AS many Irish News readers may be aware the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN) organisation takes place later this year. The United Nations Association of Northern Ireland (UNA-NI), a branch of UNA-UK, is a non-governmental, voluntary organisation.
We exist to encourage public and governmental support for the goals of the UN and we are keen to mark the UN's 70th anniversary through the creation of an archive. We hope to document local reaction to the implementation of the UN Charter on October 24 1945, through accounts, memories and photographs. The UN Charter declared that 'We the Peoples of the United Nations determined: n to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind and n to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small n to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained n to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.'
Could we appeal to Irish News readers for help in creating such an archive by inviting them to contact UNANI through our email address: unassocni@gmail.com, please? Such help would be much appreciated.
In addition, UNA-NI is aware that its predecessor organisation, the Belfast Branch of the United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was founded in Belfast on November 13 1945 and held its first meeting in the Lombard Café. Any information or comment on this event or organisation would also be very welcome.
