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The '''United Nations''' ('''UN''') is a diplomatic and political<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2018 |title=United Nations |url=https://www.history.com/topics/stories/united-nations |access-date=23 March 2024 |website=HISTORY |language=en |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323052229/https://www.history.com/topics/stories/united-nations |url-status=live}}</ref> [[international organization]] with the intended purpose of maintaining [[international peace]] and [[international security|security]], developing friendly relations among nations, achieving international cooperation, and serving as a center for coordinating the actions of member nations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/chapter-1 |work=United Nations Charter |title=Chapter I: Purposes and Principles |publisher=United Nations |language=en |access-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318200917/https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/chapter-1}}</ref> It is widely recognised as the world's largest international organization.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 December 2012 |title=International Organization |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/international-organization/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116165808/https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/international-organization/ |archive-date=16 November 2020|access-date=24 October 2020 |website=[[National Geographic Society]] |language=en}}</ref> The UN is [[headquarters of the United Nations|headquartered in]] [[New York City]], in international territory with certain privileges [[extraterritorial]] to the United States, and the UN has other offices in [[United Nations Office at Geneva|Geneva]], [[United Nations Office at Nairobi|Nairobi]], [[United Nations Office at Vienna|Vienna]], and [[The Hague]], where the [[International Court of Justice]] is headquartered at the [[Peace Palace]].
The '''United Nations''' ('''UN''') is a diplomatic and political<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2018 |title=United Nations |url=https://www.history.com/topics/stories/united-nations |access-date=23 March 2024 |website=HISTORY |language=en |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323052229/https://www.history.com/topics/stories/united-nations |url-status=live}}</ref> [[international organization]] with the intended purpose of maintaining [[international peace]] and [[international security|security]], developing friendly relations among nations, achieving international cooperation, and serving as a center for coordinating the actions of member nations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/chapter-1 |work=United Nations Charter |title=Chapter I: Purposes and Principles |publisher=United Nations |language=en |access-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318200917/https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/chapter-1}}</ref> It is widely recognised as the world's largest international organization.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 December 2012 |title=International Organization |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/international-organization/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116165808/https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/international-organization/ |archive-date=16 November 2020|access-date=24 October 2020 |website=[[National Geographic Society]] |language=en}}</ref> The UN is [[headquarters of the United Nations|headquartered in]] [[New York City]], in international territory with certain privileges [[extraterritorial]] to the United States, and the UN has other offices in [[United Nations Office at Geneva|Geneva]], [[United Nations Office at Nairobi|Nairobi]], [[United Nations Office at Vienna|Vienna]], and [[The Hague]], where the [[International Court of Justice]] is headquartered at the [[Peace Palace]].


The UN was established after [[World War II]] with the [[Dumbarton Oaks Conference|aim of preventing future world wars]], and succeeded the [[League of Nations]], which was characterized as being ineffective.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 April 2021 |title='The League is Dead. Long Live the United Nations.' |url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/league-of-nations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224050205/https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/league-of-nations |archive-date=24 February 2022 |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=National WW2 Museum New Orleans}}</ref> On 25 April 1945, 50 nations assembled in [[San Francisco]], California, for [[United Nations Conference on International Organization|a conference]] and initialised the drafting of the [[Charter of the United Nations|UN Charter]], which was adopted on 25 June 1945. The charter took effect on 24 October 1945, when the UN began operations. The UN's objectives, as outlined by its charter, include maintaining international peace and security, protecting [[human rights]], delivering [[humanitarian aid]], promoting [[sustainable development]], and upholding [[international law]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/index.html |title=What We Do |website=United Nations |language=en |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122092127/http://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/index.html |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At its founding, the UN had 51 [[Member states of the United Nations|member states]]; {{As of|lc=yes|2024}}, it has 193 [[sovereign states]], nearly all of the world's recognized sovereign states.<ref name="UN_SouthSudan_193rd_state" />
The UN was established after [[World War II]] with the [[Dumbarton Oaks Conference|aim of preventing future world wars]], and succeeded the [[League of Nations]], which was characterized as being ineffective.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 April 2021 |title='The League is Dead. Long Live the United Nations.' |url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/league-of-nations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224050205/https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/league-of-nations |archive-date=24 February 2022 |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=National WW2 Museum New Orleans}}</ref> On 25 April 1945, 50 nations assembled in San Francisco, California, for [[United Nations Conference on International Organization|a conference]] and initialised the drafting of the [[Charter of the United Nations|UN Charter]], which was adopted on 25 June 1945. The charter took effect on 24 October 1945, when the UN began operations. The UN's objectives, as outlined by its charter, include maintaining international peace and security, protecting [[human rights]], delivering [[humanitarian aid]], promoting [[sustainable development]], and upholding [[international law]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/index.html |title=What We Do |website=United Nations |language=en |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122092127/http://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/index.html |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At its founding, the UN had 51 [[Member states of the United Nations|member states]]; {{As of|lc=yes|2024}}, it has 193 [[sovereign states]], nearly all of the world's recognized sovereign states.<ref name="UN_SouthSudan_193rd_state" />


The UN's mission to preserve world peace was complicated in its initial decades due in part to [[Cold War]] tensions that existed between the [[United States]] and [[Soviet Union]] and their respective allies. Its mission has included the provision of primarily unarmed [[United Nations Military Observer|military observers]] and lightly armed troops charged with primarily monitoring, reporting and confidence-building roles.<ref name="our-history">{{cite web |url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/our-history |title=Our history |website=United Nations Peacekeeping |access-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122132154/https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/our-history |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> UN membership grew significantly following the widespread [[decolonization]] in the 1960s. Since then, 80 former colonies have gained independence, including 11 [[trust territories]] that had been monitored by the [[United Nations Trusteeship Council|Trusteeship Council]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/decolonization/index.html |title=Decolonization |website=United Nations |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122132046/http://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/decolonization/index.html |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By the 1970s, the UN's budget for economic and social development programmes vastly exceeded its spending on [[peacekeeping]]. After the end of the Cold War in 1991, the UN shifted and expanded its field operations, undertaking a wide variety of complex tasks.<ref name="our-history"/>
The UN's mission to preserve world peace was complicated in its initial decades due in part to [[Cold War]] tensions that existed between the [[United States]] and [[Soviet Union]] and their respective allies. Its mission has included the provision of primarily unarmed [[United Nations Military Observer|military observers]] and lightly armed troops charged with primarily monitoring, reporting and confidence-building roles.<ref name="our-history">{{cite web |url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/our-history |title=Our history |website=United Nations Peacekeeping |access-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122132154/https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/our-history |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> UN membership grew significantly following the widespread [[decolonization]] in the 1960s. Since then, 80 former colonies have gained independence, including 11 [[trust territories]] that had been monitored by the [[United Nations Trusteeship Council|Trusteeship Council]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/decolonization/index.html |title=Decolonization |website=United Nations |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122132046/http://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/decolonization/index.html |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By the 1970s, the UN's budget for economic and social development programmes vastly exceeded its spending on [[peacekeeping]]. After the end of the Cold War in 1991, the UN shifted and expanded its field operations, undertaking a wide variety of complex tasks.<ref name="our-history"/>
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[[File:United Nations Member States-1945.png|thumb|upright=1.8|The UN in 1945: founding members in light blue, protectorates and territories of the founding members in dark blue]]
[[File:United Nations Member States-1945.png|thumb|upright=1.8|The UN in 1945: founding members in light blue, protectorates and territories of the founding members in dark blue]]


By 1 March 1945, 21 additional states had signed the Declaration by the United Nations.{{sfn|Osmańczyk|2004|p=2445}} After months of planning, the [[United Nations Conference on International Organization|UN Conference on International Organization]] opened in [[San Francisco]] on 25 April 1945. It was attended by 50 nations' governments and a number of non-governmental organizations.<ref name="Charter">{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/charter-united-nations/|title=Charter of the United Nations|website=United Nations|access-date=29 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204151003/http://www.un.org/en/charter-united-nations/|archive-date=4 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="UNHistory">{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/sections/history/history-united-nations/index.html|title=History of the United Nations |website=United Nations|access-date=29 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107223107/http://www.un.org/en/sections/history/history-united-nations/index.html|archive-date=7 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/San-Francisco-the-birthplace-of-the-United-6336655.php|title=San Francisco – the birthplace of the United Nations|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=29 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229171754/http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/San-Francisco-the-birthplace-of-the-United-6336655.php|archive-date=29 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The delegations of the Big Four chaired the plenary meetings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/sections/history-united-nations-charter/1945-san-francisco-conference/index.html |title=1945: The San Francisco Conference|publisher=United Nations |access-date=1 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112180024/http://www.un.org/en/sections/history-united-nations-charter/1945-san-francisco-conference/index.html|archive-date=12 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Previously, Churchill had urged Roosevelt to restore France to its status of a major power after the [[liberation of Paris]] in August 1944. The drafting of the [[Charter of the United Nations]] was completed over the following two months, and it was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries.<ref>{{cite book |title=Progress in International Law |editor-last1=Miller |editor-first1=Russell A. |editor-last2=Bratspies |editor-first2=Rebecca M. |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |location=Leiden, the Netherlands |date=2008 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8K9kL1h79ucC&dq=%22drafter+of+the+Charter+of+the+United+Nations%22&pg=PA837 837]}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=South Africa: Time Running Out |publisher=University of California Press |date=1981 |work=The Study Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Southern Africa |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=sq43lnbklEUC&dq=%22author+of+the+Charter+of+the+United+Nations%22&pg=PA31 31] |isbn=978-0-520-04547-7}}</ref> The UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, upon ratification of the Charter by the five permanent members of the [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]]: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Soviet Union and [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]] — and by a majority of the other 46 nations.<ref name="unmilestones1941to1950" /><ref name="original draft">{{Cite web |title=Charter of the United Nations and Statue of the International Court of Justice |url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CTC/uncharter.pdf |publisher=Treaty Section, [[United Nations Office of Legal Affairs]] |pages=6, 20, 31 |year=1945 |access-date=29 October 2024 |language=en |location=San Francisco, United States}}</ref>
By 1 March 1945, 21 additional states had signed the Declaration by the United Nations.{{sfn|Osmańczyk|2004|p=2445}} After months of planning, the [[United Nations Conference on International Organization|UN Conference on International Organization]] opened in San Francisco on 25 April 1945. It was attended by 50 nations' governments and a number of non-governmental organizations.<ref name="Charter">{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/charter-united-nations/|title=Charter of the United Nations|website=United Nations|access-date=29 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204151003/http://www.un.org/en/charter-united-nations/|archive-date=4 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="UNHistory">{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/sections/history/history-united-nations/index.html|title=History of the United Nations |website=United Nations|access-date=29 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107223107/http://www.un.org/en/sections/history/history-united-nations/index.html|archive-date=7 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/San-Francisco-the-birthplace-of-the-United-6336655.php|title=San Francisco – the birthplace of the United Nations|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=29 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229171754/http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/San-Francisco-the-birthplace-of-the-United-6336655.php|archive-date=29 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The delegations of the Big Four chaired the plenary meetings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/sections/history-united-nations-charter/1945-san-francisco-conference/index.html |title=1945: The San Francisco Conference|publisher=United Nations |access-date=1 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112180024/http://www.un.org/en/sections/history-united-nations-charter/1945-san-francisco-conference/index.html|archive-date=12 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Previously, Churchill had urged Roosevelt to restore France to its status of a major power after the [[liberation of Paris]] in August 1944. The drafting of the [[Charter of the United Nations]] was completed over the following two months, and it was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries.<ref>{{cite book |title=Progress in International Law |editor-last1=Miller |editor-first1=Russell A. |editor-last2=Bratspies |editor-first2=Rebecca M. |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |location=Leiden, the Netherlands |date=2008 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8K9kL1h79ucC&dq=%22drafter+of+the+Charter+of+the+United+Nations%22&pg=PA837 837]}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=South Africa: Time Running Out |publisher=University of California Press |date=1981 |work=The Study Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Southern Africa |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=sq43lnbklEUC&dq=%22author+of+the+Charter+of+the+United+Nations%22&pg=PA31 31] |isbn=978-0-520-04547-7}}</ref> The UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, upon ratification of the Charter by the five permanent members of the [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]]: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Soviet Union and [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]] — and by a majority of the other 46 nations.<ref name="unmilestones1941to1950" /><ref name="original draft">{{Cite web |title=Charter of the United Nations and Statue of the International Court of Justice |url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CTC/uncharter.pdf |publisher=Treaty Section, [[United Nations Office of Legal Affairs]] |pages=6, 20, 31 |year=1945 |access-date=29 October 2024 |language=en |location=San Francisco, United States}}</ref>


The first meetings of the [[General Assembly]], with 51 nations represented,{{efn|Poland had not been represented among the fifty nations at the San Francisco conference due to the reluctance of the Western superpowers to recognize its post-war communist government. However, the Charter was later amended to list Poland as a founding member, and Poland ratified the Charter on 16 October 1945.{{sfn|Grant|2009|pp=25–26}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/foreign_policy/international_organisations/united_nations/poland_and_the_un/ |title=Poland and the United Nations |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland |access-date=29 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003602/http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/foreign_policy/international_organisations/united_nations/poland_and_the_un/ |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} and the Security Council took place in [[London]] beginning in January 1946.<ref name=unmilestones1941to1950>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/history/milestones-1941-1950/index.html |title=Milestones 1941-1950 |website=[[United Nations]] |access-date=1 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027013705/http://www.un.org/en/sections/history/milestones-1941-1950/index.html|archive-date=27 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Debates began at once, covering topical issues such as the presence of Russian troops in [[Iranian Azerbaijan]] and British forces in [[Greece]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roberts |first=John Morris |title=History of the world |date=1993 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-521043-9 |location=New York |page=778 |oclc=28378422}}</ref> British diplomat [[Gladwyn Jebb]] served as interim secretary-general.
The first meetings of the [[General Assembly]], with 51 nations represented,{{efn|Poland had not been represented among the fifty nations at the San Francisco conference due to the reluctance of the Western superpowers to recognize its post-war communist government. However, the Charter was later amended to list Poland as a founding member, and Poland ratified the Charter on 16 October 1945.{{sfn|Grant|2009|pp=25–26}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/foreign_policy/international_organisations/united_nations/poland_and_the_un/ |title=Poland and the United Nations |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland |access-date=29 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003602/http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/foreign_policy/international_organisations/united_nations/poland_and_the_un/ |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} and the Security Council took place in [[London]] beginning in January 1946.<ref name=unmilestones1941to1950>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/history/milestones-1941-1950/index.html |title=Milestones 1941-1950 |website=[[United Nations]] |access-date=1 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027013705/http://www.un.org/en/sections/history/milestones-1941-1950/index.html|archive-date=27 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Debates began at once, covering topical issues such as the presence of Russian troops in [[Iranian Azerbaijan]] and British forces in [[Greece]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roberts |first=John Morris |title=History of the world |date=1993 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-521043-9 |location=New York |page=778 |oclc=28378422}}</ref> British diplomat [[Gladwyn Jebb]] served as interim secretary-general.
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