Get To Know the United Nations; Origin, Purposes, and State Members

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United Nations (UN) is the biggest international organization in the world, with 193 state members. This organization was formed to facilitate countries with similar visions and purposes.

The UN was established after World War II, on October 24, 1945, to prevent future world wars. It was predated by the League of Nations. But, how exactly was the United Nations formed? What are the purposes? Who are the members? To answer these questions, read on below:

The origin of the United Nations

The then-president of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first person to initiate the name of 'The United Nations'. The idea was first formed on Jan. 1, 1942, in a declaration dubbed the United Nations Declaration. The document was signed by 26 nations pledging not to negotiate a separate peace with any of the Axis powers.

Prior to the United Nations, the League of Nations took its place to promote international cooperation to achieve security and peace. The organization was dismantled for its failure to prevent World War II including European and the Asia-Pacific countries

The United Nations came into existence on October 24, 1945, initiated by the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and China. It was not without a complicated process involving many conferences, such as the Washington Conference, Moscow Conference, the Atlantic Charter, and others.

The organization itself was formally established through the San Fransisco Conference, participated by the delegations of fifty nations. The conference also agreed upon the  Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the new International Court of Justice.  

The purpose of the United Nations

Based on the UN Charter, some of the main purposes of the United Nations are as follows:

1. To maintain international peace and security
2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples
3. To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character
4. To promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion
5. To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.
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