Page 161 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

UNITED NA TIONS  159

non-self-governing territories in favor of
or colonies. Since then, more Taiwan –
than 80 colonies have gained gained UN
self-rule, and the number of membership.
people living in dependent In the 1990s,
territories has been reduced the UN was
from 750 million to about involved in
3 million. The Trustee ship the break-up
Council consists of the five of Yugoslavia,
permanent members of the and more
Security Council. recently in
Zanetti mural (Dominican Republic), in the Conference Building, the conflicts
depicting the struggle for peace in Afghanistan,
Libya and
Important Events Syria. A 2004 UN mission to
in UN History
Congo was plagued by
The UN depends on voluntary accusations of sexual abuse
compliance and military by UN peacekeepers. In 2006–7
support from its members to there were arrests over kick-
keep the peace in the event backs in the UN oil-for-food
of disputes. In 1948, the UN program to Iraq.
declared South Korea the At any given time at least
Trusteeship Council Chamber legitimate government of Korea; half a dozen missions are
two years later, it played a major active somewhere in the
role in defending South Korea world. The UN was awarded
Economic and against North Korea. In 1949, the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988
Social Council the UN helped negotiate a and 2001.
The 54 members of this Council cease-fire between Indonesia
work to improve the standard of and the Netherlands and set up
living and social welfare around a confer ence that led to the
the world, goals that consume Dutch granting independence
80 per cent of the UN’s resources. to Indonesia.
It makes recommendations to In 1964 a UN military force
the General Assembly, to each was sent to Cyprus to keep
member nation, and to the peace between the Greeks and
UN’s specialized agencies. Turks, and it still remains. Persist-
The Council is assisted by ent issues in the Middle East
com missions dealing with have kept UN forces in the area
regional economic problems, since 1974, the year that China – Soviet premier Khrushchev speaking to the
human rights abuses, long refused membership General Assembly in 1960
population, narcotics, and
women’s rights. It also works
with the Inter national Labor Works of Art at the UN
Organization, the World Health
Organization, UNICEF, and other The UN Building has acquired numerous works of art and
global welfare organizations. reproductions by major artists; many have been gifts from member
nations. Most of them have either a peace or inter national friendship
theme. The legend on
Secretariat Norman Rockwell’s The
Golden Rule reads “Do unto
An international staff of 16,000 others as you would have
works for the Secretariat to carry them do unto you.” Marc
out the day-to-day work of the Chagall designed a large
United Nations. The Secretariat stained-glass window as
is headed by the Secretary a memorial to former
General, who plays a key role as Secretary General Dag
a spokesperson in the organiza- Hammarskjöld, who was
tion’s peace-keeping efforts. The accidentally killed while on a
Secretary General is appointed peace mission in 1961. There
by the General Assembly for is a Henry Moore sculpture
a five-year term. António Guterres in the grounds (limited
of Portugal was elected Secretary access) and many other
General in 2016, replacing Ban sculptures and paintings by The Golden Rule (1985), a large mosaic by
Ki-moon, who stepped down at the artists of many nations. Norman Rockwell
the end of the year.

158-159_EW_New_York_City.indd 159 4/3/17 11:11 AM