From this UN publication here are what the UN says are its Successes
Source: mirror.undp.org/liberia/challenge.PDF

3. Successes
The following are some of the successes of the UN:
i. Promoting international relations and diplomacy over the last fifty years. For example, in 1946,
a Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN staff was adopted. All staff and
properties of the UN are exempt from taxation.
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ii. Regulating the international travel through the certification of airports by the International Civil
Aviation Organization and the establishment of safety standards.
iii. Ensuring that products for export meet international standards (e.g. milk, bananas, coffee, tea
and other products).

iv. Ensuring that international agreements are implemented by the member states. For example,
agreements relating to shared resources (i.e. animals, rivers/lakes, logging, etc.).
v. Promoting cooperation among various countries, especially within the south. This cooperation
has resulted to exchange visits, scholarships, businesses, etc. The South East Asia countries
have benefited from the exchange of information and visits among the countries in their
region.

vi. Tackling common problems together, which in the end foster cooperation. E.g. the River
Blindness Control Programme in West Africa has fostered cooperation among 11 West African
states. Secondly, immunization campaigns by WHO and UNICEF of children under five years
have reached over 80% of the world’s children who are under five years. Thirdly, the UN has
been instrumental in the eradication of smallpox.
vii. Helping African countries to prepare regional forecasts and analysis of socio-economic
indicators among African countries, normally done by the UN Economic Commission for
Africa.

viii. Raising public awareness through organizing international conferences, e.g. environment
(Rio), Human Settlement (Istanbul), Gender (Beijing), the plight of children (New York).
Thereafter, liaising with international development agencies and building the consensus
needed for action. Once forged, the consensus is translated into international norms and
agreements, e.g. development is a human right, housing is a human right, education is a
human right. Are these affordable? Are they realistic?

ix. Supporting the decolonization of more than 80 nations, which were formerly under colonial
rule and some were under UN Trusteeship arrangements. These nations gained
independence and joined the UN as sovereign states, e.g. former British Colonies, former
French Colonies, former Portuguese Colonies, former Spanish Colonies, etc.
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x. Promoting technical assistance in various fields to its member states in the third world.
Currently, there are many development and humanitarian activities, which the UN is funding
all over the developing countries.

xi. Providing shelter and relief to millions of refugees from war and persecution, and supporting
the repatriation and resettlement of refugees and displaced persons.