Overview

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.

Founding Member States

• The United Nations (UN) was created at the end of World War II as an international peacekeeping organization and a forum for resolving conflicts between nations.
• The UN replaced the ineffective League of Nations, which had failed to prevent the outbreak of the Second World War.

October 24, 1945, San Francisco, CA

Countries Not in the United Nations The two countries that are not UN members are Vatican City (Holy See) and Palestine.

The Manhattan site was ultimately chosen over Philadelphia after John D. Rockefeller, Jr., offered to donate $8.5 million to purchase the land along the East River.; Robert Moses and Rockefeller Sr. convinced Nelson Rockefeller to buy the land after the Rockefellers’ Kykuit estate in Mount Pleasant, New York was deemed …

• United States. #1 in Power Rankings. No Change in Rank from 2020.
• China. #2 in Power Rankings. #3 out of 73 in 2020.
• Russia. #3 in Power Rankings. #2 out of 73 in 2020.
• Germany. #4 in Power Rankings.
• United Kingdom. #5 in Power Rankings.
• Japan. #6 in Power Rankings.
• France. #7 in Power Rankings.
• South Korea. #8 in Power Rankings.

The main bodies of the United Nations are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat.

Historically, a sixth main organ, the Trusteeship Council, played a significant role in the process of decolonization. The Trusteeship Council suspended its operations in 1994 and is no longer active, but it cannot be formally dissolved without amending the UN Charter.

António Guterres is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations. He is the ninth Secretary-General, his term began 1 January 2017.

The main function of the United Nations is to preserve international peace and security. Chapter 6 of the Charter provides for the pacific settlement of disputes, through the intervention of the Security Council, by means such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and judicial decisions.

In addition to maintaining international peace and security, the United Nations protects human rights, delivers humanitarian aid, promotes sustainable development and upholds international law.

When a country becomes a UN member, the country agrees to settle any disputes peacefully, to not use force or threats against other countries, and to refrain from helping any country that opposes the UN’s actions.

The United Nations has made enormous positive contributions in maintaining international peace and security, promoting cooperation among states and international development. Today, people of the world still face the two major issues of peace and development.