The name "United Nations", coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was first used in the Declaration by United Nations of 1 January 1942, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their governments to continue fighting together during World War II against the Axis Powers.

International Organizations

States first established international organizations to cooperate on specific matters. For example, the International Telecommunication Union was founded in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, and the Universal Postal Union was established in 1874, and both are now United Nations specialized agencies.

In 1899, the International Peace Conference was held in The Hague to elaborate instruments for settling crises peacefully, preventing wars, and codifying rules of warfare. It adopted the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes and established the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which began work in 1902.

League of Nations

The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived in similar circumstances during World War I and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security." The International Labour Organization was also created under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League. The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.

United Nations

In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States in August-October 1944. The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States. Today, the U.N. membership has grown to include 191 nations.

United Nations Day: October 24th

The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.

http://www.un.org/aboutun/history.htm

United Nations Charter

The UN Charter specifically calls on the United Nations to undertake the progressive codification and development of international law. The over 500 conventions, treaties and standards resulting from this work have provided a framework for promoting international peace and security and economic and social development. States that ratify these conventions are legally bound by them.

Purposes of the UN
The UN has four main purposes as set forth in the Charter: to

1) Maintain international peace and security;
2) Develop friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determinations

3) Work together to achieve international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems, and to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms; 

4) Be a forum for discussion, helping nations achieve these goals

Structure of the UN
The UN is comprised of six main groups: 

1) General Assembly

2) Security Council
3) Economic and Social Council 

4)  Trusteeship Council

5) International Court of Justice

6) Secretariat


UN Budget

The organization’s budget for the 2006-2007 biennium is $3.79 billion (resolution 60/247 A). The main source of funds is from contributions of Member States, which are assessed on a scale approved by the General Assembly.

The fundamental criterion on which the scale of assessments is based is the capacity of countries to pay. This is determined by considering their relative shares of total gross national product, adjusted to take into account a number of factors, including their per capita incomes. In addition, countries are assessed -- in accordance with a modified version of the basic scale -- for the costs of peacekeeping operations, which stood at around $2 billion in 2000.

UN Family of Organizations 

The United Nations family of organizations is made up of the Secretariat, the UN Programmes and Funds -- such as the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) -- and the Specialized Agencies. The programmes, funds and agencies have their own governing bodies and budgets, and set their own standards and guidelines. Together, they provide technical assistance and other forms of practical help in virtually all areas of economic and social endeavour.

Last Update 10 Oct 2006