Keeping Nations United: this year, the United Nations celebrates its 60th anniversary. Swiss News looks at the structure of the UN and its history, as well as the activities of its office in Geneva and how the UN is trying to adapt to the challenges of a changing world.

Swiss News › Nbr. 2005, January 2005

Author: Venning, Mona

Position:: UN In Geneva Special

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UN In Geneva Special

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Keeping Nations United: this year, the United Nations celebrates its 60th anniversary. Swiss News looks at the structure of the UN and its history, as well as the activities of its office in Geneva and how the UN is trying to adapt to the challenges of a changing world.

The forerunner of the United Nations, The League of Nations, was founded in 1919, after the end of the First World War. The Treaty of Versailles has established the League "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security." At the time, many looked to the League to bring stability to the world.

The Secretariat of the League was based in Geneva, Switzerland, at the newly built Palais des Nations. This choice was natural as Switzerland was a neutral country and had not fought in the First World War. Furthermore, The Red Cross, by then a well-respected international organisation, was already based in Switzerland. The League of Nations ceased its activit...

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