1. The United Nations Main Aims: Tolerance and friendship among all nation, racial or religious groups. Maintenance of peace UN Flag http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/unintro/unintro.asp

2. When did it begin?  The United Nations is made up of 193 countries from around the world. It is often called the UN.  It was set up in 1945, after the Second World War, as a way of bringing people together and to avoid further wars.  It started with 51 countries. The United Kingdom is one of the original members. Germany did not join until 1973.  (Non-members: Kosovo, Taiwan and Vatican City)

3. Interesting Facts…  Kosovo  Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on on February 17, 2008 but has not gained complete international recognition to allow it to become a member of the United Nations.  Taiwan  In 1971 the People's Republic of China (mainland China) replaced Taiwan (also known as the Republic of China) in the United Nations.  Vatican City / The Holy See  The independent papal state of 771 people (including the Pope) was created in 1929. They have not chosen to become part of the international organization.

4. Where is the UN located?  The headquarters is in New York City but the land and buildings are international territory. The United Nations has its own flag, its own post office and its own postage stamps.  Six official languages are used at the United Nations - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.  There are other UN locations located around the world, as well.

5. Was there anything in place before the UN to keep peace?  After the First World war, the League of Nations was founded immediately after the First World War.  It originally consisted of 42 countries. At its largest, 57 countries were members of the League.  The League was created because a number of people in France, South Africa, the UK and the US believed that a world organization of nations could keep the peace and prevent a repetition of the horrors of the 1914-18 war in Europe.  The League was abandoned as the Second World War unfolded, it became clear that the League had failed in its chief aim of keeping the peace.

6. What is the main purpose of the United Nations?  The purpose of the United Nations is to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development  It based on the principles of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people.

7. What does the UN aim to do?  To keep peace throughout the world.  To develop friendly relations between nations.  To work together to help people live better lives, to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy in the world, to stop environmental destruction and to encourage respect for each other's rights and freedoms.  To be a center for helping nations achieve these aims.

8. Does the UN have a constitution or official rules document?  The UN has an official charter called the UN Charter.  Many of the principals of its predecessor, the League of Nations, were kept by the United Nations and outlined in its Charter.  The Charter outlines many rights, from the right to self- determination, which encouraged the independence of colonized peoples, to general human rights, which aimed to protect individuals, are enshrined in the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two Covenants which have become major, standard-setting additions to international law.

9. Overall Principals of the UN  All Member States have sovereign equality.  All Member States must obey the Charter.  Countries must try to settle their differences by peaceful means.  Countries must avoid using force or threatening to use force.  The UN may not interfere in the domestic affairs of any country.  Countries should try to assist the United Nations.

10. Does the United Nations look out for Children’s rights?  It has a special section called UNICEF (The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) that tries to help children.  The UN has a convention on children's rights. They would like it to be followed by all countries, as a set of rules about the of rules about the treatment of children. treatment of children.

11. Why might the UN have problems getting all countries to treat children fairly? SSSSome countries use children in their armies MMMMany children work in factories PPPPoor countries can't afford to provide schools

12. Why is it important to have an organization that is bigger than any one country?  Stops governments from mistreating people  Helps stop wars between countries  Looks after all the world's young people

13. United Nations Review  T/F: The UN is made up of 57 countries  T/F: The 6 official languages at the UN are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.  What is UNICEF?  T/F: The UN was created after WWII.  The UN headquarters is located in _____ _____ ____.

14.  T/F: The UN has a convention on children’s rights.  T/F: The UN has an official charter called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  T/F: The only UN location is in NYC.