Charter of the United Nations facts for kids

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Charter of the United Nations
Drafted	14 August 1941
Signed	26 June 1945 (1945-06-26)
Location	San Francisco, California, United States
Effective	24 October 1945
Condition	Ratification by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of the other signatory states.
Parties	193
Depositary	International
Languages	Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish
Charter of the United Nations at Wikisource

The United Nations Office at Geneva in Switzerland is the second largest UN center after its main office in New York City.

The Charter of the United Nations is the most important rulebook for the UN. The UN is a global group of countries that work together. This Charter is like the UN's constitution. It explains why the UN exists, how it is set up, and what its main parts do.

The Charter guides the UN and its member countries to keep peace and safety around the world. It also tells them to follow international laws and help people have better lives. This includes solving problems related to money, society, and health. It also promotes respect for everyone's human rights and basic freedoms, no matter their background. Because it's a special kind of treaty, its rules are binding for all member countries. These rules are more important than those in other agreements.

During World War II, the countries fighting together, known as the Allies (or "United Nations"), decided to create a new international group after the war. So, they started discussing and writing the UN Charter at the San Francisco Conference in April 1945. Most countries in the world were involved. After two-thirds of the delegates agreed to each part, the final document was approved by everyone. It was signed on June 26, 1945, in San Francisco, by 50 of the first 51 member countries.

The Charter officially started on October 24, 1945. This happened after the five main members of the United Nations Security Council (China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and most other signing countries approved it. This date is seen as the official start of the United Nations. The UN General Assembly first met in London in January 1946. In 1947, the General Assembly made October 24 United Nations Day, and it became an official international holiday in 1971. Today, 193 countries have agreed to follow the Charter.

What is the UN Charter?
How the UN Charter Was Created
- Early Ideas for the UN
- Writing and Approving the Charter
Key Parts of the Charter
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See also

What is the UN Charter?

This symbol appeared on the first page of the Charter. It was the early design for the current UN logo.

The UN Charter has a Preamble (an introduction) and 111 articles. These articles are organized into 19 chapters.

The Preamble has two main parts. The first part talks about keeping peace and safety worldwide and respecting human rights. The second part is like a promise from the governments of the United Nations. They agree to the Charter, which was the first international document to focus on human rights.

Chapter I explains the main goals of the United Nations. This includes keeping international peace and safety.
Chapter II tells us how a country can become a member of the United Nations.
Chapters III to XV describe the different parts of the UN and what each part can do.
Chapters XVI and Chapter XVII explain how the UN works with existing international law.
Chapters XVIII and XIX explain how the Charter can be changed and how countries officially agree to it.

Some chapters also talk about how UN groups can make sure rules are followed:

Chapter VI describes how the Security Council can look into and help solve disagreements.
Chapter VII explains how the Security Council can use economic actions, diplomatic steps, or even military force to solve problems.
Chapter VIII allows groups of countries in a certain region to work together to keep peace and safety in their area.
Chapters IX and X describe the UN's powers for working together on economic and social issues. The Economic and Social Council oversees this work.
Chapters XII and XIII describe the Trusteeship Council. This group used to help countries that were becoming independent.
Chapters XIV and XV set out the powers of the International Court of Justice and the United Nations Secretariat.

How the UN Charter Was Created

Early Ideas for the UN

The ideas for the United Nations grew step-by-step through meetings held by the Allied nations during World War II. The Declaration of St James's Palace in London in June 1941 was the first time the Allies shared their goals. They wanted "free peoples" to work together for "economic and social security."

A couple of months later, the United States and the United Kingdom released the Atlantic Charter. This document called for no changes to country borders without people's agreement. It also supported the right for all people to choose their own government. It aimed for global cooperation to improve life for everyone, freedom from fear, and an end to using force after the war. Many of these ideas later became part of the UN Charter.

On January 1, 1942, representatives from thirty countries fighting against the Axis powers signed the Declaration by United Nations. This group included China, the Soviet Union, the U.K., and the U.S. This declaration officially formed the alliance and repeated the goals of the Atlantic Charter. The term "United Nations" then became the name for the Allies during the war. This declaration was the base for the UN Charter. Almost all countries that signed it were invited to the 1945 San Francisco Conference to help write the Charter.

In October 1943, the "Big Four" countries signed the Declaration of the Four Nations. This declaration called for a "general international organization" to keep peace and safety. This was the first official announcement that a new international group would replace the old League of Nations.

