Did You Know? 7 Since 1945, the UN has assisted in negotiating more than 170 peace settlements that have ended regional conflicts. 7 The United Nations played a role in bringing about independence in more than 80 countries that are now sovereign nations. 7 Over 500 multinational treaties – on human rights, terrorism, international crime, refugees, disarmament, commodities and the oceans – have been enacted through the efforts of the United Nations. 7 The World Food Programme, the world’s largest humanitarian agency, reaches on average 90 million hungry people in 80 countries every year. 7 An estimated 90 per cent of global conflict-related deaths since 1990 have been civilians, and 80 percent of these have been women and children. 7 If each poor person on the planet had the same energy-rich lifestyle as an average person in Germany or the United Kingdom, four planets would be needed to safely cope with the pollution. That figure rises to nine planets when compared with the average of the United States or Canada. 07-26304—DPI/1888/Rev.3—August 2008—15M Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the United Nations FOR STUDENTS AT INTERMEDIATE AND SECONDARY LEVELS United Nations Department of Public Information New York, 2010 An introduction to the United Nations i Material contained in this book is not subject to copyright. It may be freely reproduced, provided acknowledgement is given to the UNITED NATIONS. For further information please contact: Visitors Services, Department of Public Information, United Nations, New York, NY 10017 Fax 212-963-0071; E-mail:
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