UN Charter, Chapter 7, Article 51

The Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the United Nations as an intergovernmental organization. It establishes the purposes, governing structure, and overall framework of the UN system. The UN Charter mandates that the UN and its member states maintain international peace and security, uphold international law, achieve “higher standards of living” for their citizens, address “economic, social, health, and related problems,” and promote “universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.”