From August to October 1944, the U.S. hosted the Dumbarton Oaks Conference. Here, they planned what would become the United Nations. Many rules and ideas for the UN Charter were suggested at this meeting. This included the structure of the UN, creating a "Security Council" to prevent future wars, and setting up other parts like the General Assembly and the International Court of Justice. The "Big Four" led this conference.

In February 1945, the U.S., U.K., and Soviet Union met at the Yalta Conference. They decided how voting would work in the Security Council. They also called for a "Conference of United Nations" in San Francisco on April 25, 1945, to write the Charter.

Writing and Approving the Charter

The San Francisco Conference started on April 25, 1945. Its goal was to write the Charter for the new international organization. The "Big Four" invited all 46 countries that had signed the Declaration by United Nations. They also invited four more countries: Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, newly freed Denmark, and Argentina.

This conference was one of the largest international meetings ever. There were 850 delegates, plus advisors and organizers, making a total of 3,500 people. Another 2,500 people from the media and other groups also attended. The main delegates from the "Big Four" took turns leading the large meetings. Many smaller committees were formed to work on different parts of the Charter. They held over 400 meetings. After many reviews and discussions, the final draft was presented on June 25, 1945. Everyone approved it, and delegates signed the Charter the next day.

Key Parts of the Charter

The Preamble: Why the UN Exists

A World War II poster from the United States about the Preamble to the UN Charter.

The Preamble is the introduction to the Charter. It explains the main reasons for creating the United Nations. It says:

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS ARE DETERMINED
- to save future generations from the terrible effects of war, which has caused so much sadness twice in our lives, and
- to believe again in basic human rights, in the worth of every person, and in equal rights for men and women and for all nations, big or small, and
- to create conditions where fairness and respect for international laws can be kept, and
- to help people make social progress and have better lives with more freedom.

AND TO DO THESE THINGS
- to be understanding and live together peacefully as good neighbors, and
- to join our strengths to keep international peace and safety, and
- to make sure that armed force is only used when it is for the common good, and
- to use international groups to help all people improve their economic and social lives.

WE HAVE DECIDED TO WORK TOGETHER TO REACH THESE GOALS.

So, our governments, through their representatives in San Francisco, have agreed to this Charter of the United Nations. They are creating an international organization called the United Nations.

"WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS"

The Preamble is an important part of the Charter. However, it does not list specific rights or duties for member countries. Instead, it helps us understand the main goals of the people who created the UN.

Chapter I: Goals and Rules

Article 1: What the UN Aims To Do

The main goals of the United Nations are:

To keep international peace and safety. This means taking steps to stop threats to peace and acts of aggression. It also means solving international disagreements peacefully and fairly.
To build friendly relationships between countries. This is based on respecting equal rights and the right of people to choose their own future. The UN also takes other steps to strengthen global peace.
To help countries work together to solve problems. These problems can be about money, society, culture, or humanitarian issues. The UN also promotes respect for human rights and basic freedoms for everyone, no matter their race, gender, language, or religion.
To be a place where countries can work together to achieve these common goals.

Article 2: How Members Should Act

The UN and its members must follow these rules to achieve the goals in Article 1:

The UN treats all its member countries as equal.
All members must honestly follow the rules of the Charter to get the rights and benefits of being a member.
All members must solve their international disagreements peacefully. This way, global peace, safety, and fairness are not put at risk.
All members must not threaten or use force against other countries. This includes respecting their borders and independence.
All members must help the United Nations in any action it takes based on the Charter. They must also not help any country that the UN is taking action against.
The UN will make sure that countries not part of the UN also follow these rules if it helps keep international peace and safety.
The Charter does not allow the UN to interfere in matters that are only about a country's internal affairs. However, this rule does not stop the UN from taking action under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter if needed.

Chapter II: Who Can Join

Chapter II of the United Nations Charter explains the rules for countries to become members of the United Nations.

Chapter III: The Main Parts of the UN

Chapter III of the United Nations Charter lists the main parts of the United Nations:

The Charter also says that other smaller groups can be created if needed.

Chapter IV: The General Assembly

Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter describes the role and powers of the General Assembly.

Chapter V: The Security Council

Chapter V of the United Nations Charter focuses on the Security Council, which is very important for keeping peace.

Who is in the Security Council?

The Security Council has fifteen members. Five countries are permanent members: China, France, Russia (formerly the Soviet Union), the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The General Assembly elects ten other countries to be temporary members for two-year terms. When choosing these members, they look at how much a country helps keep peace and safety, and they try to pick countries from different parts of the world.
Each member of the Security Council has one representative.

What Does the Security Council Do?

The Security Council is mainly responsible for keeping international peace and safety. UN members agree that the Security Council acts on their behalf to do this.
The Security Council must follow the goals and rules of the United Nations. Its specific powers are explained in Chapters VI, VII, VIII, and XII.
The Security Council gives reports to the General Assembly every year, and special reports when needed.

What Are the Rules for Voting?

Each member of the Security Council gets one vote.
For simple decisions about how the Council works, nine members must vote yes.
For all other important decisions, nine members must vote yes, and this must include all five permanent members. If a permanent member votes no (a "veto"), the decision does not pass. However, if a country is part of a disagreement being discussed, it should not vote on that issue.

How Does the Security Council Work?

The Security Council is set up to work all the time. Each member must always have a representative at the UN headquarters.
The Security Council holds regular meetings. Members can send a government official or another special representative.
The Security Council can also meet in other places if it helps their work.
The Security Council can create smaller groups to help with its tasks.
The Security Council makes its own rules for how it operates, including how to choose its president.
Any UN member country not on the Security Council can join discussions if their interests are affected, but they cannot vote.
If a country (even one not in the UN) is part of a disagreement being discussed by the Security Council, it can be invited to join the discussion without a vote.

Chapter VI: Solving Problems Peacefully

Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter explains how the Security Council can investigate and help solve disagreements between countries in a peaceful way.

Chapter VII: Taking Action for Peace

Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter describes how the Security Council can take stronger actions. This includes allowing economic actions, diplomatic steps, or even military force to deal with threats to peace, breaches of peace, or acts of aggression.

Chapter VIII: Regional Agreements

Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter allows regional groups of countries to work together to keep peace and safety within their own areas.

Chapter IX & X: Working Together on Economy and Society

Chapter IX of the United Nations Charter and Chapter X of the United Nations Charter describe the UN's powers for working together on economic and social issues. The Economic and Social Council oversees these powers.

Chapter XI: Non-Self-Governing Territories

Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter is a declaration about territories that are not yet self-governing.

Chapter XII & XIII: The Trusteeship System

Chapter XII of the United Nations Charter and Chapter XIII of the United Nations Charter describe the Trusteeship Council. This council used to oversee territories that were becoming independent.

Chapter XIV: The International Court of Justice

Chapter XIV of the United Nations Charter establishes the powers of the International Court of Justice, which is the main judicial body of the UN.

Chapter XV: The Secretariat

The Secretariat is one of the main parts of the UN.

It includes the Secretary-General (the UN's chief administrative officer) and other staff members.
It provides support services to other UN bodies like the General Assembly, Security Council, and Economic and Social Council.
The Secretary-General is chosen by the General Assembly based on a recommendation from the Security Council.
The staff of the Secretariat are hired by the Secretary-General following rules set by the General Assembly.
The main office of the Secretariat is at the UN headquarters in New York.
It also has regional offices in places like Baghdad, Bangkok, Geneva, and Santiago.

What Does the Secretariat Do?

The Secretariat has many important jobs:

It prepares reports and documents with information, analysis, and policy ideas to help other UN bodies make decisions.
It helps UN meetings run smoothly.
It provides services like editing, translation, and printing documents in different languages.
It conducts studies and provides information to help countries deal with various challenges.
It organizes conferences and meetings on topics important to the world.
It provides technical help to developing countries.
It carries out missions in different countries or areas as approved by the General Assembly or Security Council.

Chapter XVI: Other Rules

Chapter XVI of the United Nations Charter contains various other provisions.

Chapter XVII: Rules for After World War II

Chapter XVII of the United Nations Charter deals with temporary security arrangements related to World War II.

Chapter XVIII: How to Change the Charter

The General Assembly can change the UN Charter. Any changes must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Assembly members. Then, these changes need to be approved by two-thirds of all UN member countries, including all five permanent members of the Security Council.

Chapter XIX: Signing and Approval

This chapter explains that the Charter would officially start once the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and most of the other signing countries approved it. It also describes the steps for providing official copies to the governments that approved it.

Images for kids

World War II poster from the United States on the UNITED NATIONS – PREAMBLE TO THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS
"WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS"