In April 1945, the United Nations Conference on International Organization took place in San Francisco. This conference brought together representatives from over 50 nations that were united against the Axis powers during World War II. The attendees sought to establish a new international organization dedicated to promoting global peace and security, as well as preventing future world wars. On June 26, 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed at this conference, officially creating the United Nations.

The United Nations, commonly referred to as the UN, is the largest and most significant international organization. Its primary goal is peacekeeping, which involves resolving potential and existing conflicts in a peaceful manner. The UN also aims to strengthen relationships between countries by promoting cooperation and equality. In addition, the organization works to uphold fundamental freedoms for all people and to address issues related to economic, social, and health challenges. The members of the UN are bound by these goals, which take precedence over any other treaties they may have signed. Currently, representatives from 193 countries have equal representation in the UN General Assembly.

Interesting Facts about the UN:

• Each year, approximately 67 countries receive assistance from the United Nations for their elections.
• Vaccines, including the Polio vaccine, are distributed by the UN to 45% of the world’s children. 
• The UN plays a crucial role in empowering women and girls worldwide. They are responsible for providing female sex education in countries like Bhutan, offering self-defense classes for women in Kenya, and delivering training to women who have experienced gender-based violence globally. 
• The UN’s budget for global peacekeeping is only 1% of the military budget for the United States. 
• The location for the UN headquarters is on international soil. Therefore, it has its own security, fire department, and post office. Meetings for the UN are conducted in 6 different languages.