The United Nations (UN) was formed on 24 October 1945. Fifty-one countries came together with the sole purpose of promoting peace throughout the world through mutual cooperation. Today, almost every nation in the world is a member of the organization, with a total of 191 members.
The UN charter details the guidelines that every member must abide by. It is a treaty that sets out the rules and obligations of member nations. The UN charter delineates four main purposes: to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly co-operation between countries, to solve international problems and respect all human rights, and to serve as a focal point for all peaceful national activities.
Although the United Nations cannot make laws and is not a governing power, it provides guidelines in order to prevent conflict between nations. It also develops rules in order to help achieve peaceful conclusions to problems affecting the world.
The campaigns of this organization are concerned with all aspects of world peace and international harmony. They help fight against drug trafficking and terrorist attacks. They have led campaigns to assist refugees and to provide vital food production and humanitarian aid to third world countries. Campaigns for the fight against AIDS and world-wide disarmament are two of their highest priorities.
The United Nations holds regular meetings to discuss the world's most urgent problems. Each member of the UN has a vote on each topic. At the meetings, they decide and vote on subjects such as the world's international peace.
Members of the UN also debate major security problems throughout the world. Other topics may include deciding on new members to be admitted to the United Nations. Although voting is the main form of decision, the UN prefers all agreements to be made by consensus.
There are six main divisions of the United Nations: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trustee Council, and the Secretariat. The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, is the main legal branch of the UN. It makes decisions and judgments on conflicts between countries.