The United Nations was founded in 1945 with the goal of ending world wars, preventing their recurrence, building peaceful relations among all countries and promoting economic progress, better living standards and human rights. It is the largest and most universal international organization created to date, but it has faced challenges as it has grown to meet the changing needs of humanity.
The charter of the United Nations sets out its purposes and principles and establishes the powers, structures and arrangements of the Organization. Chapters III to XV describe the UN’s organs and institutions. The Security Council and the International Court of Justice are among the most significant bodies.
In October 1943, Winston Churchill urged the Allied Big Four—the US, UK, Russia and China—to create at the earliest possible date “a general international organization to deal with the problems of peace”. The Moscow Conference resulted in the Four Power Declaration on General Security. This and the Tehran Conference established the main ideas for post-World War II global cooperation.
One of the most contentious issues during this period was the veto power in the Security Council (SC)—the right of each permanent member to reject any resolution passed by the SC. Initially, the smaller powers wanted to limit this right but the Big Five held firm, arguing that the main responsibility for preserving world peace rested on them and that reducing the SC veto would weaken their position.
Under the UN Charter, the Secretary-General and staff members are international civil servants who work for the United Nations and take an oath to not seek instructions from any government or other outside authority. This principle of independence is central to the integrity and impartiality of the work of the UN.
