Universal Postal Union
The Universal Postal Union (UPU, French: Union postale universelle) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that coordinates postal policies among member nations and facilitates a uniform worldwide postal system. It comprises 192 member states and is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland.
| Abbreviation | UPU |
|---|---|
| Formation | 9 October 1874 |
| Type | United Nations specialised agency |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | Bern, Switzerland |
Head | Director-General Masahiko Metoki |
Parent organization | United Nations Economic and Social Council |
| Website | www |
| Treaty effective October 1874 | |
Established in 1874 as the General Postal Union, the UPU is among the oldest existing intergovernmental organizations. It sought to standardize international mail delivery by establishing a uniform postal rate and equal treatment between domestic and foreign mail. The organization adopted its current name in 1878. It operated independently before being incorporated into the UN in 1948.
The UPU contains four bodies: the Congress, the Council of Administration (CA), the Postal Operations Council (POC) and the International Bureau (IB). It also oversees the Telematics and Express Mail Service (EMS) cooperatives, which provide international express mail delivery. Pursuant to the UPU's mission, each member state agrees to the same terms for conducting international postal duties.