Question

Which one organ of the United Nations stands suspended at present?

• A. Secretariat
• B. Economic and Social Council
• C. Trusteeship Council
• D. International Court of Justice

Hint:

Although the Trusteeship Council is suspended, it has not been legally abolished because doing so would require amending the UN Charter. It remains one of the six constitutional principal organs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Principal Organs of the UN:
The United Nations (UN) Charter established six principal organs when the organization was founded in 1945: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the Secretariat.

Step 2: Role and Mandate of the Trusteeship Council:
The Trusteeship Council was created to supervise the administration of Trust Territories (former colonies and mandated territories) to ensure they were prepared for self-government or independence. The council was highly successful, helping 11 trust territories transition smoothly into sovereign states.

Step 3: Cause of Suspension:
The last remaining Trust Territory, Palau (administered by the United States), gained independence on October 1, 1994, and joined the UN. Having fully completed its historical mandate, the Trusteeship Council formally suspended its active operations on November 1, 1994. It no longer holds annual meetings, though it can convene as needed by decision of its President or a majority of its members.