International organizations act as platforms and frameworks that organize how countries collaborate on global issues. For Canada, this means using bodies like the United Nations to engage with others on security, development, human rights, and the environment—things Canada can’t fully address on its own. They provide venues for negotiation and dispute resolution, coordinate responses to crises, and mobilize humanitarian aid through international agencies. At the same time, they help establish and promote norms and rules—such as commitments to human rights and the rule of law—that guide national policies and shape how Canada conducts its foreign affairs. Importantly, these organizations do not override national democracies; member states retain sovereignty and implement policies domestically, though they may be guided or constrained by UN mandates and broad international norms. And while trade is part of international cooperation, the UN’s role is much broader, covering peacekeeping, humanitarian action, development, and norm-shaping. So, the best description is that these organizations provide venues for cooperation, conflict resolution, and humanitarian action while shaping norms that guide member countries, including Canada.