Chapter I: Purposes and
Principles
Article 1
The Purposes of the United Nations are:
1.
To
maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective
collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and
for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to
bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice
and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or
situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
2.
To develop
friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal
rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures
to strengthen universal peace;
3.
To achieve
international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic,
social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging
respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without
distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and
4.
To be a
centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common
ends.
Article 2
The
Organization and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1,
shall act in accordance with the following Principles.
1.
The
Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its
Members.
2.
All
Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting
from membership, shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed by them in
accordance with the present Charter.
3.
All
Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a
manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.
4.
All
Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of
force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,
or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.
5.
All
Members shall give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in
accordance with the present Charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to
any state against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement
action.
6.
The
Organization shall ensure that states which are not Members of the United
Nations act in accordance with these Principles so far as may be necessary for
the maintenance of international peace and security.
7.
Nothing
contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene
in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state
or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the
present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of
enforcement measures under Chapter Vll.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter II: Membership
Article
3
The
original Members of the United Nations shall be the states which, having
participated in the United Nations Conference on International Organization at
San Francisco, or having previously signed the Declaration by United Nations of
1 January 1942, sign the present Charter and ratify it in accordance with
Article 110.
Article 4
(1)
Membership
in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the
obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the
Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations.
(2)
The
admission of any such state to membership in the United Nations will be effected
by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security
Council.
Article 5
A Member
of the United Nations against which preventive or enforcement action has been
taken by the Security Council may be suspended from the exercise of the rights
and privileges of membership by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of
the Security Council. The exercise of these rights and privileges may be
restored by the Security Council.
Article 6
A Member
of the United Nations which has persistently violated the Principles contained
in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organization by the General
Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter III: Organs
Article 7
(1)
There are
established as the principal organs of the United Nations: a General Assembly, a
Security Council, an Economic and Social Council, a Trusteeship Council, an
International Court of Justice
and a Secretariat.
(2)
Such
subsidiary organs as may be found necessary may be established in accordance
with the present Charter.
Article 8
The
United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women
to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal
and subsidiary organs.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter IV: The General Assembly
Composition
Article 9
(1)
The
General Assembly shall consist of all the Members of the United Nations.
(2)
Each
Member shall have not more than five representatives in the General Assembly.
Functions and Powers
The
General Assembly may discuss any questions or any matters within the scope of
the present Charter or relating to the powers and functions of any organs
provided for in the present Charter, and, except as provided in Article 12, may
make recommendations to the Members of the United Nations or to the Security
Council or to both on any such questions or matters.
Article
11
(1)
The
General Assembly may consider the general principles of co-operation in the
maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles
governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments, and may make
recommendations with regard to such principles to the Members or to the Security
Council or to both.
(2)
The
General Assembly may discuss any questions relating to the maintenance of
international peace and security brought before it by any Member of the United
Nations, or by the Security Council, or by a state which is not a Member of the
United Nations in accordance with Article 35, paragraph 2, and, except as
provided in Article 12, may make recommendations with regard to any such
questions to the state or states concerned or to the Security Council or to
both. Any such question on which action is necessary shall be referred to the
Security Council by the General Assembly either before or after discussion.
(3)
The
General Assembly may call the attention of the Security Council to situations
which are likely to endanger international peace and security.
(4)
The powers
of the General Assembly set forth in this Article shall not limit the general
scope of Article 10.
Article
12
(1)
While the
Security Council is exercising in respect of any dispute or situation the
functions assigned to it in the present Charter, the General Assembly shall not
make any recommendation with regard to that dispute or situation unless the
Security Council so requests.
(2)
The
Secretary-General, with the consent of the Security Council, shall notify the
General Assembly at each session of any matters relative to the maintenance of
international peace and security which are being dealt with by the Security
Council and shall similarly notify the General Assembly, or the Members of the
United Nations if the General Assembly is not in session, immediately the
Security Council ceases to deal with such matters.
Article
13
(1)
The
General Assembly shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose
of:
a)
promoting
international co-operation in the political field and encouraging the
progressive development of international law and its codification;
b)
promoting
international co-operation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and
health fields, and assisting in the realization of human rights and fundamental
freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.
(2)
The
further responsibilities, functions and powers of the General Assembly with
respect to matters mentioned in paragraph 1 (b) above are set forth in Chapters
IX and X.
Article
14
Subject to
the provisions of Article 12, the General Assembly may recommend measures for
the peaceful adjustment of any situation, regardless of origin, which it deems
likely to impair the general welfare or friendly relations among nations,
including situations resulting from a violation of the provisions of the present
Charter setting forth the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations.
Article
15
(1)
The
General Assembly shall receive and consider annual and special reports from the
Security Council; these reports shall include an account of the measures that
the Security Council has decided upon or taken to maintain international peace
and security.
(2)
The
General Assembly shall receive and consider reports from the other organs of the
United Nations.
Article
16
The
General Assembly shall perform such functions with respect to the international
trusteeship system as are assigned to it under Chapters XII and XIII, including
the approval of the trusteeship agreements for areas not designated as strategic.
Article
17
(1)
The
General Assembly shall consider and approve the budget of the Organization.
(2)
The
expenses of the Organization shall be borne by the Members as apportioned by the
General Assembly.
(3)
The
General Assembly shall consider and approve any financial and budgetary
arrangements with specialized agencies referred to in Article 57 and shall
examine the administrative budgets of such specialized agencies with a view to
making recommendations to the agencies concerned.
Voting
Article 18
(1)
Each
member of the General Assembly shall have one vote.
(2)
Decisions
of the General Assembly on important questions shall be made by a two-thirds
majority of the members present and voting. These questions shall include:
recommendations with respect to the maintenance of international peace and
security, the election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, the
election of the members of the Economic and Social Council, the election of
members of the Trusteeship Council in accordance with paragraph 1 (c) of Article
86, the admission of new Members to the United Nations, the suspension of the
rights and privileges of membership, the expulsion of Members, questions
relating to the operation of the trusteeship system, and budgetary questions.
(3)
Decisions
on other questions, including the determination of additional categories of
questions to be decided by a two-thirds majority, shall be made by a majority of
the members present and voting.
Article
19
A Member
of the United Nations which is in arrears in the payment of its financial
contributions to the Organization shall have no vote in the General Assembly if
the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due
from it for the preceding two full years. The General Assembly may,
nevertheless, permit such a Member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure
to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the Member.
Procedure
Article 20
The
General Assembly shall meet in regular annual sessions and in such special
sessions as occasion may require. Special sessions shall be convoked by the
Secretary-General at the request of the Security Council or of a majority of the
Members of the United Nations.
Article
21
The
General Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure. It shall elect its
President for each session.
Article
22
The
General Assembly may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for
the performance of its functions.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter V: The Security
Council
Composition
Article 23
(1)
The
Security Council shall consist of fifteen Members of the United Nations. The
Republic of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America
shall be permanent members of the Security Council. The General Assembly shall
elect ten other Members of the United Nations to be non-permanent members of the
Security Council, due regard being specially paid, in the first instance to the
contribution of Members of the United Nations to the maintenance of
international peace and security and to the other purposes of the Organization,
and also to equitable geographical distribution.
(2)
The
non-permanent members of the Security Council shall be elected for a term of two
years. In the first election of the non-permanent members after the increase of
the membership of the Security Council from eleven to fifteen, two of the four
additional members shall be chosen for a term of one year. A retiring member
shall not be eligible for immediate re-election.
(3)
Each
member of the Security Council shall have one representative.
Functions and Powers
Article 24
(1)
In order
to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, its Members confer
on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of
international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties
under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf.
(2)
In
discharging these duties the Security Council shall act in accordance with the
Purposes and Principles of the United Nations. The specific powers granted to
the Security Council for the discharge of these duties are laid down in Chapters
VI, VII, VIII, and XII.
(3)
The
Security Council shall submit annual and, when necessary, special reports to the
General Assembly for its consideration.
Article
25
The
Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the
Security Council in accordance with the present Charter.
