The United Nations

The United Nations (called the UN for short) is an international organization made up of 193 countries and was founded in 1945. It is a place where its members can present issues and express their views to find areas of agreement and to solve world problems together. The United Nations addresses issues related to peace and security, climate change, development, human rights, disarmament, health emergencies, food production, and much more. The U.N. consists of six bodies.

Founded in 1945, the U.N. first represented 50 countries that met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. Representatives from the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States had previously met in 1944 in preparation for the charter, which was signed on June 26, 1945. The U.N. became officially into existence on October 24, 1945, which is also celebrated as United Nations Day each year.

The main body of the U.N. is the General Assembly where each of the 193 countries are represented. There is also the Security Council, which primary responsibility is related to peace and security throughout the world. It has 15 members, 5 of which are permanent, and encourages all parties in a dispute to settle it by peaceful means. The council can impose sanctions or authorize use of force in some cases.

There is the Economic and Social Council which has 54 members and they discuss and provide recommendations related to economic, social, and environmental issues. The Trusteeship Council provides international supervision for 11 Trust territories, areas in the world in 1945 that were in the process of preparing to be self-governing and independent. The territories reached those goals, and the council now exists on an as-needed basis.

The International Court of Justice is the main judicial organ of the U.N. and its seat is located at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the only body located outside the U.N.'s main headquarters in New York City. Their role is to settle legal disputes and give advice and opinions on legal questions referred to it.

Finally, the Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and thousands of international staff members who carry out the daily work of the United Nations mandated by the General Assembly and the other main bodies of the U.N. The Secretary-General is the chief administrative officer and is appointed by the General Assembly every five years. The staff of the U.N is recruited throughout the world, and work in stations and peacekeeping missions around the globe. At times, serving for the cause of peace in a sometimes-violent world, there have been hundreds of U.N. workers who have given their lives in service.

During 70 plus years of existence of the United Nations, the U.N., its specialized agencies, funds, programs, and staff have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize eleven times. The Peace Prize is given to the person or persons that have done the most for peace in the world. Winners of the U.N. have included Albert Gore, presidential candidate during the 2000 U.S. election, U.N. peacekeeping forces, UNICEF (United Nations Children's' Fund, and several others.