UNCharta

The United Nations Charter, commonly referred to as the UN Charter, is the founding treaty of the United Nations. It was signed on June 26, 1945, in San Francisco by 50 states and entered into force on October 24, 1945, after sufficient ratifications. The Charter established the structure, purposes, and principles of the United Nations, creating a framework for international cooperation in the aftermath of World War II.

The Charter sets the purposes of the organization as maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, cooperating in solving international problems, and promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It emphasizes the sovereignty and equality of states, the prohibition on the threat or use of force except in self-defense or under a Security Council mandate, and the reframing of international relations through diplomacy, negotiation, and collective action.

The UN is organized around principal organs defined by the Charter: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the International Court of Justice, the Secretariat, and the Economic and Social Council. The Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining peace and security and may authorize measures, including the use of armed force, under Chapter VII of the Charter. The General Assembly serves as a deliberative body, while the International Court of Justice settles disputes between states in accordance with international law.

Amendments to the Charter require a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of UN members, including all permanent members of the Security Council. Since its adoption, the Charter has remained the central cornerstone of international law and global governance, guiding diplomacy, humanitarian efforts, and multilateral cooperation, while prompting ongoing debate over reform and the balance between state sovereignty and collective security.