Article
26
In order
to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security
with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic
resources, the Security Council shall be responsible for formulating, with the
assistance of the Military Staff Committee referred to in Article 47, plans to
be submitted to the Members of the United Nations for the establishment of a
system for the regulation of armaments.
Voting
Article 27
(1)
Each
member of the Security Council shall have one vote.
(2)
Decisions
of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative
vote of nine members.
(3)
Decisions
of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative
vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members;
provided that, in decisions under Chapter VI, and under paragraph 3 of Article
52, a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting.
Procedure
Article 28
(1)
The
Security Council shall be so organized as to be able to function continuously.
Each member of the Security Council shall for this purpose be represented at all
times at the seat of the Organization.
(2)
The
Security Council shall hold periodic meetings at which each of its members may,
if it so desires, be represented by a member of the government or by some other
specially designated representative.
(3)
The
Security Council may hold meetings at such places other than the seat of the
Organization as in its judgment will best facilitate its work.
Article
29
The
Security Council may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for
the performance of its functions.
Article
30
The
Security Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure, including the method of
selecting its President.
Article
31
Any Member
of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may
participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the
Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member
are specially affected.
Article
32
Any Member of the United Nations which is not a
member of the Security Council or any state which is not a Member of the United
Nations, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration by the Security
Council, shall be invited to participate, without vote, in the discussion
relating to the dispute. The Security Council shall lay down such conditions as
it deems just for the participation of a state which is not a Member of the
United Nations.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter VI: Pacific
Settlement of Disputes
Article
33
(1)
The
parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the
maintenance of international peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a
solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial
settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means
of their own choice.
(2)
The
Security Council shall, when it deems necessary, call upon the parties to settle
their dispute by such means.
Article
34
The
Security Council may investigate any dispute, or any situation which might lead
to international friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine
whether the continuance of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger the
maintenance of international peace and security.
Article
35
(1)
Any Member
of the United Nations may bring any dispute, or any situation of the nature
referred to in Article 34, to the attention of the Security Council or of the
General Assembly.
(2)
A state
which is not a Member of the United Nations may bring to the attention of the
Security Council or of the General Assembly any dispute to which it is a party
if it accepts in advance, for the purposes of the dispute, the obligations of
pacific settlement provided in the present Charter.
(3)
The
proceedings of the General Assembly in respect of matters brought to its
attention under this Article will be subject to the provisions of Articles 11
and 12.
Article
36
(1)
The
Security Council may, at any stage of a dispute of the nature referred to in
Article 33 or of a situation of like nature, recommend appropriate procedures or
methods of adjustment.
(2)
The
Security Council should take into consideration any procedures for the
settlement of the dispute which have already been adopted by the parties.
(3)
In making
recommendations under this Article the Security Council should also take into
consideration that legal disputes should as a general rule be referred by the
parties to the International Court of Justice in accordance with the provisions
of the Statute of the Court.
Article
37
(1)
Should the
parties to a dispute of the nature referred to in Article 33 fail to settle it
by the means indicated in that Article, they shall refer it to the Security
Council.
(2)
If the
Security Council deems that the continuance of the dispute is in fact likely to
endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, it shall decide
whether to take action under Article 36 or to recommend such terms of settlement
as it may consider appropriate.
Article
38
Without
prejudice to the provisions of Articles 33 to 37, the Security Council may, if
all the parties to any dispute so request, make recommendations to the parties
with a view to a pacific settlement of the dispute.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter VII: Actions with
Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression
Article
39
The
Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace,
breach of the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations, or
decide what measures shall be taken in accordance with Articles 41 and 42, to
maintain or restore international peace and security.
Article
40
In order
to prevent an aggravation of the situation, the Security Council may, before
making the recommendations or deciding upon the measures provided for in Article
39, call upon the parties concerned to comply with such provisional measures as
it deems necessary or desirable. Such provisional measures shall be without
prejudice to the rights, claims, or position of the parties concerned. The
Security Council shall duly take account of failure to comply with such
provisional measures.
