United Nations Day is celebrated by all its members on October 24 and it is an annual event. It is the day on which the United Nations Organisation (UNO) officially came into being when China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and a majority of other member nations ratified the Charter on October 24. The first Day was celebrated in 1948. In 1977, all the member states declared it a public holiday. The focus on this day will be on the goals and achievements of the UN and creating public awareness about them globally.
Before the UNO was formed there was an organisation called the League of Nations (1919 – 1946). It was founded by the nations who won World War I. Although at first it was successful it later failed to keep world peace and therefore broke up especially when it failed to prevent or end World War II.
The UN is its successor and was formed to promote international peace and prevent global conflict.
In the middle of the Second World War, on January 1, 1942, 26 nations signed the ‘Declaration by United Nations'. This was an agreement to fight against the Axis Powers of World War II, namely, Germany, Italy and Japan.
In 1945 came the UN Conference on International Organisation where representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco, California, USA to draw the UN charter. On June 26, 1945 the Charter was signed by representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, who was not represented at the Conference signed it a little later and became the 51st original member state.
The name United Nations was coined by US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The aims of the UN are to keep global peace and security, to develop friendly relations among countries and help create and maintain cooperation among nations in the solving of economic, social, cultural and humanitarian international problems.
There are over 30 organisations affiliated to the United Nations.
The current Secretary General of the United Nation is Antonio Guterres.
To celebrate UN Day member nations hold concerts, ceremonies, discussions, art and photographic competitions, films and children’s games.
Normally, a big concert is held at the UN Headquarters in New York which includes music from different parts of the world.
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| The United Nations Charter is signed on October 24, 1945 in San Francisco |