United Nations Day and Week

The anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter -- 24 October 1945 -- has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. It has traditionally been marked throughout the world by meetings, discussions and exhibits on the achievements and goals of the Organization. In 1971, the General Assembly recommended that Member States observe it as a public holiday.

Read more about UN Day Activities.

United Nations Day in the United States has been established by Presidential Proclamation to commemorate the establishment of the United Nations. It is celebrated very generally in all states and American possessions.

In the Washington, DC metropolitan area that observance, coordinated by the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area, extends from October 20 to October 28, 2007.

Read more agout the UNA-NCA activities on UN Week.

AN OVERVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES IN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

There are science programs spread across the entire spectrum of United Nations agencies, from UNESCO to the agencies specialized in health, food and agriculture, and industry, to regional economic commissions, to the councils, to highly specialized agencies. It is hard for even very experienced workers in international science and technology to understand their various programs and roles, and to keep them in mind. This interesting 17 page report is a primer to the overall system, and UNESCO's place therein.

Read the Report.

U.S. Rejoins UNCSTD

The United States has rejoined the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development.

The Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) is a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It was established in 1992 to provide the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council with advice on relevant issues. The United States was one of the original members of the Commission. However, the membership rotates among countries, and the United States was not represented on the Commission for several years.

The Commission has been mandated to assist the Economic and Social Council in the system-wide follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society.

One of the functions of the CSTD is to review and make recommendations on the coordination in scientific and technological areas of the various agencies of the United Nations system, which of course includes UNESCO as a lead agency in the natural, social and human sciences.

Federal Budget Request Short-Changes United Nations, Lantos Says

Read the full press release from Representative Lantos' office.

"Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said the Administration is short-changing the United Nations in the budget proposal delivered to Congress today, which will ultimately harm national security.

“'We face a $130 million shortfall in the account used to pay U.S. dues to the United Nations,' Lantos noted. 'For the first time since the historic Helms-Biden agreement to pay off old U.S. debt the United Nations, we will once again be in arrears. This is absurd. The Administration is budgeting for massive new arrears to the United Nations at a time when we need the organization to help us in Iraq, Darfur, Lebanon, Haiti and a host of other global hot spots.'"