In 1949, the United Nations Organisation (Economic and Social Council) granted UIC consultative status to the UN to represent the railway sector worldwide. This administrative act was of symbolic value: it was the first mandate given to UIC by the international community to represent and promote this mode of transport in all regions of the world. Today this international aspect constitutes one of the core strategies for the development of UIC’s role and the strengthening of its activities. It is particularly worth mentioning the fruitful cooperative links established between UIC and the UN, and its specialised institutions (UNEP for example) and regional economic conferences (UNECE, UNESCAP, UNESCWA, etc.)