Welcome to the United Nations. It's your world.

United Nations Visitors Centre

Fact Sheets

 

Becoming a New Member State of the United Nations

Certain criteria must be met in order for a new state or government to become eligible for membership in the United Nations. First, the new state must accept all obligations under the United Nations Charter; subsequently the admission will be effected by a decision of the General Assembly (by a 2/3 majority vote) upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
Learn more Back to top

 

Diplomatic Privileges/Immunities

Diplomatic privileges, immunities and exemptions were codified in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Countries that have recognized the Convention believe that granting privileges to diplomatic envoys encourages friendly relations among nations, irrespective of their differing constitutional and social systems.
Learn more Back to top

 

Employment Opportunities at the United Nations

The United Nations is looking for competent and motivated persons with a strong belief in its purposes and mandates, who are willing to dedicate themselves to a rewarding international career in different locations around the world. The United Nations provides an opportunity to serve in a dynamic, multicultural environment in a variety of jobs in the support of global causes. It also offers university students opportunities to serve as interns.
Learn more Back to top

 

Foucault Pendulum

The Foucault Pendulum, located in the Visitors’ Lobby area of the General Assembly Building, is a gift from the Government of the Netherlands; it provides visual proof of the rotation of the earth.
Learn more Back to top

 

General Assembly 66th session Highlights

Citing “Shifting Sands”, General Assembly President says future generations will hold Member States accountable for their response to current challenges. Plight of most vulnerable people amid global recession, Climate Change, Sustainable Development among Key Concerns of 66th session.
Download Fact Sheet
Back to top

 

History of United Nation Headquarters

Standing on the eastern shore of Manhattan island, on the banks of New York City's East River, United Nations Headquarters remains both a symbol of peace and a beacon of hope. To its 18 acres, declared international territory, come representatives of the earth's six billion people, to discuss and decide issues of peace, justice as well as economic and social well being.
Learn more Back to top

 

The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme

On 1 November 2005, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/60/7 designating 27 January as International Day of Commemoration to honour the victims of the Holocaust, to instill the memory of the tragedy in future generations, to prevent genocide from occurring again.
Learn more Back to top

 

How the UN Works 4 Women

Equality of rights for women is a basic principle of the United Nations. The Preamble of the Charter of the United Nations sets as one of the Organization's central goals the reaffirmation of "faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women".
Download Fact Sheet Back to top

 

International Day of Peace

The United Nations General Assembly on 28 September 2001 adopted resolution A/RES/55/282 marking 21 September as the International Day of Peace to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace both within and among all nations around the world.
Learn more Back to top

 

Least Developed Countries: the most vulnerable in the world

The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) represent the poorest and the weakest segment of the international community. Extreme poverty, the structural weaknesses of their economies and the lack of capacities related to growth, often compounded by structural handicaps, hamper efforts of these countries to improve the quality of life of their people. In addition, these countries are also characterized by acute susceptibility to external economic shocks, natural and man-made disasters and communicable diseases.
Download Fact Sheet Back to top

 

Meditation Room

The Meditation Room is located on the west side of the Visitors’ Lobby in the General Assembly Building; it opened in October 1952 and was envisioned by UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld as a quiet room dedicated to world peace for peoples of all faiths and religions.
Learn more Back to top

 

Millennium Development Goals

Not sure what the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) are?
The 8 MDGs set time bound and measurable targets which embody needs and basic rights that every individual should be able to enjoy to live with dignity.
Download Fact Sheet Back to top

 

The Role of the Secretary-General

Equal parts diplomat and advocate, civil servant and CEO, the Secretary-General is a symbol of United Nations ideals and a spokesman for the interests of the world's peoples, in particular the poor and vulnerable among them. The current Secretary-General, and the eight occupant of the post, is Mr. Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea, who took office on 1 January 2007.
Download Fact Sheet Back to top

 

Scams Involving the United Nations

We wish to warn you about correspondence being circulated via e-mail, and regular mail, falsely claiming association with the United Nations and/or its officials and engaging in fraudulent activities. Should you have any doubts about the authenticity of an e-mail, letter or telephone call supposedly from or on behalf of the United Nations and/or its officials, please send us an e-mail at inquiries@un.org before taking any further action or call us at 212-963-4475.
Learn more Back to top

 

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

On 21 June 2011, during the 101st plenary session of the General Assembly, Mr. Ban was re-appointed as the Secretary-General of the United Nations for a second consecutive term through a unanimous vote by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Security Council. The term will begin on 1 January 2012 and will end on 31 December 2016. During his second term, Mr. Ban hopes to increase international attention on global issues such as sustainable development and build stronger bridges and partnerships between member states.
Download Fact Sheet Back to top

 

Security Council 2011 Round-up

Civilian protection remains a top Security Council Agenda in 2011 amid violent suppression of mass protests; birth of New Member State. Members adopt 66 Resolutions, issue 22 Presidential Statements as number of meetings rises sharply from previous year.
Download Fact Sheet Back to top

 

 

 

United Nations Day

Also known as the birthday of the United Nations, it is celebrated on 24 October at the United Nations Headquarters and around the world to recognize the Organization’s achievements and the challenges it strives to overcome.
Learn more Back to top

 

United Nations Emblem and Flag

On 7 December 1946, the Assembly approved the emblem of the United Nations consisting of a map of the world, viewed from the North Pole, surrounded by two olive branches. The olive branch is a symbol of peace while the world map represents the Organization in its quest to attain world peace.
Learn more Back to top

 

What the UN does and What you can do to help

The Organization works on a broad range of fundamental issues, from sustainable development, environment and refugee protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, to promoting democracy, human rights, gender equality and the advancement of women, governance, economic and social development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production, and more.
Download Fact Sheet Back to top