Secretariat

The Secretariat — an international staff working in duty stations around the world — carries out the diverse day-to-day work of the Organization. It services the other principal organs of the United Nations and administers the programmes and policies laid down by them. At its head is the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year, renewable term.

The duties carried out by the Secretariat are as varied as the problems dealt with by the United Nations. These range from administering peacekeeping operations to mediating international disputes, from surveying economic and social trends and problems to preparing studies on human rights and sustainable development. Secretariat staff also inform the world's communications media about the work of the United Nations; organize international conferences on issues of worldwide concern; and interpret speeches and translate documents into the Organization's official languages.

As of 30 June 2010, the Secretariat had some 44,000 staff members around the world¹.

As international civil servants, staff members and the Secretary-General answer to the United Nations alone for their activities, and take an oath not to seek or receive instructions from any Government or outside authority. Under the Charter, each Member State undertakes to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and to refrain from seeking to influence them improperly in the discharge of their duties.

The United Nations, while headquartered in New York, maintains a significant presence in Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, Nairobi, Santiago and Vienna, and has offices all over the world.

The UN currently has 15 peace operations, deployed on four continents. Serving the cause of peace in a violent world is a dangerous occupation. Since the founding of the United Nations, hundreds of brave men and women have given their lives in its service.

Secretariat Structure

Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG)

Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS)

Office of Legal Affairs (OLA)

Department of Political Affairs (DPA)

Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA)

Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch
Conventional Arms Branch
Information and Outreach Branch
Regional Disarmament Branch
Conference on Disarmament Secretariat and Conference Support Branch

Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)

Office of Operations
- Africa I Division
- Africa II Division
- Asia and Middle East Division
- Europe and Latin America Division
Office of Military Affairs
Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions
- Police Division
- Mine Action Service
- Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Section
- Criminal Law and Judicial Advisory Division
Policy, Evaluation and Training Division