United Nations History
by Krysta CardinaleThe United Nations was forged in the wartime alliance of the United States, Great Britain, and Russia. From these three allies, came the call for a world body that could settle conflicts and prevent war. April of 1945, the first meeting of this august body convened. At San Francisco, California two hundred men and women of fifty nations labored to build an organization that will outlaw war for all times. June 26th, 1945, 50 nations gathered in the San Francisco Opera House to vote for the approval of the Charter of the new United Nations. Nation by nation of delegates cast their votes. Fifty peoples pledged to peace and the United Nations formation.
The Purpose of the United Nations Formation
The UN hoped to succeed where the earlier League of Nations had not. The big three allies joined by France and China would serve as permanent members of a smaller managing cabinet called the Unite Nations Security Council. This Security Council would deal with the more pressing business of the UN. Leaders and representatives from around the world met to discuss and ratify the charter for the UN. Even newly inaugurated United States President Truman attended. While there, he met with many world leaders. The five United Nations Security Council members signed the charter as a solemn promise to support its purpose.
It was considered the charter of mankind’s deepest hopes. Humanity demanded that this be the “Magna Carta” of lasting peace. At the final session, President Truman addressed the assembled speaking to the importance of this newly founded body.
Harry Truman: “If we had had this charter a few years ago and above all the will to use it, millions now dead would be alive. If we should falter in the future in our will to use it, millions now living will surely die. And there's a time for making plans and there's a time for action. The time for action is here now.”
With these strong words, Truman challenged the countries of the world to live up to the principles endorsed by the charter. He hoped that the UN would preserve its goal of peace and security for all. On June 26th, 1945, the people of the world moved a little closer as the United Nations brought these 50 countries together. The experiment in international cooperation and peace would grow to include over 180 nations. The UN was officially established on October 24, 1945 when the charter was ratified. United Nations Day is celebrated every year on October 24th.
Location and Funding
The current UN headquarters is located in New York City, New York right along the East River. It was built between 1940 and 1950 on land that was purchased and donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr. The building was officially opened on January 9, 1951. The headquarters is located in NYC; however it has branches and locations in Geneva, The Hague, Vienna, Bonn, Copenhagen, Montreal, and several other places. The office is getting older, so current construction and expansion is being done. While this is project is underway a temporary location will be held at offices on First Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets.
This international system is financed in two ways. The first way would be voluntary contributions from member nations, and the second would be assessed funding. The assessed contributions are based on each particular country and the wealth of their nation, the overall national income statistic. However, since the UN does not want it financial status to be dependent on any one single member country there is a “ceiling rate.” The United States is the only member that reaches the ceiling rate of 22%. In 2001, the budget rate for other countries included 19.63% for Japan, 9.82% for Germany, 6.50% for France, 5.57% for England, and 5.09% for Italy.
Recent Events
In the past few years the United Nations is under critique for reform. However, there is no decisive manner or method in which to reform it. Some members think that it should play a greater role in world affairs, while others want it to have less of a role in humanitarian issues. In the last two years, there supposedly been mismanagement and some corruption in regards to the Oil-for-Food Program for Iraq under Saddam Hussein. An official reform program had been initiated by Kofi Annan, the UN’s Secretary-General. Although his efforts were not seeing much success he continued trying. Annan established an ethics office and as recently as December 2005, he was completing a review if all General Assembly mandates. This is supposed to provide a new basis for decision-making and eliminate duplicate or unnecessary programs.
