UN Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth Statement on United Nations Day

Senator Timothy E. Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation, issued the following statement today to commemorate “United Nations Day,” which marks the 67th anniversary of when the UN Charter went into effect.

“For nearly 70 years, the United Nations has been a force for progress and peace in the world.  Every day, the UN is on the front lines of global challenges – working to promote human rights, increase peace and stability, respond to natural disasters and crises, improve health, combat climate change, empower women and girls, and much more.  For example, the UN aids more than 30 million refugees and people fleeing war, famine, or persecution; it vaccinates 58 percent of the world’s children against harmful and deadly diseases; and it helps keep the peace with 120,000 peacekeepers in 16 operations.

“As the world confronts urgent problems that transcend borders, the UN is more important than ever.  It is the one institution with the global reach, scale, and capacity to mobilize international action to address these problems without passports.

“Today, let us recognize the UN’s lifesaving and life-changing work and advocate for a strong U.S.-UN relationship.  Working with the UN, we can build a safer, healthier, and more just world for our children and our grandchildren.”

In recognition of UN Day, members of the United Nations Association of the USA are hosting events in 100 communities around the country this week. To learn more or to take action to help the UN address the world’s most pressing challenges, visit www.unfoundation.org/unday.

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