A compact yet comprehensive handbook designed for the general public, Basic Facts about the United Nations sets forth the structure of the United Nations, how it works and the main issues it deals with in their importance for people everywhere. Along with explaining the role played by its principal organs and the family of UN organizations, individual chapters explore UN contributions to international peace and security; economic and social development; human rights; humanitarian action; international law; and decolonization. A series of appendices documents UN membership, peacekeeping operations, budget, and contact information for UN information centres, services and offices. This new edition of the work has been substantially revised to take account of many significant developments that have taken place in the world and in the United Nations itself since the last edition of the book (previously titled The UN Today) in 2008.