[U-Z]
Unilateral

Involving one party only. So if the UK decides to act unilaterally on something, it means it is doing so independently.

United Nations (The UN)

The “United Nations” is an organisation of independent states that promotes peace and international co-operation and promotes security and economic development. UNICEF is part of the UN family.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS advocates for global action on the epidemic. It works to strengthen and support an expanded response aimed at preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV/AIDS, and alleviating the impact of the epidemic.

UN General Assembly

The United Nations is made up of 189 member states. The UN’s purpose is to work for peace and development, based on justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people. The UN headquarters are based in New York. The UN General Assembly acts like a world parliament.

UNDP

The United Nations Development Programme is the UN’s global development network. UNDP’s network links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals.

UNHCR

UN Refugee Agency whose mandate is the protection of refugees worldwide.

Vaccine

A medicine that gives you a mild form of a disease, stimulating your immune system so that it will resist the disease in the future.

Waste water

Used water – including sewage – from homes, communities or industries.

World Bank

An international group of financial institutions that provides long-term loans to developing countries. Its stated mission is to fight poverty and improve living conditions worldwide.

World Fit for Children

WFFC is a commitment made by 190 national delegations at the United Nations General Assembly’s Special Session on Children in May 2002. In the Final Declaration they reaffirmed the obligation to “promote and protect the rights and well-being of all children” and pledged to create “A World Fit for Children”. The resulting Plan of Action to achieve that goal bears out previous commitments and contributes to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

World Health Organization

Established in 1948, WHO is the UN’s specialised agency for health. WHO’s objective is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health – the physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. WHO is governed by 192 member states, through the World Health Assembly.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

The WTO comprises 148 countries that come together to decide the rules of international trade. These countries account for more than 97 per cent of world trade. The rules are supposed to be set through a process of negotiation and consensus between member states.