It is currently the largest international organization in existence, and it facilitates cooperation among countries and lays the groundwork for seeking a better world. This organization deserves honor after so many years of work, and its history is filled with interesting facts, famous people, and profound challenges.<\/p>\n
Interesting Facts about the UN<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe history of the United Nations<\/strong><\/h3>\nEven though it was founded in 1945, everything began much earlier. It was during wartime when then-President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt uttered the term, \u201cunited nations,\u201d for the first time in the Declaration by United Nations <\/strong>on January 1, 1942, as an alliance of 26 countries committed to defending the Atlantic Charter<\/strong>. This 1941 document was proposed and signed onboard the HMS Prince of Wales<\/a> somewhere in the Atlantic by Franklin Roosevelt and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill in order to establish a series of principles for international collaboration with the objective of maintaining peace <\/strong>and security<\/strong>.<\/p>\n![\"UN](\"https:\/\/static.ferrovial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/10\/13145615\/un50-012-213x300.jpg\" "\\"UN")
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After World War II, 51 countries<\/strong> signed the United Nations Charter<\/strong>, the international treaty that founded the organization and which defines the groundwork of its internal constitution. The act was celebrated in the city of San Francisco in the Veterans Building<\/strong> at the War Memorial Opera House<\/strong>, which is currently known as the Herbst Theatre<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/static.ferrovial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/10\/13145614\/un50-020-300x226.jpg\" "\\"")
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The first General Assembly<\/strong><\/h3>\nOn January 10, 1946, at Central Hall Westminster<\/a> in London, the first session of the UN <\/strong>was held with its first 15 member states.<\/p>\n![\"first](\"https:\/\/static.ferrovial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/10\/13145613\/un50-024-300x200.jpg\" "\\"first")
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The UN headquarters<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe main headquarters is located at First Avenue 750 in New York. Even though the organization wanted to build an independent city for its global headquarters, even at the legislative level, it was ultimately decided that what they needed was a vertical complex. So John D. Rockefeller financed the purchase of property in the city of skyscrapers. The architectural project was designed by Le Corbusier<\/a>, Oscar Niemeyer<\/a>, and Wallace K. Harrison<\/a>, and construction was underway from 1948 to 1952.<\/p>\n![\"UN](\"https:\/\/static.ferrovial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/10\/13145616\/ONU-datos-300x225.jpg\" "\\"UN")
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The UN also has three regional headquarters: one in Geneva (Switzerland), opened in 1946; another in Vienna (Austria) in 1980; and in Nairobi (Kenya) in 2011. These offices help represent the organization\u2019s interests and facilitate diplomatic activities.<\/p>\n
The general assemblies take place at the global headquarters in a green and gold room that is 22 meters high and has 1898 seats.<\/p>\n
![\"UN](\"https:\/\/static.ferrovial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/10\/13145610\/salaonu-300x225.jpg\" "\\"UN")
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The longest speech<\/strong><\/h3>\nDid you know that the longest speech in the history of the UN was made on January 23, 1957? For five hours, Indian representative V.K. Krishna Menon<\/a> defended India\u2019s position on Kashmir, and, still not satisfied after 5 hours, he continued for three more hours during the next day\u2019s session.<\/p>\n![\"V.K.](\"https:\/\/static.ferrovial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/10\/13145612\/Krishna_Menon.jpg\" "\\"V.K.")
