The United Nations Day is celebrated on October 24 every year.
It marks the official establishment of the United Nations in 1945.
On this day, the UN Charter was ratified by the majority of signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council.
This event led to the official establishment of UN. The Day was first celebrated in 1948.
Today the United Nations consists of 193 member states and 2 observer states. It grew from the original 51 member in 1945.The mission of the United Nation is to maintain international peace and security.
The Preamble of the UN Charter states as follows:
To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind;
To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small;
To establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained; and
To promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.
Has the UN lived up to its aims and objectives? Partly yes, partly no. The enormous powers of the individual members of the UN Security Council with their veto power have not only slowed down but often prevented the UN from taking effective steps against erring member nations or against the Security Council members.
The horrors of war in Africa, Syria, Afghanistan, or in Ukraine speaks of UN’s lack of assertive powers for positive action to stop the despots and war mongerers in their tracks. Most often it has remained satisfied with shadow boxing when it comes to facing tyrants, political perverts or fundamentalist governments. Its palliative measures like peace keeping, food programs, or emergency projects are useful only to an extent.
In his new book, I ask you in the name of God, Pope Francis calls for serious UN reforms in the light of the third world war in progress in pieces. He says the Ukrainian war and Covid 19 have exposed UN’s limit. UN needs to shape up for facing new realities.
The words of the Pope are very important. The UN as a global body should shoulder its responsibilities more seriously. The membership of the Security Council needs expansion. The veto juggernaut should be scrapped totally.