R ReadLittle The Kids' Encyclopedia

United Nations

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World organization for peace and cooperation


The United Nations (often called the UN) is an international organization where countries work together to solve problems that affect the whole world. It was founded in 1945, just after World War II, when many nations wanted to prevent another large war. The UN’s main goal is to keep peace, protect human rights, and improve the lives of people everywhere.

The UN started with 51 member countries. Today, it has almost every country in the world as a member — 193 in total. Each country agrees to follow the UN’s rules and to talk about problems peacefully instead of going to war. The main meeting place is the UN Headquarters in New York City, where leaders and diplomats meet to discuss world issues.

The UN has several important parts called organs. The most well-known is the General Assembly, where all member countries can speak and vote on global matters. Another key part is the Security Council, which deals with peace and security. It can send peacekeepers — soldiers from different countries — to help stop wars and protect people in danger.

Besides peacekeeping, the UN also helps in many other ways. It supports education, healthcare, and food aid through its agencies. For example, UNICEF helps children, WHO works on health, and the World food Programme provides food in emergencies. These groups make the UN a major helper for people around the world, especially during crises like natural disasters or wars.

The UN also creates agreements to protect the environment and human rights. One famous example is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in 1948, which says that everyone deserves respect, safety, and freedom. The UN also encourages countries to act on big global challenges, like climate change, through meetings such as the COP conferences.

Even though the UN cannot force countries to agree, it gives them a place to talk and find peaceful solutions. Many people see it as a symbol of hope and cooperation. The idea behind the UN is simple but powerful: when nations work together, the world becomes a safer and fairer place for everyone.

What We Can Learn

  • The United Nations was created after World War II to maintain peace.
  • It now has 193 member countries that work together on world problems.
  • The UN helps with peacekeeping, health, food, education, and human rights.
  • Its goal is to make the world safer, fairer, and more cooperative.