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The proclamation of Human Rights<\/strong><\/h3>\nIn 1948, they proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights<\/a>, one of the organization\u2019s most significant milestones in the fight for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all people.<\/p>\nThe first woman in charge<\/strong><\/h3>\nCanadian diplomat Louise Frechette was named UN Deputy Secretary-General in 1999, chosen for the position by Kofi Annan, and thereby becoming the first woman in a position of high responsibility in the organization.<\/p>\n
![\"diplomat](\"https:\/\/static.ferrovial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/10\/13145611\/Louise_Fr%C3%A9chette-300x169.jpg\" "\\"diplomat")
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193 member countries and 6 official languages<\/strong><\/h3>\nSouth Sudan was the last country to join the UN as a member in July 2011, bringing the total to 193 member states<\/strong>. Vatican City and some territories engaged in international situations outside of the law, or various republics in the Caucasus that are still part of Georgia, remain on the sidelines.<\/p>\nThe UN has 6 official languages: English, French, Spanish Russian, Arabic, and Mandarin.<\/p>\n
The Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe United Nations\u2019 Global Compact initiative aims to involve both governments and private companies to achieve a more sustainable world. In line with this, the Global Compact defines some strategic objectives. That\u00b4s why in September 2015, the UN set the 2030 Agenda, which outlines the 17 Sustainable Development Goals <\/a>(also known as SDGs). These include eliminating poverty, fighting climate change, gender equality and infrastructure design for the evolution of our cities. These are significant, since they demand more active participation from governments as well as businesses in achieving these goals.<\/p>\n
Even though it was founded in 1945, everything began much earlier. It was during wartime when then-President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt uttered the term, \u201cunited nations,\u201d for the first time in the Declaration by United Nations <\/strong>on January 1, 1942, as an alliance of 26 countries committed to defending the Atlantic Charter<\/strong>. This 1941 document was proposed and signed onboard the HMS Prince of Wales<\/a> somewhere in the Atlantic by Franklin Roosevelt and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill in order to establish a series of principles for international collaboration with the objective of maintaining peace <\/strong>and security<\/strong>.<\/p>\n After World War II, 51 countries<\/strong> signed the United Nations Charter<\/strong>, the international treaty that founded the organization and which defines the groundwork of its internal constitution. The act was celebrated in the city of San Francisco in the Veterans Building<\/strong> at the War Memorial Opera House<\/strong>, which is currently known as the Herbst Theatre<\/a>.<\/p>\n On January 10, 1946, at Central Hall Westminster<\/a> in London, the first session of the UN <\/strong>was held with its first 15 member states.<\/p>\n The main headquarters is located at First Avenue 750 in New York. Even though the organization wanted to build an independent city for its global headquarters, even at the legislative level, it was ultimately decided that what they needed was a vertical complex. So John D. Rockefeller financed the purchase of property in the city of skyscrapers. The architectural project was designed by Le Corbusier<\/a>, Oscar Niemeyer<\/a>, and Wallace K. Harrison<\/a>, and construction was underway from 1948 to 1952.<\/p>\n The UN also has three regional headquarters: one in Geneva (Switzerland), opened in 1946; another in Vienna (Austria) in 1980; and in Nairobi (Kenya) in 2011. These offices help represent the organization\u2019s interests and facilitate diplomatic activities.<\/p>\n The general assemblies take place at the global headquarters in a green and gold room that is 22 meters high and has 1898 seats.<\/p>\n Did you know that the longest speech in the history of the UN was made on January 23, 1957? For five hours, Indian representative V.K. Krishna Menon<\/a> defended India\u2019s position on Kashmir, and, still not satisfied after 5 hours, he continued for three more hours during the next day\u2019s session.<\/p>\n In 1948, they proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights<\/a>, one of the organization\u2019s most significant milestones in the fight for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all people.<\/p>\n Canadian diplomat Louise Frechette was named UN Deputy Secretary-General in 1999, chosen for the position by Kofi Annan, and thereby becoming the first woman in a position of high responsibility in the organization.<\/p>\n South Sudan was the last country to join the UN as a member in July 2011, bringing the total to 193 member states<\/strong>. Vatican City and some territories engaged in international situations outside of the law, or various republics in the Caucasus that are still part of Georgia, remain on the sidelines.<\/p>\n The UN has 6 official languages: English, French, Spanish Russian, Arabic, and Mandarin.<\/p>\n The United Nations\u2019 Global Compact initiative aims to involve both governments and private companies to achieve a more sustainable world. In line with this, the Global Compact defines some strategic objectives. That\u00b4s why in September 2015, the UN set the 2030 Agenda, which outlines the 17 Sustainable Development Goals <\/a>(also known as SDGs). These include eliminating poverty, fighting climate change, gender equality and infrastructure design for the evolution of our cities. These are significant, since they demand more active participation from governments as well as businesses in achieving these goals.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\nThe first General Assembly<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nThe UN headquarters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nThe longest speech<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nThe proclamation of Human Rights<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The first woman in charge<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n193 member countries and 6 official languages<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n