UN Agencies and Global Bodies

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.The Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) came into force in which year?

   • A.1945
   • B.1950
   • C.1952
   • D.1948✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: The WHO Constitution came into force on 7 April 1948, a date now observed every year as World Health Day.

2. Q2.The headquarters of UNESCO is located in which city?

   • A.Paris✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Geneva
   • C.New York
   • D.Vienna

   Explanation: UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has its headquarters in Paris, France.

3. Q3.The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was founded in which year?

   • A.1943
   • B.1945✓ Correct Answer
   • C.1947
   • D.1950

   Explanation: The FAO was founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Canada, and is now headquartered in Rome. World Food Day is observed on 16 October.

4. Q4.UNICEF primarily focuses on providing aid to which population group?

   • A.Children and mothers✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Elderly persons
   • C.Disabled persons
   • D.Refugees

   Explanation: UNICEF (United Nations Children Fund) provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children and their mothers worldwide.

5. Q5.The International Labour Organization (ILO) was founded in which year?

   • A.1919✓ Correct Answer
   • B.1930
   • C.1945
   • D.1950

   Explanation: The ILO was founded in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles and became the first specialised agency of the United Nations in 1946.

6. Q6.UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) was established in which year?

   • A.1970
   • B.1975
   • C.1972✓ Correct Answer
   • D.1980

   Explanation: UNEP was established in 1972 following the UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm, and is headquartered in Nairobi.

7. Q7.The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has its headquarters in which city?

   • A.Geneva
   • B.Brussels
   • C.Stockholm
   • D.Vienna✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: The IAEA, set up in 1957, is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

8. Q8.The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Where is its seat?

   • A.Geneva
   • B.The Hague✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Vienna
   • D.New York

   Explanation: The ICJ sits at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, and is the only principal UN organ not located in New York.

9. Q9.Which UN agency leads international public health and responds to global health emergencies?

   • A.UNICEF
   • B.WHO✓ Correct Answer
   • C.UNESCO
   • D.UNEP

   Explanation: The World Health Organization (WHO), headquartered in Geneva, directs international health work and coordinates responses to health emergencies.

10. Q10.The World Heritage Convention (1972) is implemented by which UN agency?

    • A.UNEP
    • B.FAO
    • C.IAEA
    • D.UNESCO✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: UNESCO administers the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted in 1972.

11. Q11.Which UN office coordinates the global humanitarian response to natural disasters and complex emergencies?

    • A.UNHCR
    • B.UNICEF
    • C.WHO
    • D.OCHA✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates emergency response. UNHCR, by contrast, focuses specifically on refugees.

12. Q12.The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly in which year?

    • A.1945
    • B.1948✓ Correct Answer
    • C.1950
    • D.1952

    Explanation: The Declaration was adopted on 10 December 1948, which is observed every year as Human Rights Day.

13. Q13.How many permanent members does the UN Security Council have?

    • A.3
    • B.5✓ Correct Answer
    • C.7
    • D.10

    Explanation: The five permanent members with veto power are the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and China. There are also 10 elected non-permanent members.

14. Q14.Which UN agency sets international standards for civil aviation safety?

    • A.ICAO✓ Correct Answer
    • B.IMO
    • C.ITU
    • D.WMO

    Explanation: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), based in Montreal, sets standards for international civil aviation.

15. Q15.The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, consist of how many goals?

    • A.17✓ Correct Answer
    • B.15
    • C.20
    • D.25

    Explanation: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development contains 17 interlinked goals.

16. Q16.Which UN agency regulates international shipping safety and prevents marine pollution from ships?

    • A.ICAO
    • B.WMO
    • C.IMO✓ Correct Answer
    • D.ITU

    Explanation: The International Maritime Organization (IMO), headquartered in London, is responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

17. Q17.The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature at which UN conference?

    • A.Stockholm 1972
    • B.Cairo 1994
    • C.Rio Earth Summit 1992✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Johannesburg 2002

    Explanation: The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit (UNCED) and entered into force in 1993.

18. Q18.Which principal organ of the United Nations has all member states as its members, each with one vote?

    • A.Security Council
    • B.Economic and Social Council
    • C.Trusteeship Council
    • D.General Assembly✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: In the General Assembly all UN member states are represented and each has one vote.

19. Q19.The UN Secretary-General is appointed for a term of how many years?

    • A.3 years
    • B.4 years
    • C.5 years✓ Correct Answer
    • D.6 years

    Explanation: The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a renewable five-year term.

20. Q20.Which UN agency was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to combat hunger?

    • A.FAO
    • B.WHO
    • C.WFP✓ Correct Answer
    • D.UNICEF

    Explanation: The World Food Programme (WFP) received the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for combating hunger and for its role in preventing hunger from being used as a weapon of war and conflict.