Destination Spotlight

United Nations Headquarters

The United Nations is an international organization whose goal is to “preserve international peace and security, promote self-determination and equal rights, and encourage economic and social well-being.”

The United Nations Headquarters is comprised of four buildings:

• The General Assembly Building – the heart of the UN with an assembly hall that seats 1,800 people.
• The Conference Building – where the various councils (i.e. the Security Council and Economic and Social Council) meet.
• The Secretariat Building – which houses the 7,400 international civil servants and other employees that work at the UN.
• The Hammarskjold Library – dedicated in memory of the second Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, who was killed in a 1961 plane crash.

Interesting Facts:

• The 185 flags in front of the United Nations Headquarters represent each member state in alphabetical order, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
• The United Nations is technically not on United States soil – it is on international territory. For this reason, it has its own security force, fire department, and post office.
• Business is conducted at the UN in six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

Links:

United Nations Headquarters

United Nations – Great Buildings