In the end, it comes down to values […] We want the world our children inherit to be defined by the values enshrined in the UN Charter: peace, justice, respect, human rights, tolerance and solidarity.
António Guterres- United Nations Secretary-General
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United Nations Day on 24th October marks the coming into force of the UN Charter in 1945. It was after the formal ratification of the founding document by the signatories, including the five members of UNSC, the United Nations was established. The United Nation General Assembly is held every year in New York, US where every member takes part and presents their view on a wide range of international issues. Unlike UNGA, the UNSC is an exclusive body which is attended by only the members. It consists of 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members each having one vote. UNSC is primarily responsible for world peace.
In today’s world no other global organization has legitimacy like the United Nations. It plays a fundamental role as a peacekeeper, through its subsidiary United Nation Peacekeepers. With membership of 193 countries, the UN addresses numerous global challenges through various specialized bodies like World Health Organization, UNICEF etc. Its main objective is to maintain peace among the member countries, fostering socio-economic development and coordinating humanitarian aid.
United Nations Days are established to raise awareness about various vital topics that the world community should understand for betterment of mother earth. Like International Day of Literacy is celebrated every year on 8thSeptember; to raise awareness about education and its importance for development of human beings and society, International Day of Science is celebrated every year on 16th September to raise awareness among the global community about the importance science holds for advancement of society and protection of environment.
Apart from that UN through its subsidiaries also advances various social causes like UNICEF functions for the protection of child rights and follows the convention on Rights of Child, UNESCO is a body that specializes in educational, scientific, and cultural organization, with the aim to foster world peace through international cooperation on education, science, and cultures.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as one of the most important resolutions of the United Nations, provide a comprehensive framework for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. Adopted in 2015, these goals address global issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, peace, and justice, and form a coordinated effort to promote economic, social, and environmental development worldwide. Given the widespread and growing global challenges, achieving these goals is essential not only for improving people’s lives but also for preserving natural resources and the environment for future generations. Through the SDGs, the United Nations calls on countries and communities to collaborate and take immediate action to address these challenges and create a more just and sustainable world.
In conclusion, the United Nation is a body that has achieved a lot in the sphere of socio-economic development, humanitarian aid, maintaining peace and order in the world but it still has a long way to go and a long list of agendas to achieve.
References
https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en
https://www.un.org/en/observances/un-day
By – Shervill Poonia, Roya Institute for Global Justice intern, from India