries out the day-to-day work of the organization as directed by the other organs.5