The United Nations (UN) Day is annually observed across the globe on 24 October to mark the anniversary of the day on which the UN Charter entered into force in 1945.
- UN Day offers the opportunity to amplify the common agenda and reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
- 24 October 2023 marks the 78th Anniversary of the foundation of the UN.
The UN Day Concert 2023 was held under the theme “The Frontlines of Climate Action”
Background:
On October 31, 1945, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/168(II) and proclaimed the 24th of October of every year as the United Nations Day.
- The UN Charter is the founding document of the United Nations.
UN Charter:
i.On 26 June 1945, the UN Charter was signed by the representatives from 50 nations, who attended the UN Conference on International Organization (UNCIO) in San Francisco, the United States of America (USA) and came into force on 24 October 1945.
- The main objective of the San Francisco conference, officially known as the UNCIO, was to produce a Charter for this new organization that would be acceptable to all the countries.
ii.It was mandated that the UN would come into force upon ratification and notification by key nations, including China, France, the United Kingdom (UK), the Soviet Union, and the USA, along with a majority of other signatory states.
iii.The Declaration by the UN was issued in Washington, DC (USA), on 01 January 1942, during the 2nd World War. The Declaration by the UN contained the first official use of the term ‘United Nations’.
- The name ‘United Nations‘ was suggested by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the USA.
Significance of UN:
i.The UN operates as a vital global entity with the authority to address a diverse array of issues, owing to its distinctive international composition and the authoritative provisions of its Charter.
ii.The UN Charter holds the status of an international treaty, rendering it a crucial component of international law and providing a forum for its 193 members to express their views.
iii.UN Member States are legally bound by the stipulations within this Charter, which encapsulates fundamental principles governing international relations.
UN Day Concert 2023:
The UN Day Concert 2023, held under the theme “The Frontlines of Climate Action”, was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations with support from PVBLIC Foundation’s Family Offices for Sustainable Development (FOSD).
- The theme of the 2023 UN Day Concert reinforces Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for “faster, bolder climate action”
- The 2023 concert featured the Environmental Symphony: The Movement and world-renowned cellist Michael Fitzpatrick.
Symbols of UN:
UN Emblem:
The original UN emblem was created by a team of designers led by Oliver Lincoln Lundquist, during the UNCIO in 1945.
Design: A world map representing an azimuthal equidistant projection centred on the North Pole, inscribed in a wreath consisting of crossed conventionalized branches of the olive tree, in gold on a field of smoke-blue with all water areas in white.
- It encompasses a wide geographical area, extending to 60 degrees south latitude and featuring 5 concentric circles.
- The “UN blue” colour is an integral part of the visual identity of the Organization. Blue represents peace in opposition to red, for war.
UN Flag:
i.On 20 October 1947, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/167 (II) and approved the UN flag.
ii.The resolution states “The flag of the UN shall be the official emblem adopted by the UNGA the terms of its resolution 92 (I) of 7 December 1946, centered on a light blue ground.”
Note: The UN emblem has been incorporated into the logo designs of several entities in the UN System and is also used on UN stamps.
About United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General– António Guterres
Headquarters– New York City, USA
Established in– 1945
