Office of the UN

The people all over the world realized that if another war was fought it would destroy the whole world. They also realized that the huge amount of money being spent on making destructive weapons could be used for constructive work, which would bring prosperity and happiness to mankind. This led to the formation of the UN in 1945.

The concept of the United Nations was first planned in 1944 at a conference at Dumbarton oaks, near Washington, DC. It was formally set up at a conference in San Francisco, California, and began to operative in January 1946. At first it was called the United Nations organization and known as the UNO. Later it was shortened to the UN. The first headquarters of the UN were in Manhattan in New York City. The UN Headquarters is not legally a part of New York City and is treated as an independent country.

Major objectives of the UN

The UN set some objectives for itself.

A) To maintain international peace and security and to settle disputes between the member states by peaceful means.

B) To develop friendly relation among nations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self determination of peoples.

C) To solve economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems peacefully in cooperation with other nations.

D) To promote respect or human rights and support freedom for all people, regardless of their race, sex, religion, color or language.

E) To provide a meeting place where all members could work together to attain these common ends.

To achieve the above aims, the United Nations has set the following principals

a) All member countries are sovereign and equal and should respect the right of other nations.

b) All members should settle their disputes by peaceful means.

c) They should refrain from any threat or use of force.

d) They must support the organization in all its activities.

Member ship

All nations which accept the objectives and principles laid down by the organization in its charter can become members of the UN.