Article
41
The
Security Council may decide what measures not involving the use of armed force
are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and it may call upon the
Members of the United Nations to apply such measures. These may include complete
or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal,
telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of
diplomatic relations.
Article
42
Should the
Security Council consider that measures provided for in Article 41 would be
inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea,
or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace
and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other
operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations.
Article
43
(1)
All
Members of the United Nations, in order to contribute to the maintenance of
international peace and security, undertake to make available to the Security
Council, on its call and in accordance with a special agreement or agreements,
armed forces, assistance, and facilities, including rights of passage, necessary
for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security.
(2)
Such
agreement or agreements shall govern the numbers and types of forces, their
degree of readiness and general location, and the nature of the facilities and
assistance to be provided.
(3)
The
agreement or agreements shall be negotiated as soon as possible on the
initiative of the Security Council. They shall be concluded between the Security
Council and Members or between the Security Council and groups of Members and
shall be subject to ratification by the signatory states in accordance with
their respective constitutional processes.
Article
44
When the
Security Council has decided to use force it shall, before calling upon a Member
not represented on it to provide armed forces in fulfillment of the obligations
assumed under Article 43, invite that Member, if the Member so desires, to
participate in the decisions of the Security Council concerning the employment
of contingents of that Member's armed forces.
Article
45
In order
to enable the United Nations to take urgent military measures, Members shall
hold immediately available national air-force contingents for combined
international enforcement action. The strength and degree of readiness of these
contingents and plans for their combined action shall be determined within the
limits laid down in the special agreement or agreements referred to in Article
43, by the Security Council with the assistance of the Military Staff Committee.
Article
46
Plans for
the application of armed force shall be made by the Security Council with the
assistance of the Military Staff Committee.
Article
47
(1)
There
shall be established a Military Staff Committee to advise and assist the
Security Council on all questions relating to the Security Council's military
requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, the
employment and command of forces placed at its disposal, the regulation of
armaments, and possible disarmament.
(2)
The
Military Staff Committee shall consist of the Chiefs of Staff of the permanent
members of the Security Council or their representatives. Any Member of the
United Nations not permanently represented on the Committee shall be invited by
the Committee to be associated with it when the efficient discharge of the
Committee's responsibilities requires the participation of that Member in its
work.
(3)
The
Military Staff Committee shall be responsible under the Security Council for the
strategic direction of any armed forces placed at the disposal of the Security
Council. Questions relating to the command of such forces shall be worked out
subsequently.
(4)
The
Military Staff Committee, with the authorization of the Security Council and
after consultation with appropriate regional agencies, may establish regional
sub-committees.
Article
48
(1)
The action
required to carry out the decisions of the Security Council for the maintenance
of international peace and security shall be taken by all the Members of the
United Nations or by some of them, as the Security Council may determine.
(2)
Such
decisions shall be carried out by the Members of the United Nations directly and
through their action in the appropriate international agencies of which they are
members.
Article
49
The
Members of the United Nations shall join in affording mutual assistance in
carrying out the measures decided upon by the Security Council.
Article
50
If
preventive or enforcement measures against any state are taken by the Security
Council, any other state, whether a Member of the United Nations or not, which
finds itself confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying
out of those measures shall have the right to consult the Security Council with
regard to a solution of those problems.
Article
51
Nothing
in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or
collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United
Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain
international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of
this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council
and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security
Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems
necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter VIII: Regional
Arrangements
Article
52
(1)
Nothing in
the present Charter precludes the existence of regional arrangements or agencies
for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace
and security as are appropriate for regional action provided that such
arrangements or agencies and their activities are consistent with the Purposes
and Principles of the United Nations.
(2)
The
Members of the United Nations entering into such arrangements or constituting
such agencies shall make every effort to achieve pacific settlement of local
disputes through such regional arrangements or by such regional agencies before
referring them to the Security Council.
(3)
The
Security Council shall encourage the development of pacific settlement of local
disputes through such regional arrangements or by such regional agencies either
on the initiative of the states concerned or by reference from the Security
Council.
(4)
This
Article in no way impairs the application of Articles 34 and 35.
Article
53
(1)
The
Security Council shall, where appropriate, utilize such regional arrangements or
agencies for enforcement action under its authority. But no enforcement action
shall be taken under regional arrangements or by regional agencies without the
authorization of the Security Council, with the exception of measures against
any enemy state, as defined in paragraph 2 of this Article, provided for
pursuant to Article 107 or in regional arrangements directed against renewal of
aggressive policy on the part of any such state, until such time as the
Organization may, on request of the Governments concerned, be charged with the
responsibility for preventing further aggression by such a state.
(2)
The term
enemy state as used in paragraph 1 of this Article applies to any state which
during the Second World War has been an enemy of any signatory of the present
Charter.
Article
54
The
Security Council shall at all times be kept fully informed of activities
undertaken or in contemplation under regional arrangements or by regional
agencies for the maintenance of international peace and security.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter IX: International
Economic and Social Co-Operation
Article
55
With a
view to the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are
necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for
the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, the United
Nations shall promote:
a)
higher
standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social
progress and development;
b)
solutions
of international economic, social, health, and related problems; and
international cultural and educational cooperation; and
c)
universal
respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all
without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.
Article
56
All
Members pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in co-operation with
the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55.
Article
57
(1)
The
various specialized agencies, established by intergovernmental agreement and
having wide international responsibilities, as defined in their basic
instruments, in economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related
fields, shall be brought into relationship with the United Nations in accordance
with the provisions of Article 63.
(2)
Such
agencies thus brought into relationship with the United Nations are hereinafter
referred to as specialized agencies.
Article
58
The
Organization shall make recommendations for the co-ordination of the policies
and activities of the specialized agencies.
Article
59
The
Organization shall, where appropriate, initiate negotiations among the states
concerned for the creation of any new specialized agencies required for the
accomplishment of the purposes set forth in Article 55.
Article
60
Responsibility
for the discharge of the functions of the Organization set forth in this Chapter
shall be vested in the General Assembly and, under the authority of the General
Assembly, in the Economic and Social Council, which shall have for this purpose
the powers set forth in Chapter X.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter X: The Economic and
Social Council
Composition
Article 61
(1)
The
Economic and Social Council shall consist of fifty-four Members of the United
Nations elected by the General Assembly.
(2)
Subject to
the provisions of paragraph 3, eighteen members of the Economic and Social
Council shall be elected each year for a term of three years. A retiring member
shall be eligible for immediate re-election.
(3)
At the
first election after the increase in the membership of the Economic and Social
Council from twenty-seven to fifty-four members, in addition to the members
elected in place of the nine members whose term of office expires at the end of
that year, twenty-seven additional members shall be elected. Of these
twenty-seven additional members, the term of office of nine members so elected
shall expire at the end of one year, and of nine other members at the end of two
years, in accordance with arrangements made by the General Assembly.
(4)
Each
member of the Economic and Social Council shall have one representative.
Functions and Powers
Article 62
(1)
The
Economic and Social Council may make or initiate studies and reports with
respect to international economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and
related matters and may make recommendations with respect to any such matters to
the General Assembly to the Members of the United Nations, and to the
specialized agencies concerned.
(2)
It may
make recommendations for the purpose of promoting respect for, and observance
of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
(3)
It may
prepare draft conventions for submission to the General Assembly, with respect
to matters falling within its competence.
(4)
It may
call, in accordance with the rules prescribed by the United Nations,
international conferences on matters falling within its competence.
Article
63
(1)
The
Economic and Social Council may enter into agreements with any of the agencies
referred to in Article 57, defining the terms on which the agency concerned
shall be brought into relationship with the United Nations. Such agreements
shall be subject to approval by the General Assembly.
(2)
It may
co-ordinate the activities of the specialized agencies through consultation with
and recommendations to such agencies and through recommendations to the General
Assembly and to the Members of the United Nations.
Article
64
(1)
The
Economic and Social Council may take appropriate steps to obtain regular reports
from the specialized agencies. It may make arrangements with the Members of the
United Nations and with the specialized agencies to obtain reports on the steps
taken to give effect to its own recommendations and to recommendations on
matters falling within its competence made by the General Assembly.
