History of the United Nations

1971 - 1980

Date	Milestones
25 October 1971	The General Assembly votes to seat representatives of the People's Republic of China.
22 December 1971	The General Assembly nominates Kurt Waldheim as Secretary General of the United Nations.
June 1972	The first UN Environment Conference is held in Stockholm, Sweden, leading to the establishment of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi.
13 November 1974	The General Assembly recognizes the Palestine Liberation Organization as "the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people".
June - July 1975	International Women's Year is marked by the first World Conference on Women, held in Mexico City.
4 November 1977	The Security Council adopts mandatory arms embargo against South Africa.
May - June 1978	The General Assembly convenes a special session, for the first time, on disarmament.
18 December 1979	The General Assembly adopts the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, covering political, economic, social, cultural and civic values.
8 May 1980	Three years after the last case was reported, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declares smallpox eradicated.