United Nations

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and serve as a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. It is the world's largest international organization. The UN was established after World War II with the aim of preventing future world wars. The UN charter took effect on 24 October 1945. Maps have been produced under the auspices of the UN since its founding, often forming the principal part of a United Nations document or proposed solution to territorial issues. One of the first problems that the newly-formed UN had to contend with was the future of Palestine. In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which included maps outlining the proposed two-state solution, but which was not implemented.