168 (II) United Nations Day
The General Assembly
Declares that 24 October, the anniversary of the coming into force of the Charter of the United Nations, shall henceforth be officially called "United Nations Day' and shall be devoted to making known to the peoples of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations and to gaining their support for the work of the United Nations;
Invites Member Governments to co-operate with the United Nations in securing observance of this anniversary.
Hundred and first plenary meeting,
31 October 1947.
2782 (XXVI). Proclamation of United Natíons Day as an international holiday
The General Assembly,
Conscious of the need to enhance the purposes and principIes of the Charter of the United Nations,
Mindful that in its resolution 168 (11) of 31 October 1947 the General Assembly declared 24 October, the anniversary of the coming into force of the Charter, as "United Nations Day",
Believing that the anniversary of the United Nations should be an occasion for Governments and peoples to reaffirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter,
Declares that 24 October, United Nations Day, shall be an international holiday and recommends that it should be observed as a public holiday by all States Members of the United Nations.
2000th plenary meeting,
6 December 1971.
"The United Nations must deliver results for a safer, healthier, more prosperous world. On this UN Day, I call on all partners and leaders to do their part and keep the promise."
Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General
The anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter on 24 October 1945 has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. It has traditionally been marked throughout the world by meetings, discussions and exhibits on the achievements and goals of the Organization. In 1971, the General Assembly recommended that Member States observe it as a public holiday
MESSAGE FROM MIGUEL D’ESCOTO BROCKMANN,
PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE THE UN DAY CONCERT, 24 OCTOBER 2008
PRESENTED BY H.E. MR. HUGO SILES,
VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE SIXTY-THIRD SESSION AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF BOLIVIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
I am honoured to read the message of H.E. Father Miguel d’Escoto, President of the 63rd session of the General Assembly. With great regret, Father Miguel is unable to join us this evening, as he is traveling. His message reads:
I wish I could join you tonight. In these stressful and disturbing times, I certainly would enjoy an evening with Yo-Yo Ma and draw inspiration from the music of the Silk Road Project.
This is a very special way to celebrate the day that the Charter of the United Nations came into force. Yo-Yo Ma is known to the world as a virtuoso cellist. It is less known that he is a Good Will Ambassador for the United Nations. He is a man who, through his wonderful music, is able to convey to us the values of the United Nations and inspire our commitment to them. Compassion, cooperation and communication, strength through diversity - these are some of the values that seem to be absent or inconsequential in international relations, yet these values should underpin all the undertakings of our great Organization.
Let us tonight reflect on the immense possibilities open to us despite these difficult times. Let us dream a bit. Let us think of the Silk Road musicians as a kind of general assembly. Twelve members instead of 192. Musicians from diverse backgrounds and countries, coming together, transcending their differences and embracing the universal language of music. As professionals and artists they put aside their jealousies and private agendas and together combine their talents to produce music of great beauty and inspiration.
Is such cooperation and collaboration for the benefit of everyone so impossible to replicate here in this hall?
I believe the people of the world yearn for such inspiration and collaboration. They want to be moved and to hear melody. Even today, after so many disappointments and bitter betrayals, billions of people still look to the United Nations with trust and expectations. They have entrusted the United Nations with our common future. Who are we to betray this sacred trust?
As the President of the 63rd session of the General Assembly, I sometimes wish I could take on the role of conductor of this body, the truly global orchestra. That cannot be, of course. But a bit of coordination, bringing people together, listening to diverse voices – we can attempt to create some harmony out of so many discordant notes. These are challenges I embrace. Tonight, let us be inspired by beauty and the endless possibilities of our combined human talents.
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE ON UNITED NATIONS DAY 24 October 2008
On this 63rd anniversary of our Organization, I join you in celebrating UN Day.
This is a crucial year in the life of our United Nations. We have just passed the midpoint in the struggle to reach the Millennium Development Goals -- our common vision for building a better world in the 21st century. We can see more clearly than ever that the threats of the 21st century spare no one. Climate change, the spread of disease and deadly weapons, and the scourge of terrorism all cross borders. If we want to advance the global common good, we must secure global public goods.
