The United Nations (UN) Day is annually observed across the globe on 24th October to mark the anniversary of the day on which the UN Charter entered into force in 1945.
- The day provides an opportunity to amplify our shared agenda and reaffirm the core purposes and principles outlined in the UN Charter.
- 24th October 2024 marks the 79th Anniversary of the foundation of the UN.
The theme of the 2024 UN Day concert is “Building a Better Future Together”
Background:
On October 31, 1947, 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 UN.
UN Charter:
i.On 26 June 1945, the UN Charter was signed by 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.
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 was 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.
iv.UN has six principal organs, as established by UN charter: General Assembly, Security Council (SC), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice (ICJ) and UN Secretariat.
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 in 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.
UN Day Concert 2024:
i.The UN Day 2024 will be celebrated with a concert by the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS) in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York City, the United States of America(USA).
ii.Partners will organize an engaging program on the theme “Culture of Peace,” highlighting the importance of peace-building through cultural expression and unity.
About United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General – António Guterres
Headquarters – New York City, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1945
