The United Nations at 60

Delegates from 50 countries met in San Francisco in June of 1945 to draft a charter for the United Nations. On October 24, 1945, the charter took effect.

There are currently 191 countries in the United Nations.

The United Nations serves four main purposes according to the UN charter:

• to maintain international peace and security;
• to develop friendly relations among nations;
• to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
• and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.