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United Nations ICSE Class 10 Civics and History Notes

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History & CivicsICSE Class 10 · United Nations

The United Nations: Objectives, General Assembly, Security Council, ICJ, UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO and the UDHR (ICSE Class 10 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The United Nations (24 October 1945, headquarters New York) works for peace, friendly relations, cooperation and human rights. The General Assembly has all members; the Security Council has 15 members with five permanent members who hold a veto; the International Court of Justice at The Hague has 15 judges. UNICEF (New York), WHO (Geneva) and UNESCO (Paris) are major agencies; the UDHR (1948) states basic human rights.

Understand United Nations: Objectives, Organs, Agencies and Human Rights

1. Origin. The Charter was signed at San Francisco on 26 June 1945; the UN began on 24 October 1945 (UN Day). Headquarters: New York.

2. Objectives. (a) Maintain international peace and security. (b) Develop friendly relations among nations on the basis of equal rights and self-determination. (c) International cooperation on economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems. (d) Promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction of race, sex, language or religion. (e) Be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations. 'Disengage' is not an objective.

3. General Assembly. *Composition:* all member states (193 at present), each with one vote and up to five representatives; a President for each session; regular session from September. Important decisions need a two-thirds majority of members present and voting; others a simple majority. *Functions:* discusses any question within the Charter and makes recommendations; elects the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of the Economic and Social Council; with the Security Council, elects ICJ judges; appoints the Secretary-General on the Council's recommendation; admits members; approves the budget; amends the Charter; may act under 'Uniting for Peace' (1950) if the Council is blocked by a veto.

4. Security Council. *Composition:* 15 members, five permanent (USA, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China) and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two years, five retiring each year. Presidency rotates monthly. Procedural matters need 9 votes; substantive matters need 9 votes including all five permanent members, so a negative vote by any permanent member (veto) blocks a decision. *Functions:* primary responsibility for peace and security; investigates disputes; recommends peaceful settlement; decides whether a threat or act of aggression exists; calls for sanctions; takes military action; recommends admission of members and the Secretary-General; elects ICJ judges with the Assembly; plans regulation of armaments.

5. International Court of Justice. Principal judicial organ, at The Hague. *Composition:* 15 judges elected by the Assembly and the Council voting separately; nine-year terms; one-third retire every three years; no two of the same nationality. *Functions:* decides legal disputes between states that agree to refer them (voluntary or contentious jurisdiction); compulsory jurisdiction for states accepting the optional clause; advisory opinions on legal questions referred by authorised UN bodies; interprets treaties and international law; decisions are final and binding on the parties.

6. Agencies (headquarters and functions only).

  • *UNICEF* (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund; now the United Nations Children's Fund), New York, founded December 1946: child health and immunisation, nutrition, safe water, education especially of girls, emergency relief and child protection.
  • *WHO* (World Health Organisation), Geneva, founded 7 April 1948: controls communicable diseases, sets standards for medicines and vaccines, strengthens health services, research, emergency help.
  • *UNESCO* (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), Paris, founded November 1945: education and literacy, science, protection of world heritage, free flow of ideas, cultures and languages.

7. UDHR (meaning only). Adopted by the General Assembly on 10 December 1948 (Human Rights Day): a document listing basic rights and freedoms of every human being, civil and political (life, liberty, equality before law) and economic, social and cultural (work, education, adequate living standard). It is not a treaty and not legally binding by itself, but it is a common standard.

United Nations: Objectives, Organs, Agencies and Human Rights: key facts

UN facts
  • Charter signed 26 June 1945
  • UN founded 24 October 1945
  • Headquarters New York
Dates.
Security Council
  • 15 members
  • 5 permanent: USA, UK, France, Russia, China
  • 10 non-permanent for 2 years
  • Veto
Composition.
ICJ
  • 15 judges
  • 9-year term
  • The Hague
  • One-third retire every 3 years
Facts.
Agencies
UNICEFNew York
WHOGeneva
UNESCOParis
Headquarters.

How to answer United Nations: Objectives, Organs, Agencies and Human Rights questions

Expect: objectives (3-4 marks), composition and functions of an organ (4-6 marks), agencies (2-3 marks each) and UDHR meaning (2 marks).

  1. 1Give each organ separately: composition first, then functions.
  2. 2Include numbers: 193, 15, 5 + 10, 9 votes.
  3. 3For agencies, give full form, headquarters and two functions.
  4. 4For UDHR give the meaning and date only.

United Nations: Objectives, Organs, Agencies and Human Rights in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Veto in a committee

Suppose a school committee of 15 members includes five senior members, and a major decision needs nine votes including all five seniors.

What does this show, and which UN feature does it resemble?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Any senior can block a decision.
  2. It matches the veto of permanent members.
  3. Action needs agreement among them.

Answer: It resembles the Security Council veto: a negative vote of any permanent member blocks a substantive decision.

Memory hook: One no stops it.

Fixed headquarters for work

Imagine three organisations: one for children's welfare in a city on the American coast, one for health in a Swiss city, and one for culture and education in a French city.

Which agencies are these?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Children: UNICEF, New York.
  2. Health: WHO, Geneva.
  3. Education and culture: UNESCO, Paris.

Answer: They are UNICEF (New York), WHO (Geneva) and UNESCO (Paris).

Memory hook: N-G-P.

Tricks to remember United Nations: Objectives, Organs, Agencies and Human Rights

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • 193 and one vote

    All members, one vote each, up to five delegates.

    Use it when: General Assembly.

  • 5+10=15

    Five permanent + ten non-permanent.

