The year was 1945. After two devastating world wars, allied powers fresh from a costly victory decided the world cannot afford another war.
On October 24th that year, the United Nations was born to prevent war, uphold human rights, and promote social progress.
It began with 51 member states but as colonies dissolved and new nations emerged, the number has grown to 193 each country with a seat at the UN General Assembly Hall.
Where the General Assembly is the UN’s main body, the Security Council is its mightiest arm.
It can impose sanctions and embargoes, decide when to use military force and refer war crime cases to the UN’s International Criminal Court.
The Secretariat is the nuts and bolts of the whole operation, helmed at the top by Ban Ki-moon, the UN’s eighth Secretary General.
This means the Secretary-General can bring very, very important people together, to source money, troops and supplies for UN missions and resolve conflicts.
