UN turns 61 - celebrations next Thursday

UN: The flag hoisting ceremony to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the United Nations will take place on October 26 at 8.45 in the morning at the UN compound at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs will be the Chief Guest, states a United Nations Information Centre press release.

The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 in the aftermath of the most devastating war in the human history with 51 nations as members - its membership rose to 192 with the admission of Montenegro - a former Yugoslavian Republic in June this year. Sri Lanka became a member of the world organization on 14 December 1955.

The UN presence in Sri Lanka was one of its earliest in a developing country. Since then, the UN system remains an important source of financial, material and technical support to Sri Lanka.

The year 2006 has seen several positive developments in the work of the organization. A new human rights body with enhanced powers and jurisdiction by the name Human Rights Council was established in March replacing the discredited Commission on Human Rights.

Sri Lanka is one of the 47 elected members of the Council which is responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.

The Peace Building Commission and the Peace Building Support Office both entrusted with the task of helping countries emerging from conflicts became operative during the course of this year. A Peace Building Fund was also established.

The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDF) which supports projects that help consolidating and strengthening democratic institutions and processes began its official operations in March this year. Another landmark achievement was the adoption by the General Assembly last month of the first-ever global counter terrorism strategy which is a comprehensive plan of action for combating global terrorism

However the United Nations has been targeted by many critics for its failure for thirty four days to arrange a ceasefire in the conflict that engulfed Lebanon and Israel last July. Secretary General Kofi Annan in his address to the 61st General Assembly Session said that inability of the Security Council to end the Arab - Israel conflict was a cause for decline of respect for the United Nations.

The Security Council is still struggling to persuade authorities of Sudan to accept a UN Peacekeeping force in Darfur where an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy is unfolding.

During the past 61 years, the United Nations has played either the leading or a significant role in ushering in numerous progressive changes in the history of the human race.

The adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and several human rights covenants, eradication of small pox from the surface of the earth, facilitation of the resolution of numerous armed conflicts, international agreements aimed at disarmament, strengthening international cooperation and environmental conservation, are a few among the remarkable achievements. (UNIC)