| The internationally empowered community known as | | | | Declaration, Governments accepted the obligation to |
| the United Nations is our last and only appeal for | | | | ensure that all human beings, rich and poor, strong |
| peace and civilized progress. | | | | and weak, male and female, of all races and religions, |
| The United Nations was established, in the aftermath | | | | are treated equally. The Declaration is not part of |
| of a devastating war, to help stabilize international | | | | binding international law, but due to widespread |
| relations and give peace a more secure foundation. | | | | acceptance by countries in the world, it has gained |
| Amid the threat of nuclear war and seemingly | | | | great moral weight. |
| endless regional conflicts, peacekeeping has become | | | | The UN has also adopted many international human |
| an overriding concern of the United Nations, and the | | | | rights treaties, legally binding nations to guarantee |
| activities of the blue-helmeted peacekeepers have | | | | their citizens' social, economic and political rights. The |
| emerged as among the most visible. | | | | most important of these treaties are two |
| But the United Nations is much more than a | | | | International Covenants - one on economic, social and |
| peacekeeper and a forum for conflict resolution. | | | | cultural rights and the other on civil and political rights. |
| Often without attracting attention, the UN and its | | | | These treaties, together with Optional Protocols, are |
| family of agencies are engaged in a vast array of | | | | known as the International Bill of Human Rights. |
| work that seeks to improve people's lives around the | | | | If each poor person on the planet had the same |
| world. | | | | energy-rich lifestyle as an average person in Germany |
| The United Nations is not a world government, and it | | | | or the United Kingdom, four planets would be needed |
| does not make laws. It does, however, provide the | | | | to safely cope with the pollution. That figure rises to |
| means to help resolve international conflicts and | | | | nine planets when compared with the average of the |
| formulate policies on matters affecting all of us. | | | | United States or Canada. If each poor person on the |
| The United Nations has four purposes: to maintain | | | | planet had the same energy-rich lifestyle as an |
| international peace and security; to develop friendly | | | | average person in Germany or the United Kingdom, |
| relations among nations; to cooperate in solving | | | | four planets would be needed to safely cope with |
| international problems and in promoting respect for | | | | the pollution. That figure rises to nine planets when |
| human rights; and to be a centre for harmonizing the | | | | compared with the average of the United States or |
| actions of nations. Cooperating in this effort are more | | | | Canada. |
| than 30 affiliated organizations, known together as | | | | Since 1945, the UN has assisted in negotiating more |
| the UN system. | | | | than 170 peace settlements that have ended regional |
| Only independent countries with international | | | | conflicts. |
| recognition can become members of the UN. | | | | It played a role in bringing about independence in |
| However, individuals can support the work of the | | | | more than 80 countries that are now sovereign |
| United Nations through international and local | | | | nations. |
| non-governmental organizations. Some of them | | | | Over 500 multinational treaties - on human rights, |
| collaborate with the UN Department of Public | | | | terrorism, international crime, refugees, disarmament, |
| Information and provide the UN with valuable links to | | | | commodities and the oceans - have been enacted |
| people around the world. | | | | through the efforts of the United Nations. |
| Human rights are those rights which are essential for | | | | The United Nations is a rich, talented and dedicated |
| us to live as human beings. Without human rights, we | | | | community. By lending your support to even only one |
| cannot fully develop and use our human qualities, our | | | | of it's many arms we can together, by a proven |
| intelligence, our talent and our spirituality. | | | | workable system of compromise make agreements |
| The United Nations set a common standard on | | | | and policies that will benefit us all. |
| human rights for all nations when, in 1948, it adopted | | | | All includes all of our children for all time. |
| the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. By this | | | | |