With a charter established in 1945, the United Nations began its mission to promote peace and security. International collaboration led to the ratification of the Charter by five representatives of countries at the time: China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States; the United Nations was officially born on October 24, 1945. Every year, starting from the day of ratification, the celebration of United Nations Day reminds the world of their goal of promoting respect for human rights and gender equality; the progress of women, the protection of the environment, the fight against diseases and the reduction of poverty. The six main bodies of the United Nations: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the Secretariat and the International Court of Justice. Each body functions to uphold the standards set by each individually and to follow the statutes within the United Nations Charter. The General Assembly provides a discussion space for the 193 representative members to address international issues. The assembly meets regularly between September and December each year. The General Assembly represents all members of the United Nations. Every meeting held by the Assembly respects the equality of each nation. During these meetings, different countries raise different issues to decide on. The economic or social status of a country does not determine its influence, because each nation, rich, poor, large or small, has only one vote. Whenever peace is threatened, the Security Council meets. It is necessary for all Member States to respect the decisions of the Council. Of the fifteen full members, five are permanent: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States; the General Assembly elects or... middle of paper ...... The United Nations' decision to unite worldly powers and lead against hunger, poverty and social dissent was a courageous choice at the time; now their influence on the world extends to economic and social reform as well as strong peacekeeping negotiations. Works CitedNations, United. Basic facts about the United Nations. New York: United Nations Department of Public Information, 2000.Nations, United. Basic facts about the United Nations. New York: United Nations Department of Public Information, 2000. Falk, Richard A., Samuel S. Kim, and Saul Mendlovitz, eds. The United Nations and a just world order. vol. 3. Boulder: Westview Pres, INC, 1991. Nations, United. Basic facts about the United Nations. New York: United Nations Department of Public Information, 2000."Who are the refugees?" United Nations Weekly Bulletin 1, no. 1 (1946): 15."Atmosphere: the fate of our air." United Nations Chronicle XXIX, n. 2 (1992): 50-51.