(2)
It may
communicate its observations on these reports to the General Assembly.
Article
65
The
Economic and Social Council may furnish information to the Security Council and
shall assist the Security Council upon its request.
Article
66
(1)
The
Economic and Social Council shall perform such functions as fall within its
competence in connection with the carrying out of the recommendations of the
General Assembly.
(2)
It may,
with the approval of the General Assembly, perform services at the request of
Members of the United Nations and at the request of specialized agencies.
(3)
It shall
perform such other functions as are specified elsewhere in the present Charter
or as may be assigned to it by the General Assembly.
Voting
Article 67
(1)
Each
member of the Economic and Social Council shall have one vote.
(2)
Decisions
of the Economic and Social Council shall be made by a majority of the members
present and voting.
Procedure
Article 68
The
Economic and Social Council shall set up commissions in economic and social
fields and for the promotion of human rights, and such other commissions as may
be required for the performance of its functions.
Article
69
The
Economic and Social Council shall invite any Member of the United Nations to
participate, without vote, in its deliberations on any matter of particular
concern to that Member.
Article
70
The
Economic and Social Council may make arrangements for representatives of the
specialized agencies to participate, without vote, in its deliberations and in
those of the commissions established by it, and for its representatives to
participate in the deliberations of the specialized agencies.
Article
71
The
Economic and Social Council may make suitable arrangements for consultation with
non-governmental organizations which are concerned with matters within its
competence. Such arrangements may be made with international organizations and,
where appropriate, with national organizations after consultation with the
Member of the United Nations concerned.
Article
72
(1)
The
Economic and Social Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure, including
the method of selecting its President.
(2)
The
Economic and Social Council shall meet as required in accordance with its rules,
which shall include provision for the convening of meetings on the request of a
majority of its members.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter XI: Declaration
Regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories
Article
73
Members of
the United Nations which have or assume responsibilities for the administration
of territories whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of
self-government recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of
these territories are paramount, and accept as a sacred trust the obligation to
promote to the utmost, within the system of international peace and security
established by the present Charter, the well-being of the inhabitants of these
territories, and, to this end:
a)
to ensure,
with due respect for the culture of the peoples concerned, their political,
economic, social, and educational advancement, their just treatment, and their
protection against abuses;
b)
to develop
self-government, to take due account of the political aspirations of the
peoples, and to assist them in the progressive development of their free
political institutions, according to the particular circumstances of each
territory and its peoples and their varying stages of advancement;
c)
to further
international peace and security;
d)
to promote
constructive measures of development, to encourage research, and to co-operate
with one another and, when and where appropriate, with specialized international
bodies with a view to the practical achievement of the social, economic, and
scientific purposes set forth in this Article; and
e)
to
transmit regularly to the Secretary-General for information purposes, subject to
such limitation as security and constitutional considerations may require,
statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to economic,
social, and educational conditions in the territories for which they are
respectively responsible other than those territories to which Chapters XII and
XIII apply.
Article
74
Members of
the United Nations also agree that their policy in respect of the territories to
which this Chapter applies, no less than in respect of their metropolitan areas,
must be based on the general principle of good-neighborliness, due account
being taken of the interests and well-being of the rest of the world, in social,
economic, and commercial matters.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter XII: International
Trusteeship System
Article
75
The United Nations shall establish under its authority an
international trusteeship system for the administration and supervision of such
territories as may be placed there under by subsequent individual agreements.
These territories are hereinafter referred to as trust territories.
Article
76
The basic objectives of the trusteeship system, in
accordance with the Purposes of the United Nations laid down in Article 1 of the
present Charter, shall be:
a)
to further international peace and security;
b)
to promote the political, economic, social, and educational
advancement of the inhabitants of the trust territories, and their progressive
development towards self-government or independence as may be appropriate to the
particular circumstances of each territory and its peoples and the freely
expressed wishes of the peoples concerned, and as may be provided by the terms
of each trusteeship agreement;
c)
to encourage respect for human rights and for fundamental
freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion, and
to encourage recognition of the interdependence of the peoples of the world; and
d)
to ensure equal treatment in social, economic, and
commercial matters for all Members of the United Nations and their nationals,
and also equal treatment for the latter in the administration of justice,
without prejudice to the attainment of the foregoing objectives and subject to
the provisions of Article 80.
