United Nations Day
A Global Initiative for Peace and Development
United Nations Day, observed every year on October 24, marks the anniversary of the United Nations Charter's entry into force in 1945. The UN also operates through various specialized agencies, some of which were carried over from the League of Nations, its predecessor. The Charter established the UN as an international organization dedicated to maintaining peace, security, and cooperation among nations.
On United Nations Day, various events are held around the world, including meetings, discussions, and cultural performances. The United Nations is structured around five principal organs, as established by the UN Charter:
General Assembly – All member states have equal representation and discuss global issues.
Security Council – Responsible for maintaining international peace and security, including five permanent ones with veto power.
Economic and Social Council – Focuses on promoting international economic, social, and environmental cooperation and development.
International Court of Justice – The judicial organ of the UN, which settles disputes between states and provides advisory opinions on legal questions.
UN Secretariat – Provides administrative support for the UN's work, headed by the Secretary-General,
The United Nations Office at Geneva is housed at the historic Palais des Nations, originally built for the League of Nations in the 1930s. A beautiful art deco building overlooking Lake Geneva, the Palais is the largest centre for conference diplomacy in the world. Photo Credit: Shanker Venkateswaran
The United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF, is an organisation that works to protect the rights of children and adolescents around the world. This is a partial list of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, who work on behalf of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to promote children's rights. Here’s a brief description of their contributions to this cause:
Shakira – The Colombian singer has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2003, advocating for education and early childhood development, particularly in Latin America.
David Beckham – The former English footballer became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2005, focusing on issues like child protection and violence against children through his initiative, The David Beckham UNICEF Fund.
Amitabh Bachchan – The Bollywood icon has worked with UNICEF since 2005 to promote polio eradication and child health in India, helping to raise awareness about immunization.
Lionel Messi – The Argentine football star has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010, supporting access to education and sports for disadvantaged children globally.
Novak Djokovic – The Serbian tennis champion joined as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2015, focusing on early childhood education and providing resources for children affected by war.
Priyanka Chopra – The Indian actress and humanitarian became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2016, advocating for children's rights, education for girls, and gender equality worldwide.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas calls for an end to the learning crisis
The United Nations has been deeply involved in addressing various urgent global crises, including the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, the impacts on children, climate change, floods and famine. In all these areas, the UN plays a crucial role in humanitarian assistance, conflict resolution, and sustainable development, pushing for international cooperation to mitigate the impacts on the most vulnerable, especially children.