THE UNITED NATIONS - Click "Show Comments" below the timeline for references and photo descriptions.
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INTRODUCTION
This timeline is about the United Nations, an intergovernmental organization tasked to promote international co-operation and to create and maintain international order. The timeline will highlight major events and organizations The UN has established since it's formation in 1945. -
Paris Peace Conference
The allied victors met to discuss the terms of peace for the defeated central powers directly following the end of WWI. The four main powers meeting were the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Italy who lead the conference in decision making, meeting 145 times in total. From this conference, the League of Nations was formed and five treaties were formed, the Treaty of Versailles, the Treaty of Saint-Germain, the Treaty of Neuilly, the Treaty of Trianon, and the Treaty of Sèvres. -
The United Nations Established
Representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. 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 by a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year. -
UNICEF
Directly following World War II, European children were facing famine and disease; in desperate need of food, clothing and healthcare. The United Nations Children’s Fund was formed and would later become a permanent part of the United Nations becoming the first major international for the fundamental principles of children’s rights. Today, UNICEF helps over 190 counties children. -
The World Health Organization
The World Health Organization was founded by the United Nations. WHO serves as a specialized agency, dedicated to protecting and serving the public health sector. They have offices in over 150 countries. Since their foundation in Geneva in 1948, WHO has had major successes such as the 1977 announce of eradication of smallpox. They set guidelines for things such as water quality standards, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment policies, adolescent health protection acts, and many more. -
Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights - the U.N. General Assembly wanted to ensure the tragedies of World War II were never to happen again. On December 10, 1948, the U.N. General Assembly created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration was to ensure the tragedies of World War II were to never occur again. While this was the first time, a declaration was to universally protect fundamental human rights. -
Nobel Peace Prize
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was awarded the first of two Nobel Peace Prizes for their efforts in providing relief and bringing aid to displaced refugees after the major world wars. In the aftermath of the greatest worldwide economic depression, they not only extended a helping hand but also worked with law enforcement to help them better understand refugee concerns. -
First UN Peace-Keeping Force Established.
The UN Emergency Force was developed in response to rising hostilities between Egypt, Isreal, and France. They kept the peace and ensured safety during the removal of non-Egyptian armies and forces from Egyptian land. They also mediated the relations between Isreal and Egypt to help resolve issues and create the Armistice Agreement. They disbanded and the final soldier left on June 17th of 1957, and UNEF II did not come into existence until October 1973 where they remained until 1979. -
Fundamental Rights of Children
The UN reached the first ever international consensus on the fundamental rights of children. It protected children and their mothers, giving children rights to special treatment if they are disabled. It enforced that children in all situations shall receive help and treatment first, and deemed child trafficking unlawful. It stated mankind “owes to the child the best it has to give.” It protected all children, regardless of ability, race, sex, national origin, language, religion, etc. -
World Food Program
President Eisenhower proposed for a workable scheme for providing food aid through the U.N. system to the U.N. general assembly. From there, the assembly approved of a three year trail of the World Food Program (WFP). The program proved to be successful from the beginning and still help starving people of the world today. From the 805 million starving people, the World Food Program has helped the number decrease by 100 million in just the past decade. -
UNESCO
In April 1978, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published the first list of twelve world heritage sites; natural or man-made areas to be preserved due to their cultural significance or value. As of today, UNESCO protects almost 1000 sites worldwide ranging from parks to monuments. -
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Governments worldwide promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention changed the way children are viewed and treated – in other words, as human beings with a distinct set of rights instead of as passive objects of care and charity. It is the most complete statement of children’s rights ever produced and is the most widely-ratified international human rights treaty in history. -
First Security Council Summit
The UN holds its first Security Council Summit in New York. It was the first U.N. summit meeting bringing together the leaders of the Security Council's 15 member states who will plot the future of the world body after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The summit reaffirmed the United Nations central role in strengthening the international order and the challenges it faces in the post Cold War era. -
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
The Treaty was adopted by the UN General Assembly. It opened for signature in New York on 24 September 1996, when it was signed by 71 States, including five of the eight then nuclear-capable states. As of May 2010, 153 states have ratified the CTBT and another 29 states have signed but not ratified it.Source
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