World Organizations

The United Nations was officially established on October 24, 1945, after the UN Charter was ratified by the five permanent members of the Security Council and a majority of other signees. [Memory Trick: 'UN' represents the global 'unity' established right after World War II ('45) wrapped up!]

The Maastricht Treaty, signed in February 1992 and entering into force on November 1, 1993, formally established the European Union and paved the way for the Euro currency. [Memory Trick: The 'Mast' (Maastricht) flag of European integration was hoisted high in '93.]

The WTO, which replaced GATT in 1995, is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. [Memory Trick: Geneva is a 'Generous' trade junction for WTO global agreements.]

The IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the IBRD (the core of the World Bank Group) were conceived at the Bretton Woods Conference in New Hampshire, USA to rebuild post-war economies. [Memory Trick: 'Bretton' has 'B' for Bank and 'M' (from woods) for Money (IMF).]

SDR was created by the IMF in 1969 as a supplementary international reserve asset based on five currencies: US Dollar, Euro, Chinese Renminbi, Japanese Yen, and British Pound Sterling. [Memory Trick: SDR stands for 'Super Drawing Rights' in the 'IMF' drawing bank.]

FATF was established in 1989 by the G7 summit in Paris to combat money laundering and terror financing. It is housed at the OECD headquarters in Paris. [Memory Trick: If you are dirty, you 'Wash' your money, but FATF forces clean audits in 'Paris' fashion capitals.]

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the UN, established in June 1945. It is the only principal UN organ not located in New York; it resides in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. [Memory Trick: You go to 'The Hague' to seek 'Justice' (ICJ) regarding international disputes.]

The IAEA is headquartered in the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria, established in 1957. [Memory Trick: Nuclear 'Atoms' can be converted to secure energy in 'Vienna' (V-energy).]

The World Economic Forum publishes the Global Gender Gap Report and the Global Risks Report. IMF publishes World Economic Outlook, UNDP publishes HDR, and World Bank publishes World Development Report. [Memory Trick: 'Forum' gathers gender representatives to discuss 'Economic' gaps.]

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was established in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. [Memory Trick: 'Bang-kok' (bangles/coconut bells) sounds Asian = ASEAN.]

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was founded in Dhaka in 1985, but its permanent secretariat is located in Kathmandu, Nepal. [Memory Trick: 'S-A-A-R-C' matches the mountain peaks of 'Kath-mandu'.]

The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), based in Paris, manages the designation of World Heritage Sites. [Memory Trick: 'ESCO' (Education, Science, Culture Org) is obviously in charge of 'Heritage' culture.]

The ILO was created in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles, making it older than the United Nations itself, which later absorbed it as a specialized agency. [Memory Trick: 'versail-les' (Versailles) has 'L' for Labour (ILO) in 1919.]

NATO, established in 1949, relocated its political headquarters to Brussels, Belgium in 1967. [Memory Trick: NATO soldiers love 'Brussels sprouts' and chocolates!]

Amnesty International is a London-based NGO focused on human rights protection, fighting torture, and releasing prisoners of conscience. [Memory Trick: 'Amnesty' means pardon or relief, which you give to victims of 'Human Rights' abuse.]

UNEP was established in 1972 after the Stockholm Conference. It is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, making it the first UN agency to be located in a developing nation. [Memory Trick: Environment = Wild nature of African Safaris = Kenya (Nairobi).]

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, publishes the Red List, categorizing species from Least Concern to Extinct. [Memory Trick: 'Union' for 'Conservation' of 'Nature' obviously publishes the conservation status: RED LIST.]

Despite being named 'Shanghai Cooperation Organisation', the permanent secretariat of the SCO is located in Beijing, China, while its RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) organ is in Tashkent. [Memory Trick: SCO has 'C' for Capital (Beijing) where the secretariat sits.]

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), founded in 1945, is headquartered in Rome, Italy. [Memory Trick: Rome is famous for 'Pasta' (Italian food) = Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).]

INTERPOL is headquartered in Lyon, France, acting as the second-largest international organization after the UN by members. [Memory Trick: Interpol agents chase criminals like 'Lions' = Lyon.]

The ADB is headquartered in Mandaluyong, metro Manila, Philippines. The President of ADB is traditionally from Japan. [Memory Trick: Development in Asia requires 'Money' (Manila) as fuel.]

The five permanent members of the UNSC (P5) are: United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China. Germany is part of the G4 seeking permanent membership. [Memory Trick: Think of FRUCU (France, Russia, UK, China, US) which excludes Germany.]

The treaty established the convergence criteria for EU states to adopt the unified single currency, the 'Euro'. [Memory Trick: 'Euro' coins were minted under the Mast (Maastricht) currency guidelines.]

The NDB was established by BRICS nations in 2014, with its headquarters in Shanghai, China. [Memory Trick: BRICS nations joined hands to build a New Bank in 'Shanghai' skyscrapers.]

OPEC headquarters was in Geneva, Switzerland, before moving to Vienna, Austria in 1965, despite Austria not being an oil-exporting member. [Memory Trick: OPEC 'oil' proceeds were securely parked in 'Vienna' (wealthy Austria capital).]