Page 122 - SST Class 05

need for a world organisation which could prevent wars from occurring. This was how
the League of Nations was founded in 1920.

The idea behind founding this organisation was noble, but there were some
shortcomings in it. Moreover, the world situation was very explosive at that time. This
organisation could not prevent the dreaded Second World War from occurring just 20
years later. The Second World War started in 1939 and lasted until 1945. It claimed 5
crore lives. It was during this war
that atom bombs were dropped by
the US on two Japanese cities :
Hiroshima and Nagasaki . The

destruction caused by these two
bombs was unprecedented. These
two cities were instantly wiped off,
together with people and property.
Thus, this war was even more
destructive than the previous one. Pearl Harbour bombing Atom bomb on Hiroshima

In view of this, a need was felt for a more effective world organisation which could
prevent wars and establish peace in the world. For this purpose, the representatives of
50 countries met at San Francisco (US), in 1945, and decided to form an international
organisation, called United Nations. 51 countries signed the UN Charter , on the basis
of which the United Nations was formed on 24 October, 1945. India was one of the

founder members of the UN.

Major Objectives of the UN

The objectives of the United Nations are enshrined in the UN Charter. Its important
objectives are as follows :

1. To maintain international peace and security.

2. To develop friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principles of
equal rights and self-determination of peoples.

3. To foster worldwide cooperation in solving international political, social, economic,
cultural and humanitarian problems.
4. To provide a forum for bringing countries together to meet the UN’s purposes and

goals.
4. To cooperate in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for

all people.
5. To be a centre for coordinating the actions of nations to achieve these aims.

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