The United Nations Photo Unit documents mandated activities throughout the UN system, telling the story of the UN at its headquarters and the field. Historical coverage dates as far back as the inception of the Organization. All images, both historical and newly captured, are available through the Photo Library as well as the UN Photo website. All images in the collection are available free for news and editorial usage, while a nominal fee is associated with commercial usage.
The Photo Library's mission is to make its collection available to media organizations, governments and non-governmental organizations, researchers and civil society at large, in order to foster public understanding of the work of the United Nations and its goals.
The photo collection consists of original negatives, slides and digital capture in the photo archives. Since May of 2004 all images captured are digital. While the entire collection is digitised, the majority of images are yet to become publicly available.
Clients may visit the Photo Library in person to do their own research in the photo archives and/or to search the digital photo database through the two public access terminals at their disposal. Service is on a first come, first served basis. Research assistance is provided upon request.