What is the foundational treaty of the United Nations?

• A. United Nations Charter
• B. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• C. Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
• D. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Answer: (A)

The foundational instrument of the United Nations is the United Nations Charter. This treaty, agreed in 1945 at San Francisco and entering into force that year, establishes the UN’s purposes, guiding principles, and the legal framework for its work. It sets out how the organization is structured, the powers of its main organs, and the rules governing member states’ interactions, including how international peace and security are to be maintained. In short, the Charter creates the UN and defines how it operates.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a landmark and influential statement, but it is a declaration, not a binding treaty that establishes the UN’s authority or structure. The Rome Statute created the International Criminal Court, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a binding human rights treaty; neither serves as the UN’s foundational instrument or defines the UN’s overall framework.