The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership totals 192 countries.

When States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes:

1. To maintain international peace and security;
2. To develop friendly relations among nations;
3. To cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights; and
4. To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.

The United Nations, in its capacities, is involved in all spheres of life. From poverty reduction to improving telecommunications and the quality of drinking water, from mobilizing funds for developing countries to ensuring the rights of refugees and helping to stabilize financial markets, the UN seeks to be a stakeholder in combating every imaginable obstacle to a better world.

The United Nations has six main organs. Five of them - the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and the Secretariat - are based at UN Headquarters in New York. The sixth, the International Court of Justice, is located at The Hague in the Netherlands.

To learn more about UN, visit the following internet address: www.un.org