The United Nations Secretariat is one of the main organs of the United Nations and is responsible for the administration and coordination of the organization's activities. It is headed by the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
The Secretariat consists of various departments and offices that perform specific functions to support the work of the United Nations. These include:
1. Departments:
- Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
- Department of Peace Operations
- Department of Economic and Social Affairs
- Department of General Assembly and Conference Management
- Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance
- Department of Global Communications
- Department of Safety and Security
2. Offices:
- Office of Legal Affairs
- Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- Office of the United Nations High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
- Office of Internal Oversight Services
- Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
- Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
- Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
- Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen
- Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region
- Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar
In addition to the departments and offices, the Secretariat also includes specialized agencies and related organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, these agencies and organizations are not part of the Secretariat itself.
Overall, the Secretariat plays a crucial role in supporting the work of the United Nations and ensuring the effective functioning of the organization.