The United Nations – Making the world a better place since October 24th, 1945

Have you ever wondered why or how your country has friendly, beneficial, or peaceful relations with other countries? Have you ever wondered how more and more military conflicts are prevented or resolved peacefully? Have you ever wondered who is the main organization that tackles the COVID-19 pandemic? The answer is quite simple and easy to remember. The answer is “The United Nations”. Yes, because of the United Nations there are more and more friendly, beneficial relations between countries from all around the world. Yes, because of the United Nations military conflicts are prevented or resolved peacefully. Yes, the United Nations, precisely the World Health Organization, is the main organization that tackles the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that you know 3 reasons why you should thank the United Nations for, let’s find out more about this organization!

The United Nations, also known as the UN, is an intergovernmental organization that has the goals to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. The United Nations is the largest, most familiar, most internationally represented and most powerful intergovernmental organization in the world, having its headquarters on international territory in New York City, and other main offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and The Hague. Currently, the official languages adopted by the UN are the Arabic, the Chinese, the English, the French, the Russian, and the Spanish languages. With 193 member states and 2 observers (The Holy See and Palestine), the United Nations is formed by six essential bodies: the UN Secretariat, the UN General Assembly, the International Court of Justice, the UN Security Council, the UN Economic and Social Council, and the UN Trusteeship Council. Obviously, there are many more United Nations organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the UNICEF, the UN Women, or the UNESCO Organizations, but we will take more detailed looks at them in the future articles. 

What is interesting about the United Nations is the fact that it was preceded by the League of Nations (1920-1946). The UN was also established after World War ll, with the purpose of preventing future wars, since the actions of the League of Nations were considered ineffective.

On 25th April 1945, 50 governments met in San Francisco for a conference, following the start of drafting the UN Charter. The UN Charter was adopted on 25th June 1945 and took effect on 24th October 1945, when the UN began operations. Pursuant to 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. South Sudan became a member in 2011, and the membership is now 193, representing almost all of the world's sovereign states.

The UN Charter, in its Preamble, set an objective: "to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained". Ever since, the development of, and respect for international law has been a key part of the work of the Organization. This work is carried out in many ways–by courts, tribunals, multilateral treaties–and by the Security Council, which can approve peacekeeping missions, impose sanctions, or authorize the use of force when there is a threat to international peace and security, if it deems this necessary.  These powers are given to it by the UN Charter, which is considered an international treaty.  As such, it is an instrument of international law, and UN Member States are bound by it. The UN Charter codifies the major principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations.

The term “human rights” was mentioned seven times in the UN's founding Charter, making the promotion and protection of human rights a key purpose and guiding principle of the Organization.  In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights brought human rights into the realm of international law.  Since then, the Organization has diligently protected human rights through legal instruments and on-the-ground activities.

A very well-known initiative of the United Nations is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Here you will find the Preamble of the Agenda:

”This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. We recognise that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet. We are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets which we are announcing today demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. They seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.”

In 929 words, this is all the basic that you need to know about the United Nations! What do you think about the UN? Did it sparkle your interest or enthusiasm for international politics, diplomacy, or global issues? Do you see the UN's actions as effective or pointless, as bold or weak? If this article made you want to find out more about the United Nations, watch some General Assembly speeches held by the world's most famous and powerful leaders, and if you are motivated to take action, start reading our article about the Model United Nations Conferences!

The United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City