United Nations Day

In Context

• Recently, the UN celebrated its 76th anniversary on 24 October 2021.
  • The day is being celebrated since 1948.

United Nations

• Background:
  • The UN was formed following the devastating World War II, with the aim of preventing future global-scale conflicts.
    • The precursor to the United Nations was the League of Nations, which was established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles “to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security.
• The representatives of 50 governments met in San Francisco on 25 April 1945, to draft what would become the UN Charter. 
  • The Charter was adopted on 25 June 1945 and came into effect on 24 October 1945.
• The name “United Nations” was coined by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• Composition:
  • The 5 main organs of the UN are:
    • the General Assembly,
    • the Security Council,
    • the Economic and Social Council,
    • the International Court of Justice,
    • the UN Secretariat.
    • the Trusteeship Council,
      • the Trusteeship Council, suspended operations on 1 November 1994, upon the independence of Palau, the last remaining UN trustee territory.
• United Nations Functions:
• In accordance with the Charter, the organization’s objectives include maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development, and upholding international law. 
• At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; this number grew to 193 in 2011, representing the vast majority of the world’s sovereign states.

Source: TH