Article
77
(1)
The trusteeship system shall apply to such territories in
the following categories as may be placed there under by means of trusteeship
agreements:
a)
territories now held under mandate;
b)
territories which may be detached from enemy states as a
result of the Second World War; and
c)
territories voluntarily placed under the system by states
responsible for their administration.
(2)
It will be a matter for subsequent agreement as to which
territories in the foregoing categories will be brought under the trusteeship
system and upon what terms.
Article
78
The trusteeship system shall not apply to territories which
have become Members of the United Nations, relationship among which shall be
based on respect for the principle of sovereign equality.
Article
79
The terms of trusteeship for each territory to be placed
under the trusteeship system, including any alteration or amendment, shall be
agreed upon by the states directly concerned, including the mandatory power in
the case of territories held under mandate by a Member of the United Nations,
and shall be approved as provided for in Articles 83 and 85.
Article
80
(1)
Except as may be agreed upon in individual trusteeship
agreements, made under Articles 77, 79, and 81, placing each territory under the
trusteeship system, and until such agreements have been concluded, nothing in
this Chapter shall be construed in or of itself to alter in any manner the
rights whatsoever of any states or any peoples or the terms of existing
international instruments to which Members of the United Nations may
respectively be parties.
(2)
Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be interpreted as
giving grounds for delay or postponement of the negotiation and conclusion of
agreements for placing mandated and other territories under the trusteeship
system as provided for in Article 77.
Article
81
The trusteeship agreement shall in each case include the
terms under which the trust territory will be administered and designate the
authority which will exercise the administration of the trust territory. Such
authority, hereinafter called the administering authority, may be one or more
states or the Organization itself.
Article
82
There may be designated, in any trusteeship agreement, a
strategic area or areas which may include part or all of the trust territory to
which the agreement applies, without prejudice to any special agreement or
agreements made under Article 43.
Article
83
(1)
All functions of the United Nations relating to strategic
areas, including the approval of the terms of the trusteeship agreements and of
their alteration or amendment shall be exercised by the Security Council.
(2)
The basic objectives set forth in Article 76 shall be
applicable to the people of each strategic area.
(3)
The Security Council shall, subject to the provisions of the
trusteeship agreements and without prejudice to security considerations, avail
itself of the assistance of the Trusteeship Council to perform those functions
of the United Nations under the trusteeship system relating to political,
economic, social, and educational matters in the strategic areas.
Article
84
It shall be the duty of the administering authority to
ensure that the trust territory shall play its part in the maintenance of
international peace and security. To this end the administering authority may
make use of volunteer forces, facilities, and assistance from the trust
territory in carrying out the obligations towards the Security Council
undertaken in this regard by the administering authority, as well as for local
defence and the maintenance of law and order within the trust territory.
Article
85
(1)
The functions of the United Nations with regard to
trusteeship agreements for all areas not designated as strategic, including the
approval of the terms of the trusteeship agreements and of their alteration or
amendment, shall be exercised by the General Assembly.
(2)
The Trusteeship Council, operating under the authority of
the General Assembly shall assist the General Assembly in carrying out these
functions.
[Chapter overview]
[Back to top of page]
Chapter XIII: The
Trusteeship Council
Composition
Article 86
(1)
The
Trusteeship Council shall consist of the following Members of the United Nations:
a)
those
Members administering trust territories;
b)
such of
those Members mentioned by name in Article 23 as are not administering trust
territories; and;
c)
as many
other Members elected for three-year terms by the General Assembly as may be
necessary to ensure that the total number of members of the Trusteeship Council
is equally divided between those Members of the United Nations which administer
trust territories and those which do not.
(2)
Each
member of the Trusteeship Council shall designate one specially qualified person
to represent it therein.
Functions and Powers
Article 87
The
General Assembly and, under its aut