The United NationsThe United NationsMain AimsMain Aims: :

Tolerance and friendship among all Tolerance and friendship among all nation, racial or religious groups. nation, racial or religious groups.

Maintenance of peaceMaintenance of peace

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http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/unintro/unintro.asp

When did it begin?When did it begin? The United Nations is made up of 193 countries The United Nations is made up of 193 countries

from around the world. It is often called the UN.from around the world. It is often called the UN. It was set up in 1945, after the Second World It was set up in 1945, after the Second World

War, as a way of bringing people together and War, as a way of bringing people together and to avoid further wars. to avoid further wars.

It started with 51 countries. The United Kingdom It started with 51 countries. The United Kingdom is one of the original members. Germany did not is one of the original members. Germany did not join until 1973.join until 1973.

(Non-members: Kosovo, Taiwan and Vatican (Non-members: Kosovo, Taiwan and Vatican City)City)

Interesting Facts…Interesting Facts… KosovoKosovo Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on on February 17, 2008 but Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on on February 17, 2008 but

has not gained complete international recognition to allow it to become a has not gained complete international recognition to allow it to become a member of the United Nations.member of the United Nations.

TaiwanTaiwan In 1971 the People's Republic of China (mainland China) replaced Taiwan In 1971 the People's Republic of China (mainland China) replaced Taiwan

(also known as the Republic of China) in the United Nations.(also known as the Republic of China) in the United Nations.

Vatican City / The Holy SeeVatican City / The Holy See The independent papal state of 771 people (including the Pope) was The independent papal state of 771 people (including the Pope) was

created in 1929. They have not chosen to become part of the international created in 1929. They have not chosen to become part of the international organization.organization.

Where is the UN located?Where is the UN located?

The The headquartersheadquarters is in New York City but the is in New York City but the land and buildings are international territory. The land and buildings are international territory. The United Nations has its own flag, its own post United Nations has its own flag, its own post office and its own postage stamps.office and its own postage stamps.

Six official languages are used at the United Six official languages are used at the United Nations - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Nations - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Russian and Spanish.

There are other UN locations located around the There are other UN locations located around the world, as well.world, as well.

Was there anything in place Was there anything in place before the UN to keep peace?before the UN to keep peace?

After the First World war, the League of Nations was After the First World war, the League of Nations was founded immediately after the First World War. founded immediately after the First World War.

It originally consisted of 42 countries. At its largest, 57 It originally consisted of 42 countries. At its largest, 57 countries were members of the League. countries were members of the League.

The League was created because a number of people in The League was created because a number of people in France, South Africa, the UK and the US believed that a France, South Africa, the UK and the US believed that a world organization of nations could keep the peace and world organization of nations could keep the peace and prevent a repetition of the horrors of the 1914-18 war in prevent a repetition of the horrors of the 1914-18 war in Europe.Europe.

The League was abandoned as the Second World War The League was abandoned as the Second World War unfolded, it became clear that the League had failed in unfolded, it became clear that the League had failed in its chief aim of keeping the peace. its chief aim of keeping the peace.

What is the main purpose of the What is the main purpose of the United Nations?United Nations?

The purpose of the United Nations is to The purpose of the United Nations is to bring all nations of the world together to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and developmentwork for peace and development

It based on the principles of justice, human It based on the principles of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people.dignity and the well-being of all people.

What does the UN aim to do?What does the UN aim to do?

To keep peace throughout the world.To keep peace throughout the world. To develop friendly relations between nations.To develop friendly relations between nations. To work together to help people live better lives, To work together to help people live better lives,

to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy in the to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy in the world, to stop environmental destruction and to world, to stop environmental destruction and to encourage respect for each other's rights and encourage respect for each other's rights and freedoms.freedoms.

To be a center for helping nations achieve these To be a center for helping nations achieve these aims.aims.

Does the UN have a constitution Does the UN have a constitution or official rules document?or official rules document?

The UN has an official charter called the UN Charter.The UN has an official charter called the UN Charter. Many of the principals of its predecessor, the League of Many of the principals of its predecessor, the League of

Nations, were kept by the United Nations and outlined in Nations, were kept by the United Nations and outlined in its Charter.its Charter.

The Charter outlines many rights, from the right to self-The Charter outlines many rights, from the right to self-determination, which encouraged the independence of determination, which encouraged the independence of colonized peoples, to general human rights, which aimed colonized peoples, to general human rights, which aimed to protect individuals, are enshrined in the Charter, the to protect individuals, are enshrined in the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two Covenants which have become major, standard-setting Covenants which have become major, standard-setting additions to international law.additions to international law.

Overall Principals of the UNOverall Principals of the UN

All Member States have sovereign equality.All Member States have sovereign equality. All Member States must obey the Charter.All Member States must obey the Charter. Countries must try to settle their differences by Countries must try to settle their differences by

peaceful means.peaceful means. Countries must avoid using force or threatening to Countries must avoid using force or threatening to

use force.use force. The UN may not interfere in the domestic affairs of The UN may not interfere in the domestic affairs of

any country.any country. Countries should try to assist the United Nations.Countries should try to assist the United Nations.

Does the United Nations look Does the United Nations look out for Children’s rights?out for Children’s rights?

It has a special section called UNICEF It has a special section called UNICEF (The United Nations International (The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) that tries to Children’s Emergency Fund) that tries to help children. help children.

The UN has a convention on children's The UN has a convention on children's rights. They would like it to be followed by rights. They would like it to be followed by all countries, as a set all countries, as a set

of rules about the of rules about the treatment of children. treatment of children.

Why might the UN have Why might the UN have problems getting all countries to problems getting all countries to

treat children fairly?treat children fairly?

Some countries use Some countries use children in their children in their armies armies

Many children work in Many children work in factories factories

Poor countries can't Poor countries can't afford to provide afford to provide schoolsschools

Why is it important to have an Why is it important to have an organization that is bigger than organization that is bigger than

any one country?any one country?

Stops governments Stops governments from mistreating from mistreating peoplepeople

Helps stop wars Helps stop wars between countriesbetween countries

Looks after all the Looks after all the world's young peopleworld's young people

United Nations ReviewUnited Nations Review

T/F: The UN is made up of 57 countriesT/F: The UN is made up of 57 countries

T/F: The 6 official languages at the UN are Arabic, T/F: The 6 official languages at the UN are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

What is UNICEF? What is UNICEF?

T/F: The UN was created after WWII.T/F: The UN was created after WWII.

The UN headquarters is located in _____ _____ ____.The UN headquarters is located in _____ _____ ____.

T/F: The UN has a convention on children’s T/F: The UN has a convention on children’s rights.rights.

T/F: The UN has an official charter called the T/F: The UN has an official charter called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

T/F: The only UN location is in NYC. T/F: The only UN location is in NYC.