The objective of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) is mainly to contribute to the promotion and prosperity, in all countries, of national and international road transport and to safeguard the interests of professional road transport and transport on own account. Granted consultative status by the UN Economic and Social Council as early as 1949, the IRU actively participates in the work of the Economic Commissions for Latin America, for Africa, and for Asia and the Pacific, as well as in that of the UN Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD).