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United Nations Marks 75th Year

New York City, New York —(Map)

The United Nations, the international organization that allows all the countries of the world to meet and work together, marked its 75th year yesterday. Because of the coronavirus,  the meeting took place mainly online.

The UN was created in 1945 after the end of World War II. Fifty nations signed an agreement creating the UN, with the hope that it would help the world avoid future wars.

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The UN was created in 1945 after the end of World War II. Fifty nations signed an agreement creating the UN, with the hope that it would help the world avoid future wars. Above, US President Harry Truman speaks to a UN group in 1945.

The UN was created with five main goals in mind: to help keep the peace, to protect human rights, to bring aid to people who need it, to help countries develop, and to make sure international laws are followed.

Since it first began, the UN has grown greatly. Nearly every country in the world is now a member. There are 193 members in all. When countries have problems or disagreements, the UN is one of the first places those concerns are heard.

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Nearly every country in the world is now a member of the UN. There are 193 members in all. When countries have problems or disagreements, the UN is one of the first places those concerns are heard. Above, last year’s meeting of the UN’s General Assembly.

The UN is now a massive organization. The UN is the parent group in charge of many, many organizations, which are leading important work in different international areas. Below is a list of just a few of the groups.

• The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) works to get rid of hunger and make sure there’s enough food for everyone in the world.
• The WHO (World Health Organization) works to prevent diseases and promote international public health.
• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) works to promote peace by focusing on education, science and culture.
• The UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) works to support and protect human rights around the world.
• The World Bank loans money to countries to help them develop more quickly.

The World Health Organization Flag
The UN is now a massive organization in charge of many smaller organizations, which are leading important work in different areas. Above, the flag of the WHO (World Health Organization), which works to prevent diseases and promote public health.
(Source: United States Mission Geneva, via Wikimedia Commons.)

One of the biggest challenges for the UN is its main job – keeping the peace. The UN sends peacekeepers to places where fighting has recently stopped. The peacekeepers try to keep war from breaking out again.

The UN has often been criticized for its failures. Some terrible tragedies have happened that the UN did not prevent.

Bolivian "Blue Helmet" at an exercise in Chile, 2002
One of the biggest challenges for the UN is its main job – keeping the peace. The UN sends peacekeepers to places where fighting has recently stopped to try to keep war from breaking out again. Above, a UN peacekeeper from Bolivia at work in Chile in 2002.
(Source: Senior Airman JoAnn S. Makinano [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)

But the UN can only do the things that its member nations agree to do. Often, member nations – including the more powerful members like China, Russia, and the US – disagree about what should be done.

In spite of the extreme challenges facing the world, and the UN’s limited power to force change, the group has always set bold goals. The UN’s efforts have saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and improved the lives of millions.

UN flags
The UN can only do the things that its member nations agree to do. Often, member nations – including the more powerful members like China, Russia, and the US – disagree about what should be done. Above, flags in front of the UN building in New York.
(Source: Martin Swart [CC BY-SA], via Wikimedia Commons.)

The challenges haven’t gotten smaller with time. Currently, the climate crisis  is a major challenge. The UN’s current leader, Secretary General António Guterres, has worked hard to encourage the world’s governments to take action before it’s too late.

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The UN’s current leader, Secretary General António Guterres, has worked hard to encourage the world’s governments to take action on the climate crisis before it’s too late. Above, Mr. Guterres during a video meeting about the climate crisis in April.

Because of the coronavirus, the UN’s 75th General Assembly – its main meeting – was held mainly online on Monday.

Though the virus prevented a proper celebration of the UN’s 75 years, it’s also a reminder of how important the UN is. In recent months, the UN’s WHO has been the key international group helping keep the world safe by studying and reporting on the coronavirus.

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