On 25 June, 1945 at the San Francisco Opera House, the final full session of delegates to the United Nations Conference on International Organization met and stood together– literally as well as figuratively – to signal their unanimous approval of the Charter of the United Nations.
These delegates had deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States in August-October 1944. The representatives from 50 countries finally signed the Charter on 26 June 1945. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51FoundingMember States.
The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charterwasratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco, the UN is marking the event in the city that has played such a key role in the founding of the UN. There will be a public ceremony at City Hall with an audience of some 1,000 diplomats, students and community members. The city’s mayor and other local and international dignitaries will join UN Officials at the event.
A special event marking the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the UN, and the launch of the anniversary edition of the UN Charter will be held from 2:30-4:00 p.m. at UN Headquarters. UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson will deliver opening remarks. Other speakers will follow as will a live joint webcast viewing of the official ceremony from San Francisco featuring the UN Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, and other special guests. Open to UN ground pass-holders or watch the event on UN webcast. More information can be found on the event website.