1. What is the United Nations?
The coalition that would eventually come to form the United Nations began on January 1, 1942 in the midst of the Second World War.
1  It was a coalition of twenty-six nations that “pledged their Governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.”
2  The main leader in the formation of this group was the then President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

2. The beginnings of the organization evolved when in 1945 the United Nations Conference on International Organization was held in San Francisco. It was at this time that the United Nations Charter was created by representatives from 50 different countries. These 50 countries became the founding members.
October 24, 1945 – The United Nations is officially created. United Nations Day is celebrated every year on October 24.

3. Events that Led to the Formation of the United Nations
There were many different reasons for the establishment of the United Nations but the main one was to serve as a tool for world cooperation, maintenance of world peace, and international assistance between countries.
Many important events led to the world leaders determining that there was a need for an international organization such as the United Nations.  

4. General Assembly
 “The main deliberative, policymaking and representative
organ of the United Nations”  * Main Committees of the General Assembly Disarmament and International Security Committee Economic and Financial Committee Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee Special Political and Decolonization Committee Administrative and Budgetary Committee
Legal Committee

5. Security Council
* One primary responsibility: “the maintenance of international peace and security”
* 15 members
* Each member has 1 vote
* This organization is responsible for “determining the existence of a threat to the peace or an act of aggression.”

6. Economic and Social Council
* “The principle body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as implementation of internationally agreed development goals.” * 54 Members elected by the General Assembly
* 3 year terms

7. Trusteeship Council
* Established “to provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories that had been placed under the administration of 7 Member States, and ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the Territories for self-government and independence.”
1994 – At this time, all of the territories under supervision had become self-governing and independent.
* November 1994 – the Council suspended their operations.

8. International Court of Justice
* “The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.”

9. Secretariat
* Includes all the “UN staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by the General Assembly and the Organization’s other principal organs.”
* The Secretary-General is the Chief Administrator of this organization of the United Nations. The current Secretary General is Antonio Guterres.
o This is a very important and prestigious position with many roles and responsibilities. Some of them are:
“Bring[ing] to the attention of the Security Council any matter which … may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”
“Speak and act for peace, even at the risk, from time to time, of challenging or disagreeing with … Member States.”
* “Consultations with world leaders, world travel”

10. Additional Important Information
The General Assembly currently has 193 Member States.
The Security Council has 15 Member States. 5 are permanent and 10 are non-permanent.
Permanent Member States:
United States, Great Britain, China, Russia, France
 Current Non-Permanent Member States:
Bolivia, Egypt , Ethiopia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Sweden, Ukraine, Uruguay 

11. Over time, the Concerns of the United Nations have increased, as the world has grown and changed.  The major ones currently are: 
1. Maintain International Peace and Security
This is done through: Preventative Diplomacy and Mediation, Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding, Countering Terrorism, and Disarmament
2. Promote Sustainable Development
“Development that promotes prosperity, economic opportunity, greater social well-being, and protection of the environment.”

12. 3. Deliver Humanitarian Aid
4. Protect Human Rights
        This is done through three major components:
    The High Commissioner for Human Rights, The Human Rights Council, and The International Bill of Human Rights
5. Uphold International Law
This is done through the International Court of Justice