The United Nations for peace, development and human rights

From 14 October to 2 November at the Official documents division (room 207) runs a subject book exhibition “The United Nations for peace, development and human rights” timed to the United Nations Day.

This Day was proclaimed on 31 October, 1947, at the 2nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (resolution № 168) and since 1948 it has been celebrated annually on 24 October. The United Nations Day is the birthday of the United Nations Organization as on 24 October, 1945, the UNO fundamental document – the Charter – came into force.

In 1971, at the 26th session the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/2782 (XXVI) in which it recommended the states-members to celebrate this day as the state holiday. Traditionally on this day meetings, assemblies, round tables and exhibitions devoted to the UN’s purposes and achievements are held all over the world

Most of us know about the United Nations’ activity in the field of peacekeeping or humanitarian aid. However, it is far not always and not so well-known about many other aspects of its activity. The United Nations Organization is the center of solving of the problems that are facing mankind. This activity is carried out by joint efforts of more than 30 organizations of the UN system. The United Nations Organization and other organizations of its system work on the observance of human rights, environment protection, struggle against illnesses, development maintenance and fight against poverty. The UN bodies develop the standards and rules of safe and effective air and marine communications, promote the improvement of telecommunications and protection of consumers’ interests and further the observance of intellectual property rights. The United Nations Organization is also the initiator of international campaigns on the struggle against drug traffic and terrorism. Working in all regions of the world, the United Nations and its bodies assist refugees and carry out programs of mine clearing, help to improve the quality of potable water and to increase the volume of foodstuffs, give loans to developing countries and help to stabilize financial markets.

At present the United Nations Organization incorporates 192 states every of which is also a member of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Republic of Belarus is one of 51 founding members of the United Nations Organization. Cooperation between Belarus and the United Nations Organization is one of the major tasks of the national foreign policy. The Belarus delegation constantly participates in regular and special sessions of the General Assembly, the UN Economic and Social Council and other main bodies of the United Nations. As a member of the United Nations, the Republic of Belarus has always aspired to take an active part in consideration of crucial questions and problems on the international agenda and to make a real contribution to solving of the given problems. The UN Office in Belarus was established in 1992. The UN community in the Republic of Belarus includes 11 agencies, funds and programs of the UN system. The basic directions of the UNDP’s activity in our country are: democratic management, reduction of poverty, overcoming of crises, power and environment, HIV/AIDS, social advancement of women, transboundary cooperation.

The exhibition presents over 100 documents from the stocks of the National Library of Belarus in Russian and English: books, periodicals, the UN’s mimeographed materials, brochures and booklets.

The exposition includes the following subject sections:

• Basic information about the UN.
• Human rights.
• International law.
• Humanitarian problems.
• Peacekeeping and international safety maintenance.
• Economic and social development.
• The UN and the Republic of Belarus.

The exhibition is designed for specialists in the international law and international relations, political scientists, university students and professors, and also all who are interested in the United Nations’ activity.

Useful links

• Secretary General
• The UN main bodies
• The member states of the UN
• Information about the UN in other languages
• The history of the UN
• The UN bookshop
• About the UN
• The UN in action*
• The UN structure
• The UN reform
• Frequently asked questions
• The UN Charter
• The UN chronicle*
• The UN emblem and flag

Partnership

• The global model of the Unite Nations*
• The UN Global Compact
• Civil society
• Business circles
• The UN and the rule of law
• The UN for people
• Partnership

Publications

• About the United Nations Organization
• The UN: day by day
• The UN in brief (2005)
• Image and reality (2002)
• The UN in our lives (1998)
• This is the United Nations Organization
• Other publications of the UN