The Organization

General Assembly Hall

THE UN WEBSITE

“The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.”

– The UN was founded on October 24, 1945.

– 193 member states are part of the UN.

– Its official languages are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

– Outside the headquarters in New York the organization has three main offices in Geneva (Switzerland), Vienna (Austria), and Nairobi (Kenya). 

The UN has 4 main purposes

• To keep peace throughout the world;
• To develop friendly relations among nations;
• To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms;
• To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals.(www.un.org)

“The Organization works on a broad range of fundamental issues, from sustainable development, environment and refugees protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, to promoting democracy, human rights, gender equality and the advancement of women, governance, economic and social development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production, and more, in order to achieve its goals and coordinate efforts for a safer world for this and future generations.”

Its main bodies are:

• General Assembly
• Security Council
• Economic & Social Council
• Trusteeship Council
• International Court of Justice

Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon