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The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. It was founded in 1945 at the signing of the United Nations Charter by 50 countries, replacing the League of Nations, founded in 1919.
The UN was founded after the end of World War II by the victorious Allied Powers in the hope that it would act to intervene in conflicts between nations and thereby avoid war. The organization's structure still reflects in some ways the circumstances of its founding. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council, each of which has veto power on any UN resolution, are the main victors of World War II or their successor states: People's Republic of China (which replaced the Republic of China), France, Russia (which replaced the Soviet Union), the United Kingdom, and the United States.
As of 2006, there are 192 United Nations member states, encompassing almost every recognized independent state. From its headquarters in New York City, the UN and its specialized agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout each year. The organization is divided into administrative bodies, including the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Secretariat, Trusteeship Council, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Additional bodies deal with the governance of all other UN System agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The UN's most visible public figure is the Secretary-General. The current Secretary-General is Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, who assumed the post on 1 January 2007.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations system established in 1945. Its main objective is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms (Article 1 of the UNESCO Constitution).
191 nations belong to UNESCO. The Organization is headquartered in Paris, France, with over 50 field offices and several institutes and centres throughout the world. UNESCO pursues its action through five major programmes: education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture and communication and information. Projects sponsored by UNESCO include literacy, technical, and teacher-training programmes; international science programmes; regional and cultural history projects, the promotion of cultural diversity; international cooperation agreements to secure the world cultural and natural heritage and to preserve human rights; and attempts to ameliorate the worldwide digital divide.
The "United Nations Commission on International Trade Law" is a body of member and observer states under the auspicies of the United Nations. It drafted the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration in 1985. Agreements which cite the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules may be bound to this form of dispute resolution.
- John Holmes replaces Jan Egeland as Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
- The Security Council unanimously passes a resolution imposing sanctions on Iran for its nuclear enrichment program.
- Voting for the United Nations (Security Council Member) contests Guatemala and Venezuela. The competition is a stalemate.
- Annan agrees to extend the Oil-for-Food committee to follow-up on findings until March 2006.
- Outlining his top priorities for 2006 Kofi Annan said Wednesday that he was determined to follow through on his wide-ranging agenda of reform and renewal of the world body.
- Visit WikiProject United Nations, and add yourself to the list of participants.
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- Add {{User UN}} to your user page if you support the UN.
- Revert Vandalism on articles concerning the UN.
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