    Use it when: Security Council.

  • N-G-P

    New York, Geneva, Paris.

    Use it when: UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO.

United Nations: Objectives, Organs, Agencies and Human Rights: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: UN facts · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

When was the UN founded and where is its headquarters? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 24 October 1945 (1 mark).
  2. New York (1 mark).

Answer: The UN came into existence on 24 October 1945 and its headquarters is in New York.

Example 2: Security Council · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

Name the permanent members of the Security Council. How is a decision blocked? [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Five names (2 marks).
  2. Veto (1 mark).

Answer: The permanent members are the USA, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China. A decision on a substantive matter is blocked if any one of them casts a negative vote, which is the power of veto.

Example 3: General Assembly · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Describe the composition and any three functions of the General Assembly. [5]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Composition (2 marks).
  2. Three functions (3 marks).

Answer: The General Assembly consists of all member states, each with one vote and up to five representatives. It discusses any question within the Charter and makes recommendations, elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council, and approves the budget and fixes members' contributions.

Example 4: ICJ · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Describe how the judges of the International Court of Justice are chosen and the kinds of cases it can decide. [6]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Composition (3 marks).
  2. Functions (3 marks).

Answer: The ICJ at The Hague has 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council voting separately, serving nine-year terms, with one-third retiring every three years; no two judges are of the same nationality. It decides legal disputes between states that refer them to it, has compulsory jurisdiction over states accepting the optional clause, gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred by authorised UN bodies, and interprets treaties and international law.

Example 5: Case: an agency at work · 6 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Case. An international body headquartered in Geneva leads efforts to control communicable diseases and sets standards for medicines and vaccines. (i) Name the body. [1] (ii) Give its full form. [1] (iii) State two further functions. [2] (iv) On what date is its founding commemorated? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) WHO (1 mark).
  2. (ii) World Health Organisation (1 mark).
  3. (iii) Any two other functions (2 marks).
  4. (iv) 7 April, World Health Day (2 marks).

Answer: (i) WHO. (ii) World Health Organisation. (iii) It strengthens national health services and trains health workers, promotes research and spreads health information, and gives emergency help during epidemics. (iv) 7 April 1948, observed as World Health Day.

Where students lose marks in United Nations: Objectives, Organs, Agencies and Human Rights

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Mixing the Assembly and the Council

    Giving 15 members to the Assembly.

    Wrong working

    General Assembly has 15 members.

    Right working

    The General Assembly includes all members; the Security Council has 15.

    Do this: 193 versus 15.

    Usually costs: 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Wrong full form

    Writing Universal for United.

    Wrong working

    UNICEF: Universal Children's Fund.

    Right working

    United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

    Do this: Learn the full form.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Confusing ICJ and UN court

    Naming Geneva.

    Wrong working

    ICJ at Geneva.

    Right working

    The Hague.

    Do this: Court at The Hague.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Reading NOT

    Missing a negative.

    Wrong working

    Selecting an objective.

    Right working

    Find the item that is not an objective.

    Do this: Underline NOT.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Learn each organ as a card: composition, functions.
  • Always write the headquarters of the agencies.
  • Underline NOT in objective questions.

Practice questions on United Nations: Objectives, Organs, Agencies and Human Rights

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    Write the full form of UNICEF and name its headquarters. [2]

    Hint

    Children's Emergency Fund.

    Answer

    United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (now officially the United Nations Children's Fund, keeping the letters UNICEF); headquarters New York.

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder board level

    Which of these is not an objective of the UN: disarmament, decolonisation, development, disengagement? Explain. [2]

    Hint

    Withdrawing from world affairs.

    Answer

    Disengagement. The UN works for disarmament, decolonisation and development, but it does not aim at withdrawing from world affairs.

  3. Q3 · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain the functions of the Security Council. [5]

    Hint

    Peace and security.

    Answer

    The Security Council has primary responsibility for peace and security. It investigates disputes, recommends peaceful settlement, decides whether there is a threat to peace or an act of aggression, calls for economic sanctions, takes military action and recommends the admission of members and the appointment of the Secretary-General.

  4. Q4 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Give the functions of UNESCO and state its headquarters. [4]

    Hint

    Paris.

    Answer

    UNESCO's headquarters is in Paris. It promotes education and literacy, encourages scientific research and cooperation, protects world cultural and natural heritage, and promotes the free flow of ideas and understanding among peoples.

  5. Q5 · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    "The veto power helps and harms the working of the Security Council." Discuss. [5]

    Hint

    Great-power agreement versus blocking.

    Answer

    The veto ensures that no major decision is taken against the will of any permanent member, which keeps the great powers inside the UN system. But a single negative vote can block action even when most members want it, and the General Assembly's Uniting for Peace resolution of 1950 was used to consider matters when the Council was blocked. The veto therefore protects unity but can cause deadlock.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.How many permanent members does the Security Council have?Show answer

    Five.

  2. 2.Where is the ICJ?Show answer

    The Hague.

  3. 3.Where is UNESCO?Show answer

    Paris.

  4. 4.When was the UDHR adopted?Show answer

    10 December 1948.

  5. 5.How many judges are in the ICJ?Show answer

    15.

  6. 6.How long is a non-permanent member's term?Show answer

    Two years.

United Nations: Objectives, Organs, Agencies and Human Rights: frequently asked questions

What is the UN Day?

24 October.

Is the UDHR binding?

No, it is a common standard and not a treaty.

Who elects the non-permanent members?

The General Assembly.

How many votes does a substantive decision need in the Council?

Nine, including all five permanent members.