Many countries are still not on track to reach the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015. I am also deeply concerned about the impact of the global financial crisis. Never has leadership and partnership been more important.
This makes our success at the high-level MDG event in September all the more remarkable. We brought together a broad coalition for change. Governments, CEOs and civil society. We generated unprecedented commitment in pledges and partnerships to help the world's poor.
The final tally is not in yet, but the total amount pledged at the MDG event may exceed 16 billion dollars.
Partnership is the way of the future. Just look at the advances on malaria. Our global malaria effort has brought us within range of containing a disease that kills a child every 30 seconds. It is doing so through focused country planning. Greater funding. Coordinated global management. Top-notch science and technology.
We need models like these to tackle other challenges, including climate change, as we approach the conferences on Poznan and Copenhagen. We need them to achieve all the other Millennium Development Goals.
Let us keep building on this as a way forward. There is no time to lose. The United Nations must deliver results for a safer, healthier, more prosperous world. On this UN Day, I call on all partners and leaders to do their part and keep the promise.
History
The name "United Nations", coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was first used in the "Declaration by United Nations" of 1 January 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.
States first established international organizations to cooperate on specific matters. The International Telecommunication Union was founded in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, and the Universal Postal Union was established in 1874. Both are now United Nations specialized agencies.
In 1899, the first International Peace Conference was held in The Hague to elaborate instruments for settling crises peacefully, preventing wars and codifying rules of warfare. It adopted the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes and established the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which began work in 1902.
The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived in similar circumstances during the First World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security."
The International Labour Organization was also created under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League. The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.
In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States, in August-October 1944. The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 member states.
The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.
"Every day we are reminded of the need for a strengthened United Nations, as we face a growing array of new challenges, including humanitarian crises, human rights violations, armed conflicts and important health and environmental concerns. Seldom has the United Nations been called upon to do so much for so many. I am determined to breathe new life and inject renewed confidence into a strengthened United Nations firmly anchored in the twenty-first century, and which is effective, efficient, coherent and accountable."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
REFORM A TOP PRIORITY
Reform of the United Nations – enhancing its relevance and effectiveness for the world’s people in the 21st Century – is a priority concern of the Member States. At the 2005 World Summit world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a strengthened United Nations with enhanced authority and capacity to effectively and rapidly respond to the full range of global challenges of our time. With the Organization engaged with a range of pressing global issues in every part of the world, a renewed, revitalized and more responsive United Nations is needed more than ever.
In January 2008, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlined the broad fronts on which the United Nations needs to advance if it is to meet the challenges facing the Member States and their peoples in the 21st Century. In areas like the environment, public health and human security, the world is facing threats and challenges that respect no boundaries. But by their nature, these challenges also expand the possibilities for collective action by States and other entities and actors, such as civil society and the private sector, enabling the UN to be the focus for concerted action to advance the common good. The UN is only meaningful to people if it is effective and relevant. Therefore, working to deliver concrete results in making people’s lives safer, healthier, more prosperous and free from fear and injustice must be a priority. Finally, progress on these fronts can only be assured through the full accountability of all parties to each other. Strengthening the Organization requires joint action by Member States, the UN’s senior officials and staff, and others. Member States are discussing a number of issues that fall within the remit of the respective Charter organs. Side-by-side, the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States, is also moving forward to ensure that an efficient, relevant and accountable UN is working to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. These efforts are outlined below, with links to further information.
Fuentes:
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/038/75/IMG/NR003875.pdf?OpenElement
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/327/98/IMG/NR032798.pdf?OpenElement
http://www.un.org/events/unday/2008/
http://www.un.org/events/unday/2008/gapresmessage.shtml
http://www.un.org/events/unday/2008/sgmessage.shtml
http://www.un.org/aboutun/unhistory/
http://www.un.org/reform/