What is the purpose of the United Nations?
Answer
Maintain peace and promote cooperation
Explanation
The purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security, promote cooperation among nations, defend human rights, and advance social and economic development around the world. These goals are spelled out in Article 1 of the United Nations Charter, signed on June 26, 1945. The Charter commits members to settle disputes by peaceful means, to refrain from the use of force except in self-defense or when authorized by the Security Council, and to take collective action against threats to peace.
Peacekeeping is the most visible of these activities. The first peacekeeping mission deployed in 1948 to monitor the Arab-Israeli armistice. Since then the UN has run more than seventy peacekeeping operations, with about 70,000 personnel currently serving in missions in places such as Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Cyprus. UN peacekeepers wear blue helmets or berets and operate under the authority of the Security Council.
Beyond peacekeeping, the United Nations runs a vast humanitarian network. The World Food Programme feeds about 100 million people a year. The United Nations Children's Fund, known as UNICEF, supports immunization, nutrition, and education for children in more than 190 countries. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees protects more than 100 million displaced people. The World Health Organization coordinates response to pandemics and health emergencies. The Food and Agriculture Organization works to end hunger.
Human rights are central to the UN's mission. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted by a commission led by Eleanor Roosevelt and adopted on December 10, 1948, lists the rights to life, liberty, fair trial, education, and freedom of speech and religion as universal entitlements. The UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, monitors abuses and reviews member countries.
The UN also drives global development. The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015, set 17 targets including ending poverty and hunger, ensuring quality education, achieving gender equality, and tackling climate change by 2030. The Conference of the Parties on climate has met annually since 1995 and produced the 2015 Paris Agreement on greenhouse gas reductions.
The UN has limits because it depends on members to enforce decisions, but it remains the only forum where every recognized nation has a seat.
Why this matters for your test
USCIS uses this question to confirm applicants understand why the United Nations exists, what it actually does day to day, and how its goals reflect the postwar American vision of a stable, rule-based world. This knowledge connects to topics like NATO, the Cold War, and modern foreign policy.
Source: USCIS 128 Civics Questions (2025)
