The United Nations (UN) came into being in 1945. Fifty states signed the original UN Charter including the UK, China, France, the then Soviet Union and the United States, who were made permanent members of the UN Security Council, the hub of the UN.

The main aims of the UN are:

• to maintain international peace and security  
• the peaceful settlement of international disputes
• to develop friendly relations among nations
• to achieve international co-operation in solving international economic, social, cultural or humanitarian problems
• to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.

It tackles many problems worldwide including:

•  poviding emergency relief
• providing basic health services
• tackling disease
• reducing poverty
• looking after refugees
• settling international disputes
• promoting sustainable development
• promoting human rights

It has a number of specialised agencies dealing with particular issues such as the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Labour Organisation.

The UN has a crucial role to play in providing emergency help for the victims of conflict and natural disasters. The UK makes a substantial contribution to the UN humanitarian agencies through voluntary contributions for core support and emergency response activities and has a good record for reacting quickly to disasters as they occur.

The UK has a Mission to the United Nations and with the support of other government departments, represents the UK in every negotiation that takes place in New York.

The UN General Assembly in September 2005 agreed to the concept of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

The UK strongly supports R2P and is working through the UN to encourage and help states to exercise this responsibility.

The UK, as one of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council, plays a key role in all aspects of the Council's work, providing information from the UK's diplomatic network, negotiating, and lobbying for appropriate actions and resolutions.

Here are some of the key issues being dealt with by the UK Mission.