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Context:

United Nations Day is celebrated on October 24 every year to observe the establishment of the United Nations (UN) in 1945. 

About United Nations Day 2024 

United Nations Day 2024 marked the 79th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN) in 1945 on October 24. 

The day highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges such as peace, human rights, and sustainable development. 

The theme for United Nations Day 2024 has not yet been announced. Last year's theme was “Equality, Freedom & Justice for All.”

About United Nations 

The UN was established after World War II with the aim of preventing future world wars and succeeded the League of Nations, which was characterized as being ineffective. 

On April 25, 1945, 50 nations assembled in San Francisco, California, to draft the UN Charter, which was adopted on June 25, 1945. The charter took effect on October 24, 1945, when the UN began operations. As of October 2024, the UN has 193 sovereign states.

The organization is financed by set and voluntary contributions from its member states.  

Objectives

The UN's objectives, as outlined by its charter, include:

• Maintaining international peace and security
• Protecting human rights
• Delivering humanitarian aid
• Promoting sustainable development
• Upholding international law

Headquarters and Offices

The UN is headquartered in New York City, in international territory with certain privileges extraterritorial to the United States. 

It also has offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague, where the International Court of Justice is headquartered at the Peace Palace.

The UN comprises six principal operational organizations:

• General Assembly: Represents all 193 member states, each having one vote.
• Security Council: Responsible for maintaining international peace and security, consisting of 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States).
• Economic and Social Council: Promotes international economic and social cooperation and development.
• International Court of Justice: Settles legal disputes submitted by states and provides advisory opinions on international legal issues.
• UN Secretariat: Provides studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN for its meetings and operations.

Trusteeship Council: Established to oversee the administration of trust territories, suspended since 1994.

Specialized Agencies

The United Nations (UN) has 15 specialized agencies

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
• International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO)
• World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• Universal Postal Union  (UPU)
• International Labour Organization (ILO)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• World Bank
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Must Read Articles: 

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World Food Programme

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Source: 

Indian Express

Wikipedia

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Which of the following is/are the active principle operational organizations under the United Nations: 1. Economic and Social Council 2. International Court of Justice 3. Trusteeship Council   Select the correct answer using the codes given below: A) 1 and 2 only B) 2 and 3 only C) 1 and 3 only D) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: A Explanation: All three, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Trusteeship Council, are principal operational organizations of the United Nations. The Trusteeship Council, however, has been inactive since 1994.