On its 79th anniversary, the United Nations continues to face scrutiny for its effectiveness in promoting peace and resolving conflicts. However, the organisation has played a pivotal role in shaping the world order over the past decades, particularly in the creation of Israel and the Korean War. From the UN Special Committee on Palestine to the adoption of Resolution 181, the organisation's decisions have had lasting impacts on the Middle East. Similarly, the UN's condemnation of North Korea's invasion of South Korea played a crucial role in the Korean War. Despite facing criticism for its handling of these conflicts, the UN's decisions continue to have a profound impact on global politics.
Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations
Eleanor Roosevelt was a prominent American diplomat and activist who served as the United States delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1948 to 1952. She was a strong advocate for human rights and social justice, and her work at the UN helped to shape the organization's mission and goals.
Roosevelt was born in 1884 into a wealthy New York City family. She married Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1905, and they had six children together. After her husband was elected president in 1932, Roosevelt became involved in politics and social work. She was particularly concerned with the rights of women and children, and she worked to improve conditions for the poor and disadvantaged.
In 1948, Roosevelt was appointed by President Harry Truman to be the United States delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. She was the first woman to serve in this role, and she quickly became one of the organization's most respected and influential members.
As a delegate, Roosevelt worked to promote human rights and social justice. She was a strong advocate for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. She also worked to improve the status of women and children, and she helped to establish the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Roosevelt served as a UN delegate until 1952. After her tenure at the UN, she continued to work for human rights and social justice. She was a founding member of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and she served as a member of the American Civil Liberties Union board of directors.
Roosevelt died in 1962. She is remembered as a pioneer for human rights and social justice, and her work at the United Nations helped to shape the organization's mission and goals.
Top 5 FAQs
1. What was Eleanor Roosevelt's role at the United Nations? Eleanor Roosevelt was the United States delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1948 to 1952. She was the first woman to serve in this role, and she quickly became one of the organization's most respected and influential members.
2. What were some of Roosevelt's accomplishments at the UN? Roosevelt was a strong advocate for human rights and social justice. She worked to promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and she helped to establish the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
3. Why was Roosevelt such an influential figure at the UN? Roosevelt was a respected diplomat and activist. She had a deep understanding of international affairs, and she was a passionate advocate for human rights and social justice.
4. What is Roosevelt's legacy? Roosevelt is remembered as a pioneer for human rights and social justice. Her work at the United Nations helped to shape the organization's mission and goals, and her advocacy for human rights continues to inspire people around the world.
5. How can I learn more about Eleanor Roosevelt? There are many resources available about Eleanor Roosevelt. You can find books, articles, and online materials about her life and work. You can also visit the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park, New York.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago, a country with strong ties to India due to the large Indian-descended population. Modi is welcomed by Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and will have meetings with the country's leaders. He will also receive the nation's highest honor and address parliament. While celebrations are expected, some have raised concerns about Modi's human rights record.
The confirmation of a 19-month-old child as Pakistan's 14th polio case of 2025 highlights the continued struggle to eradicate the disease in the country. The distrust in vaccinations caused by a 2011 CIA operation using a fake vaccination campaign to locate Osama bin Laden has hindered the efforts of health workers. This setback serves as a reminder of the long road ahead in eradicating polio in Pakistan.
Pakistan's efforts to seek membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have hit a snag as Indonesia and Singapore are likely to join India in opposing Islamabad's bid. This move is part of Pakistan's recent strategy to internationalise its issues with India, which New Delhi has consistently opposed. However, China's influence over Cambodia may tip the scales in Pakistan's favor.
A young man from Taiwan, identified as Zhang, had both his feet amputated after spending 10 hours in a bucket of dry ice as part of a fraudulent insurance claim. He and his accomplice, Liao, faked an accident and submitted insurance claims worth over NT$41.26 million. The shocking incident has led to charges of fraud and intentional self-harm, with the mastermind, Liao, being sentenced to six years in prison. The case has sparked outrage on social media over the lengths people will go to for financial gain.
A video of a 27-year-old Hindu woman being brutally raped at her residence in Bangladesh by a local Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader, Fazor Ali, sparked outrage and protests in Dhaka. The victim, a mother of two children, belongs to the Hindu community. The incident has highlighted the ongoing violence against religious minorities and ethnic communities in Bangladesh and calls for the interim government to take action to protect them.
In his monthly radio programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the success of the International Yoga Day celebrations and the resumption of Kailash-Mansarovar and Amarnath Yatras after a long time. He highlighted the participation of people from across the world, including divyang individuals and the Indian armed forces, in the yoga celebrations. The theme of this year's Yoga Day, "Yoga for One Earth, for Health," was also emphasized by PM Modi. Additionally, he congratulated India for being declared Trachoma-free by the World Health Organization, while also expressing his excitement for the upcoming pilgrimages.
The Adani Group, a global conglomerate, will be providing food for 4 million people at the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, India. The event, which is expected to see a turnout of 40 million people, is a collaboration between the Adani Foundation and the organizers of the Rath Yatra. Adani Group Chairperson Gautam Adani made a special appearance in Bhubaneswar before heading to Puri to kick off the event.
On Monday, a massive blackout left tens of millions of people in Spain, Portugal, and parts of France without electricity, causing disruptions to transport services and chaos on the roads. Questions are now mounting over what caused the outage as both countries remain under a state of emergency. Experts predict it could take weeks to determine the root cause of the meltdown, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stating that 15 gigawatts of power were suddenly lost in just five seconds - equivalent to 60% of the country's demand. While power has been restored to most areas, transportation services continue to be affected and emergency meetings have been held to coordinate a response.
At least 23 people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand, with many more still missing. The blast occurred just weeks before the Chinese New Year, which typically sees a high demand for fireworks. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but the exact number of casualties is still undetermined due to the severity of the explosion. This is not the first time an explosion has occurred at this factory, with a previous incident in November 2022 leading to the death of one worker. Authorities are investigating and will pursue legal action for any wrongdoing involved.
The Indian government has appointed Parag Jain as the new head of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the country's top intelligence agency. Jain, a senior IPS officer with over two decades of experience, will assume office on July 1, succeeding Ravi Sinha. He is known to have played a crucial role in Operation Sindoor which targeted terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. With India's dynamics with its neighbours becoming more complex, Jain's appointment comes at a critical time.