After the end of World War I (WWI) which lasted from 1914 to 1918, The League of Nations (LN) was formed in 1919. Its mission was to maintain world peace. But League of Nations was failed in preventing World War II (WWII) which lasted from 1939 to 1945. After the end of World War II The United Nations Organization UNO was founded on October 24, 1945 to replace the flawed League of Nations. Its principal mission is to maintain world peace, and to provide a platform for dialogue.
United Nation's principal organs
UNO has five principal organs:
1. General Assembly
2. Security Council
3. Secretariat
4. Economic and Social Council
5. International Court of Justice
The 6th organ, "Trusteeship Council" suspended operation on November 01, 1994, with the independence of Palau.
United Nation's Agencies
UNO has also 15 agencies and several programs and bodies to carry out its mission world wide.
The prominent agencies are: World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Health Organization(WHO), World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
United Nation's Languages
UNO has 6 official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
UN Members
There are 193 member states of the United Nations. In addition to this, two countries hold the status of Observer States. Currently there are only two observer states:
1. Holy Sea (The permanent observer state of UNO)
2. Palestine
Observer State is a status granted by a United Nations General Assembly resolution before granted them full membership.