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Basic Facts about the United Nations
Department of Public Information (DPI) Under-Secretary-General: Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal (Austria) The Department of Public Information is dedicated to communicating the ideals and work of the United Nations to the world; interacting and partnering with diverse audiences; and building support for peace, development, and human rights. It pursues these ends through news services, radio and television programmes, press releases, publications, informational videos, outreach programmes, and information campaigns. DPI engages prominent personalities as UN Messengers of Peace and organizes exhibits, concerts, seminars and other events to mark occasions of international importance. It also provides library and knowledgesharing services. In addition to its staff at UN Headquarters, DPI has 63 UN information centres, or UNICs, worldwide (http://unic.un.org) and a regional information centre (UNRIC) in Brussels (www.unric.un.org). The Department consists of three divisions. Its Strategic Communications Division develops communication strategies and campaigns to promote United Nations priorities. The News and Media Division produces and distributes UN news and information to the media, including daily press briefings and statements by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, the UN websites, radio broadcasts and live TV feeds. The Outreach Division, which includes the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, publishes books—notably the Yearbook of the United Nations— and periodicals such as the UN Chronicle and Africa Renewal; works with NGOs and educational institutions; organizes special events and exhibitions on priority issues; and offers an annual training programme for journalists from developing countries. It also develops partnerships with the private and public sector to advance UN goals. Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Under-Secretary-General: Hervé Ladsous (France) The Department of Peacekeeping Operations (www.un.org/en/peacekeeping) is responsible for assisting member states and the Secretary-General in their efforts to maintain, achieve and sustain international peace and security. It does this by planning, preparing and conducting United Nations peacekeeping operations, in accordance with mandates provided by member states. To this end, DPKO •• undertakes contingency planning for possible new peacekeeping operations; •• secures, through negotiations with member states, the civilian, military and police personnel and equipment and services required to accomplish the mandate; •• provides political and executive guidance, direction and support to peacekeeping operations; •• maintains contact with parties to conflicts and with members of the Security Council on the implementation of Council resolutions; •• manages integrated operational teams to direct and supervise all peacekeeping operations; •• advises the Security Council and member states on key peacekeeping issues, including security sector reform, the rule of law, and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants;