What is the United Nations? This governing body has a unique role in helping with international affairs and disputes.

All Nations Coming Together

The United Nations is a bit of a confusing group of people to the outside world. Though they seem to be in charge of all of the countries and nations of the planet, this isn’t true. But at the same time, when there are large scale world conflicts, the United Nations is called in to resolve the disputes. And yet, countries can ignore the rulings of the U.N. So, where does this leave the United Nations, besides in some meeting room, talking about things which may or may not happen?

The United Nations was founded in 1945 as a result of World War II. Created to replace the League of Nations, this organization is said to have two main goals:

  • Promote dialogue between countries.
  • Help to prevent wars from taking place.

The primary goal of world peace could be attributed to the United Nations, though they haven’t been successful just yet. They are also involved in:

  • Social progress and program development.
  • Human rights around the world.
  • Economic development in all countries.
  • International law and security.

How the United Nations Works

The United Nations headquarters is located in Manhattan, New York and continues 192 member states at the present time. The U.N. has five different sub committees:

  • The General Assembly
  • The Security Council
  • The Economic and Social Council
  • The Secretariat
  • The International Court of Justice

Each of these committees have different roles in the United Nations, functioning separately as well as together to help create a stable and supportive international environment.

Meeting at regular intervals to discuss world events and meeting in emergency sessions when necessary, the United Nations is called upon to help negotiate relationships between countries when they countries can not do the negotiating themselves.

Millennium Goals of the United Nations

The United Nations has a number of goals they establish with the hope of meeting these goals by 2015:

  • Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
  • Promote gender equality and empower women
  • Achieve universal primary education
  • Improve material health
  • Reduce child mortality
  • Combat malaria, AIDS, HIV, and other diseases
  • Develop global partnership for development
  • Ensure environmental sustainability

These are large goals which will require the support and the assistance of other countries, but they are also going to help to create world in which everyone can actually be united in cause and not just in promises.