Today, on 24 October, the United Nations are observing UN Day. 24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday. UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.
In his address, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted: "This year again, we saw the United Nations come together on armed conflict, human rights, the environment and many other issues. We continue to show what collective action can do. We can do even more. In a world that is more connected, we must be more united. On United Nations Day, let us pledge to live up to our founding ideals and work together for peace, development and human rights."
Follow hashtag #UNDay or #HappyBirthdayUN on Twitter to see how UN Day is celebrated inside and outside the United Nations all over the world.
