Article 51 Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.

Over the decades, the UN has helped to end numerous conflicts, often through actions of the Security Council& — the organ with primary responsibility, under the United Nations Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security.

The veto power held by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, coupled with their significant roles in the global arms trade, has hindered the organization's ability to address conflicts effectively.

There are established as principal organs of the United Nations: a General Assembly, a Security Council, an Economic and Social Council, a Trusteeship Council, an International Court of Justice and a Secretariat.