The UNITED NATIONS turns 60 today
Dhaka, 24th October, 2005. Today marks the 60th anniversary of the UNITED NATIONS. On October 24th 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco in the USA to draw up a charter for a world organization to be known as the United Nations.
60 years later there are 191 member states and the organization has grown exponentially.
“The United Nations deals with the world's major problems. That much is common knowledge. Perhaps less well known is the fact that this Organization is also part of your daily life,” said Mr Jorgen Lissner, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh.
“Eighty per cent of the work of the United Nations system is devoted to helping developing countries build the capacity to help themselves. This is the core, the backbone, of the United Nations’ work,” Mr Lissner continued.
He was speaking at the 60th anniversary celebrations held at the Sonargoan Hotel in Dhaka. The celebrations were graced with the presence of the Honourable President Professor Dr.Iajuddin Ahmed.
The United Nations is engaged in a vast array of work around the world from child survival and development through to preventing nuclear proliferation. It has been instrumental in ending apartheid in South Africa and clearing landmines in more than 30 countries.
Bangladesh joined the United Nations in 1974 and has been a signatory to many of the Organisation’s major conventions and in fact was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention of the Rights of the Child in August 1990.
Peacekeeping has become an over-riding concern of the United Nations and Bangladesh has made a large contribution to peacekeeping efforts around the world and has contributed more peackeepers per capita than any other country.
For more information contact:
Kirsty McIvor Lisa Hiller
UNICEF UNDP
02 933 5807 02 8118600
0173 043478 011812042
