Although you may be aware that the United Nations has existed for over half a century, you may not know about its history, its different branches, or its mission of improving lives, offering development assistance, and making the world a better place. 

The UN was founded shortly after World War II, replacing The League of Nations.  It is an international organization that aims to advance world peace, enhance education on many levels, increase human rights and liberties, encourage economic growth, and improve international relations.   

The UN flag was created in 1945 by the Presentation Branch of the United States Office of Strategic Services, modified slightly, and then adopted by the UN General Assembly on April 7, 1946 as the new seal and emblem for the organization.  The symbols on the UN flag highlight its mission of harmonizing relations between countries.  The two olive branches are symbols of peace, in use since the days of Ancient Greece, and the global map conveys the scale on which the UN aspires to do its work.  The color of the flag is meant to evoke the color of the sky on a clear, sunlit day. 

The UN is a large organization with many branches, sub-branches and affiliated organizations, such as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Program (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

Each of these organizations has a different aim, but they all are intended to contribute to the UN’s larger goals for human development and international peace. Look for profiles on these and other UN organization in the months to come. 

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