24Octeber:UnitedNationsDay

24Octeber:UnitedNationsDay

WhatisUnitedNationsDay?

Simplyput,itisthebirthdayoftheUnitedNations.On24October1945,theUnitedNationswasformallyestablishedafteramajorityofitsfoundingmembersratifiedatreatysettinguptheworldbody.In1971,theUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyadoptedaresolutionrecommendingthatthedaybeobservedasapublicholidaybyMemberStates.Traditionally,ithasbeenmarkedthroughouttheworldbymeetings,discussionsandexhibitsonthegoalsandachievementsoftheOrganization.

WhyobserveUnitedNationsDay?

BecauseitprovidesanopportunitytoreaffirmourcommitmenttotheidealsoftheUnitedNations.

InthewordsofSecretary-GeneralKofiAnnan,ineverycorneroftheworld—theUnitedNationsisalivingtestamentofhope.TheUnitedNationslivesintheheartsandmindsofeverycitizentoendviolenceandpromotetolerance;advancedevelopmentandensureequality;protecthumanrightsandalleviatepoverty.TheUnitedNations,atitsbest,enablestheachievementofthosehighestofhumanaspirations.

TheobservanceofUnitedNationsDayisaffirmationofourfaithinthosehumanaspirations.

HowistheDayobservedatUnitedNationsHeadquarters?

Traditionally,UNDayismarkedbyaninternationalconcertattheGeneralAssembly.Sometimes,specialeventsarearranged,electronicallylinkingtheUNwithcitiesaroundtheworld.

TheDayisalsonotableformessagesissuedbytheUNSecretary-GeneralandthePresidentoftheGeneralAssembly.AvideotapedmessageoftheSecretary-GeneralisoftenshownbynationalTVstationsaroundtheworld.

Inaddition,specialbriefingsarearrangedfornon-governmentalorganizationsonUN-relatedtopics.Sometimesschoolsandcivicgroupsarrange“peacemarches”andothercelebratoryevents.

WhatcanyoudotocelebrateUNDay?

TheobservanceofUNDayservesasareminderthattheworldisourcommonhomeandthroughdialogueandcooperationamongall,ourproblemscouldbesolved.Therearemanywaysyoucancelebratetheday.Hereareafewsuggestions:

Inyourschool:

·RaisetheUNflagataschoolassembly.

·Holdaschoolorclassroommeeting.DiscusshowyoungpeoplecanhelptheUN.

·Ifyouhavestudentsfromvariouscountriesinyourschool,askthemtowearnationalcostumes,singnationalsongsorsimplysharestoriesfromtheirnativecountries.

·OrganizeanessaycontestontheroleoftheUN.

·Inviteaguestspeaker,perhapsadiplomatwithUNbackground.

·Designawalldisplay.

·WatchavideoabouttheworkoftheUN.

·WritelettersfromyourclasstolocalnewspapersandtoyourlawmakersurgingthemgreatersupportfortheUnitedNations.

Inyourcommunity:

·Arrangeaseminar,involvingcivicleadersandmediarepresentatives.

·AskyourcityorstateauthoritytoissueaUNProclamationoraUNstamp.

·Cleanupyourneighbourhood.

·Volunteertimetoalocalcharitableorganization.

·Makeanewfriend.Plantatree.

Wheretocontactformoreinformation?

ContactyournearestUnitedNationsoffice.Inmostcountries,UNInformationCentresofferfreeinformationmaterialsforuseduringUNcelebrations.Checkontheinternetatwww.un.org/unicstofindoutifthereisanInformationcentrenearyou.

Fromwww.un.org