The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization established 24 October 1945, to promote international co-operation. A replacement for the ineffective League of Nations, the organization was created following the Second World War to prevent another such conflict. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; there are now 193. The headquarters of the United Nations is situated in Manhattan, New York City, and enjoys extraterritoriality. Further main offices are situated in Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna. The organization is financed by assessed and voluntary contributions from its member states. Its objectives include maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, fostering social and economic development, protecting the environment, and providing humanitarian aid in cases of famine, natural disaster, and armed conflict. During the Second World War, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated talks on a successor agency to the League of Nations, and the United Nations Charter was drafted at a conference in April–June 1945; this charter took effect 24 October 1945, and the UN began operation.
- Indonesia grapples with plastic waste crisis amid global UN plastic treaty talks
- No evidence from Israel for some UNRWA claims: review
- Systematic crimes have already been committed in Gaza on a horrific scale: Analysis
- Sexual violence in conflict increased by 50% in 2023, says UN
- About 282 million people faced acute hunger last year: UN-led report
- African Counter-Terrorism summit: Leaders discuss combating armed groups
- What's being done to protect endangered piping plovers? Is it enough?
- US Ambassador to the United Nations to be 2024 UVM Commencement Speaker
- Why it’s so hard to end plastic pollution
- Israel gave no evidence UNRWA staff linked to ‘terrorism’: Colonna report
- Calls grow for Gaza mass graves investigation
- How can we reduce global food insecurity?
- Plastic pollution: global treaty talks underway in Canadian capital
- UNRWA investigation deflects attention away from Israeli crimes in Gaza: Marwan Bishara
- UN rights chief 'horrified' by Gaza mass grave reports
- 175 nations meet in Canada for UN plastic treaty talks
- Germany to resume funding UNRWA Palestinian agency
- Israel’s attacks on the agency are political: UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini
- UNRWA plays an indispensable and irreplaceable role in the region: Catherine Colonna
- Israeli allegations against UNRWA ‘amount to the mother of all lies’: Former employee