Portal:United Nations

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The United Nations, or UN, is an international organization established in 1945. The UN describes itself as a "global association of governments facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity." It was founded by 51 states and as of 2006 it consists of 192 member states, including virtually all internationally-recognized independent nations. From its headquarters in New York City, the member countries of the UN and its specialized agencies give guidance and make decisions on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout each year.

The UN was founded at the conclusion of World War II by the victorious world powers, and the founders of the UN had high hopes that it would act to prevent conflicts between nations and make future wars impossible, by fostering an ideal of collective security. The organization's structure still reflects in some ways the circumstances of its founding; specifically, in addition to the rotating national members of the prominent United Nations Security Council, there are five permanent members with veto power — the United States of America, Russia (which replaced the Soviet Union), United Kingdom, France, and the People's Republic of China (which replaced the Republic of China).

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations system established in 1945. Its main objective is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms (Article 1 of the UNESCO Constitution).

191 nations belong to UNESCO. The Organization is headquartered in Paris, France, with over 50 field offices and several institutes and centres throughout the world. UNESCO pursues its action through five major programmes: education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture and communication and information. Projects sponsored by UNESCO include literacy, technical, and teacher-training programmes; international science programmes; regional and cultural history projects, the promotion of cultural diversity; international cooperation agreements to secure the world cultural and natural heritage and to preserve human rights; and attempts to ameliorate the worldwide digital divide.

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The "United Nations Commission on International Trade Law" is a body of member and observer states under the auspicies of the United Nations. It drafted the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration in 1985. Agreements which cite the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules may be bound to this form of dispute resolution.

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United Nations Building in Geneva, by Filzstift.

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United Nations News

Voting for the United Nations (Security Council Member) contests Guatemala and Venezuela. The competition is a stalemate.
Annan agrees to extend the Oil-for-Food committee to follow-up on findings until March 2006.
Outlining his top priorities for 2006 Kofi Annan said Wednesday that he was determined to follow through on his wide-ranging agenda of reform and renewal of the world body.
The Security Council calls on donors and development partners to continue aid to Sierra Leone as the UN mission winds down.