Trusteeship Council

The Trusteeship Council was established to ensure trust territories were administered in the best interests of their inhabitants and of international peace and security.

• Formation: 1945.
• Members: The 5 permanent members of the Security Council, members administering trust territories, members named in Article 23, and members elected for 3-year terms.
• Headquarters: New York City. Term of members: 3 years.
• Functions: Administer and support the transition to independence/self-governance of former colonies of the Axis Powers after WWII; supervise administration of trust territories; promote advancement of inhabitants toward self-government or independence.
• Voting: One vote per member; decisions by majority present and voting.
• Legal Status: Inactive/suspended its operations since 1994 — specifically since 1st November 1994, following the independence of Palau, the last remaining UN Trust Territory, on 1st October 1994.
• Rule change: By a resolution adopted on 25th May 1994, the Council amended its rules of procedure to drop the obligation to meet annually, agreeing instead to meet as occasion required.