U.N. Day: Member States Reaffirm Their Commitment to Empowering the Marginalized

By Courtney Cox

United Nations member states celebrated the founding of the United Nations this week with a special concert at the General Assembly in New York. Sixty-nine years ago, the Charter of the United Nations entered into force at the conclusion of the Second World War with the hope of maintaining peace and security, developing constructive international relations, and promoting human rights.

The Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, highlighted the accomplishments of the United Nations since its birth including the establishment of treaties which seek to obliterate racism and torture and promote human dignity and equality. Additionally, Mr. Ban celebrated the progress of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals and the dedicated work of U.N. peacekeepers. U.N. News Centre reports that while the day was a celebratory one, Mr. Ban used it as an opportunity to “reaffirm [the United Nations’] commitment to empowering the marginalized and vulnerable,” and to draw the international community’s attention to the abundant work that remains to be done to fully realize the Charter’s vision. Mr. Ban charged member states and individuals “to work in common cause for the common good.”