The United Nations Trusteeship Council was set up as one of the main organs of the United Nations.  It was established under Chapter XIII of the U.N. Charter to make sure that the non-self governing territories are administered properly and that they function in the best interest of the inhabitants as well as in the best interest of international peace and security.  Most of the trust territories were former mandates of the League of Nations or were territories taken from nations that were defeated at the end of the Second World War.  The Trusteeship Council also had the responsibility to oversee that the territories took adequate steps to prepare them for the achievement of the Charter goals.

The Charter also authorized the Trusteeship Council to examine and discuss reports from the Administering Authority on the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the peoples of Trust Territories.  The Trusteeship Council also had to examine petitions from the Territories and also undertake special missions to the Territories.

Initially, there were 12 territories whose administration was supervised by the trusteeship council.  Today, however, all of them have attained independence and self government, either as separate nations or by joining neighboring independent countries.  The last of the territories was Palau, which became a member state of the United Nations in 1994.  After this, in 1994, the Trusteeship Council suspended its activities for the time being.

The Trusteeship Council consists of the five permanent members of the Security Council: China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States.

Though the Trusteeship Council has completed its mission, it continues to exist on paper, under the UN Charter.  Its future role remains, however, uncertain.  The Trusteeship Council no longer has a secretariat.  However, the Trusteeship Council, by amending its rules of procedure, though no longer obliged to meet annually, may meet as and where the occasion requires.

The Trusteeship Council consists of the five permanent members of the Security Council: China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States.