About Universal Postal Union (UPU):
- It is a United Nations specialized agency and the postal sector's primary forum for international cooperation.
- It was established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874.
- UPU is the second oldest international organization worldwide.
- Mandate: To ensure universal access to postal services.
- Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland
- Functions:
- It coordinates postal policies among member nations in addition to the worldwide postal system.
- It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel and financial services volumes and improve the quality of service for customers.
- It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.
- It fulfils an advisory, mediating and liaison role and provides technical assistance where needed.
- Member countries:
- Any member country of the United Nations may become a member of the UPU.
- Any non-member country of the United Nations may become a UPU member, provided that its request is approved by at least two-thirds of the member countries of the UPU.
- The UPU now has 192 member countries.
- Structure: UPU consists of four bodies,
- The Congress: It is the supreme authority of the UPU and meets every four years.
- The Council of Administration: It ensures the continuity of the UPU's work between Congresses, supervises its activities and studies regulatory, administrative, legislative and legal issues.
- The Postal Operations Council: It is the technical and operational mind of the UPU and consists of 48 member countries elected during Congress.
- The International Bureau: Fulfilling a secretariat function, the International Bureau provides logistical and technical support to the UPU's bodies.
