UN Specialized Agencies
How the UN system extends far beyond the General Assembly and Security Council through a network of specialized agencies that shape global standards on everything from health to aviation.
The UN Family
The United Nations is not a single organization but a vast system of interconnected bodies. At its core are the six principal organs: the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, and Secretariat. But surrounding this core is a constellation of 15 specialized agencies, each with its own membership, budget, and governing body. These agencies predate the UN in some cases and are linked to it through formal agreements.
The World Health Organization (WHO) sets global health standards and coordinates pandemic response. The International Labour Organization (ILO), founded in 1919, establishes international labor standards. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) writes the rules that make international air travel safe. The Universal Postal Union (UPU), one of the oldest international organizations, ensures that mail crosses borders. These agencies affect daily life more directly than the political organs that dominate headlines.
