More Than Just an Intergovernmental Organization: 10 Interesting Facts About the United Nations

On October 24, 1945, the United Nations was formed to promote security, peace, and cooperation among countries. The main purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, improve living standards, promote human rights, and promote social progress. Decisions in the United Nations are made through votes and discussions in various bodies of the United Nations, like the Security Council and the General Assembly, among others. In the Security Council of the United Nations, there are 15 members, of whom 5 are permanent (US, UK, China,Russia and France) and have special veto powers. The United Nations has 193 member states and consists of almost every country in the world. Today we are here with 10 interesting facts about the United Nations.

10 interesting facts about the United Nations.

1) The successor of the UN is the League of Nations

Before the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, the League of Nations was formed in 1920. The League of Nations tried to maintain peace and security between nations but failed to fulfill its objectives; therefore, the League of Nations was demolished and the United Nations was formed.

2) The United Nations has 37 programs and agencies.

The United Nations currently has 37 programs and agencies. Each agency of the UN has its own area of expertise, management structure, mandate, and budget. For instance, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund puts emphasis on promoting fair treatment and protecting their rights on a global scale.

3) The United Nations runs 12 peacekeeping missions.

The UN currently operates 12 peacekeeping missions, employing over 90,000 people. These missions involve the contributions of soldiers, police, and civilian workers from 125 countries.

4) United Nations Longest Speech

As per the Guinness World Record, Indian academic and politician V.K. Krishna Menon holds the record for the longest speech at the United Nations. On January 23 and 24, 1957, addressing the Security Council three times to support India’s stance on Kashmir, V.K. Krishna spoke for eight hours.

5) The United Nations main office is free from local laws.

The United Nations main office is situated at 750 First Avenue in New York City. The land for the building was acquired by philanthropist and businessman John D. Rockefeller Jr. This area is considered extraterritorial, which means it is free from the application of local laws.

6) Programs and branches of the UN received the Nobel Prize 11 times.

In the past 70 years, the United Nations has received 11 Nobel Peace Prizes for its different agencies, initiatives, and programs. This prize was created based on Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will, where he left most of his money to people who improved humanity in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, and peace.

7) The U.N. has six official languages.

In 1946, the U.N. chose six official languages, which include Chinese, Arabic, Russian, French, English, and Spanish, for meetings and document purposes. Delegates must use one of these languages or provide a translation in one of them. Each language has its own special day to honor cultural diversity and multilingualism.

8) The U.N. has 200 member states.

The United Nations currently has 196 member countries. Only four countries are not members, including Palestine, Taiwan, Kosovo, and Vatican City. They have been invited to join but have not been accepted yet.

9) The U.N. has its own news site.

The United Nations has a news site that informs people about important achievements and international issues. The site organizes stories by world region, date, and topic. It is available in the U.N.’s official languages and offers written and audio options.

10) The U.N. was proposed in 1942.

On January 1, 1942, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt first used the term “United Nations.” Representatives from 26 countries met then to fight the Axis Powers in World War 2. However, the U.N. did not create a charter until 1945. The organization officially started in October 1945, when 51 countries approved the charter. This day is now celebrated as United Nations Day.