Purposes, Structure and Committees of General Assembly of UNO

Purposes :

The purpose of the United Nations, as set forth in the charter, are to maintain international peace and security.

1.     To develop friendly relations among nations; 

2.     To cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems. 

3.     Promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and 

4.     To be centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these ends.

Structure :

The six major organs of the united Nations, are the : General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice and Secretariat. The United Nations family, however, is much large, encompassing 15 agencies and several programmes and bodies.

The United Nations Family:

The United Nations of organizations is made up of he United Nations Secretariat, the United Nations programmes and funds- such as the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) - and the specialized agencies. The programmes, funds and agencies have their own governing. The programmes , funds and agencies have their own governing bodies and budgets, and set their own standards and guidelines. Together, they provide technical assistance and other forms of practical help in all areas of economic and social development.

General Assembly:

The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of United Nations. It is composed of representatives of all member states, each of which has one vote. Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, requires a two- thirds majority. A simple reaches decisions on other questions.

Committees of General Assembly:

Most questions are discussed in its six main committees:

1.     First Committee - Disarmament and International Security Committee

2.     Second Committee - Econmic and Financial Committee 

3.     Third Committee - Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee 

4.     Fourth Committee - Special Political and Decolonzation Committee.

5.     Fifth Committee - Adiministrative and Budgetary Committee 

6.     Sixth Committee - Legal Committee

Some issues are considered only in plenary meetings, rather

than in one of the main committees. All issues are voted on through resolutions passed in plenary meetings, usually

towards the end of the regular session, after the committees have completed their consideration of them and submitted draft resolution to the plenary Assembly. Voting in committees is by a simple majority.

In plenary meetings, resolutions may be adopted by acclamation, without objection or without a vote, or the vote may be recorded or taken by roll call. While the decisions of the Assembly have no legally binding force for governments, they carry the weight of world opinion, as well as the moral authority of the world community. The work of the United Nations year-round derives largely from the decisions of the General Assembly as expressed in resolutions adopted by the Assembly, That work is carried out:

1.     By the committees and other bodies established by the Assembly to study and report on specific issues, such as disarmament, peacekeeping, development and human rights;

2.     In International conferences called for by the Assembly; and 

3.     By the Secretariat of the United Nations - the Secretary General and his staff of international civil servants.