United Nations

In 1945, during the course of the deadly Second World War, the representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organisation to draw up the UN Charter. The Charter was signed on 26 June, 1945 by the representatives of 50 countries. Poland became its 51st member when it signed the UN Charter later. The UN came into existence officially on 24 October, 1945, when the Charter was ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other signatories. UN Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.

There are four major objectives of the UN, as follows :

1. To save the succeeding generations from the scourge of war.
2. To affirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the work and dignity of human person and equal rights of men, women and nation, large and small.
3. To establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained.
4. To promote social progress and better standard of life, and freedom.

The purpose of UN is set forth in Article-1 of the UN Charter, as below :

1. Maintenance of international peace and security.
2. Development of friendly relations among nations.
3. International cooperation in solving problems of economic, social, cultural and humanitarian nature, promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedom.
4. To act as a centre for harmonising the action of nations to achieve the above ends.

Article-2 of the UN Charter speaks of the following principles :

1. The organisation is based on the principles of sovereign equality of all its members.
2. The members shall fulfil in good faith the obligation assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter.
3. All members shall settle their disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered.
4. All members shall refrain in their international relation from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state or in any other manner inconsistent with the purpose of the UN.
5. All members shall give the UN every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present Charter and shall refrain from giving assistance to any state against which the UN is taking preventive action.
6. The UN shall not intervene in matters essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state. This provision shall not, however, prejudice the application of enforcement action with respect to threats to peace, breaches of peace and acts of aggression.

The official languages of the UN are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

The principal organs of the UN are General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice and Secretariat. The UN functions through these organs.

At present, the number of members of the UN is 194.

Word Meanings : ratify : to approve : heeefjle keâjvee; succeeding : future : Deeves Jeeuee; scourge : suffering : ogKe; dignity : respect : mecceeve; treaty : an agreement between two countries : mebefOe; humanitarian : concerned with people : ceeveJeerÙe; sovereign : freedom to govern a country : mebØeYeg; dispute : an argument : PeieÌ[e; endanger : to put in peril : Kelejs ceW [euevee; refrain : to keep away : yeÛevee; inconsistent : varying : efJejesOeer; jurisdiction : an area of authority : DeefOekeâej #es$e; breach : violation : leesÌ[vee; organ : a part : Debie~