Charter of the United Nations — 1945 foundational treaty of the United Nations
The UN Charter established the United Nations and its binding legal framework for international peace, security, and human rights, now ratified by 193 states.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 26 June 1945
- Date entered into force
- 24 October 1945
- Original signatories
- 50 of 51 original member countries
- Current parties
- 193 countries
- Conference began
- 25 April 1945, San Francisco
- UN Day recognized
- 24 October, declared holiday in 1971
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Second World War, the Allied powers determined that a new permanent international organization was needed to replace the League of Nations and prevent future global conflicts. Negotiations among the major Allied nations led to the convening of the San Francisco Conference beginning 25 April 1945, attended by representatives of most of the world's sovereign states.
Delegates at the San Francisco Conference debated, drafted, and unanimously adopted the Charter of the United Nations. The final text was opened for signature on 26 June 1945 and signed by 50 of the 51 original member states. It established the UN's principal organs and set binding obligations on member states regarding peace, security, human rights, and international law.
The Charter entered into force on 24 October 1945, officially founding the United Nations. The first General Assembly session convened in London in January 1946, representing all 51 initial members. The UN subsequently became the primary institution for multilateral diplomacy, international law, and collective security, with 24 October recognized as United Nations Day.
Political Outcome
The Charter was unanimously adopted and entered into force on 24 October 1945, establishing the United Nations as the central intergovernmental organization for international peace, security, and cooperation.
International order nominally governed by the League of Nations, which had collapsed in effectiveness by the outbreak of World War II
A new multilateral system centered on the United Nations, with the Security Council's five permanent members holding veto power over collective security decisions