United Nation's Day
United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the UN Charter’s entry into force and celebrates everything which is being represented by the UN and has achieved since its establishment in 1945. With the ratification of this founding document by most of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.
24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.
Each year, the global network of UN Information Centres organizes a variety of events to mark UN Day. Activities range from ceremonies, seminars, panel discussions, symposiums to series of briefings for students, art competitions, rallies, film screenings and book/photo exhibitions, media campaigns- including interviews and newspaper supplements- and social media campaigns.
History of United Nation’s Day
After World War I, it was decided that a treaty was needed to prevent another world war, so the Treaty of Versailles was created. This treaty was signed on June 28th, 1919 in Versailles, France and it was essentially supposed to be a League of Nations to prevent further outbreaks of war, to encourage diplomatic solutions and to encourage negotiations between countries. It was also supposed to improve the quality of life for people all over the world. However, the League of Nations failed to prevent World War II, so it was decided that a different approach was needed to keep the world from repeatedly plunging into war.
Developed toward the end of World War II, the idea of the United Nations emerged as a solution to the myriad of problems that beleaguered the League of Nations. On October 24, 1945, the United Nations charter was officially ratified – thereby creating the agency. 3 years later, in 1948, the U.N observed United Nations Day for the first time. However, it wouldn’t become an official holiday until 1971, when U.N Resolution 2782 was adopted. This resolution set United Nations Day as an international holiday and recommended that it be observed by all its member states.
Today, United Nations Day acknowledges and commemorates all that the U.N stand for in the world. It also helps people remember what the four main purposes of the United Nations are: 1) to maintain peace and security all over the world, 2) to develop relationships among member nations, 3) foster an atmosphere of communication between nations, and 4) provide a forum to bring countries together to meet the purposes and goals of the U.N.
How United Nation’s day is being celebrated?
Traditionally, United Nations Day is celebrated with a myriad of different exhibits, discussion groups, and meetings. Activities which showcase the achievements of the U.N and helps to lay out their goals. However, this holiday has an even greater purpose – as represented by all those who celebrate it. For instance, many schools all over the world celebrate the diversity of their student body by honoring United Nations Day. These celebrations often include cultural performances that include dancing, music, presentation, and food from different countries.
In Kosovo, United Nations Day is observed as an official non-working day. In the Philippines, schoolchildren will often dress in the national costumes of the countries in which they come from in order to celebrate the holiday. In the United States, the President will issue a proclamation recognizing United Nations Day. This has been done since 1946.
