Established on Oct. 24, 1945, the United Nations is an intergovernmental organization designed to facilitate cooperation among nations. Headquartered in New York City, it comprises 193 member states and operates through six principal organs, including the General Assembly and the Security Council.
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The UN’s self-proclaimed mission is to promote peace, protect human rights, and tackle global challenges like poverty and climate change. The UN’s “About” page is a good entry point to understand how this international organization works and it’s impact in today’s world.
The UN’s Member States page provides a complete, alphabetical list of all 193 member countries, along with the exact dates they were admitted. Take a look at how the UN has expanded over time and understand each nation’s place in the global organization.
The League of Nations was the first global organization aimed at maintaining world peace, established in 1920 after World War I. Although US President Woodrow Wilson championed its creation, the United States never joined.
The Atlantic Charter was a pivotal 1941 agreement between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, outlining shared goals for a post-WWII world rooted in freedom and self-determination. These ideals later inspired the founding principles of the United Nations.
The 1945 San Francisco Conference brought together delegates from 50 nations to draft the United Nations Charter, laying the foundation for the UN. This archival footage from the UN captures the event's atmosphere, showcasing firsthand reactions and the global hope for peace after WWII.
The United Nations is structured around six main bodies: the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat. Each plays a distinct role in promoting peace, justice, and cooperation worldwide.
Renowned leaders in the field, accustomed to control over their projects, had to work together to complete the building. This quick article explores the tensions and cooperation of the architects to complete the UN building.
The four primary buildings are located on an 18-acre site on the East Side of Manhattan. The complex has its own postal administration, fire department, and security forces.
The group’s nearly 200 member-states have contributed art and cultural experiences to the New York campus since the building’s founding in 1950. This gallery hosts hundreds of photos of the art on the premises.
The modernist building was meant to stand out among the New York skyline. It’s three primary buildings are distinct and were supported by millions in donations from philanthropists families like the Rockefellers.
Weave together the many narratives of world history with our highly curated and expanding selection of diverse, fascinating resources designed to showcase the breadth and richness of Earth's story, from the earliest traces of human civilization to the dramatic developments of contemporary cultures.