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Everyone signed the UN Charter reaffirming our commitment for another 80 years.
UNA Westminster and LASER Summer Council - marking UN80
On a very hot Saturday 21st June, Beth, John and Alan from UNA Medway attended the United Nations Association Westminster and LASER (London & South East Region) Summer Council, marking UN80, the 80th anniversary of the formation of the United Nations.
It was hosted at Westminster Methodist Central Hall, where the first session of the United Nations General Assembly convened on 10 January 1946. A message of goodwill from the Mayor of San Francisco (where the UN was founded in 1945) was read, along with a message of goodwill from the Paul Dimoldenberg, Lord Mayor of Westminster.
The talks throughout the day gave an overview of the United Nations, how its work has evolved over 80 years, and the challenges it faces in the future. The day also had discussions on human rights, on the history and achievements of the UN, on the challenges the UN and the world currently face, as well as discussing the veto process.
Outside there was assembled an impressive display on United Nations Green outside Central Hall and the QEII Conference Centre, of all the member states’ flags, and a UN80 cake.
United Nations Green, is the only location in the United Kingdom to be named after the United Nations. It is perfectly located, between Westminster Abbey, the Queen Elizabeth II Centre which hosts major international conferences and the Methodist Central Hall.
We all felt a sense of history being located in the place where the UN Charter was originally signed
Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, the organization was the result of a global commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”
The founding of the UN also signaled a commitment to an entirely new level of international cooperation grounded in international law and the UN Charter.
Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war.
Today, the United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, prosperity and human rights.
The UN works tirelessly to support countries as they tackle poverty, hunger and disease, while also supporting people in need during times of conflict and disaster.
The organization has advanced justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights, while also pushing for peace through dialogue, debate, diplomacy and consensus-building.
Multilateral cooperation is the beating heart of the United Nations, but multilateralism is only as strong as each and every country’s commitment to it.
And because we believe in the singular value and purpose of the United Nations, we always strive to improve the institution and the way we work.
Amid the profound challenges facing our world today, global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever.
Adapted from the remarks of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to the Security Council on 18 February 2025.