We the people of the United Nations:

People are the source of power, the owners of the democratic choice, the fortress of freedom and the strong support of peace. Due to these beliefs the words: "we the people of the United Nations…."were the first sentence in the charter of the UN because the human being is considered as the supreme element of every political, economical or social association.

Lebanese delegation to UN 1945, H.E Charles Malik,
H.E Abdallah Al Yafi, H.E Wadih Naim,
H.E Joseph Salem,H.E Dr. Sobhi Mahmassani

The Atlantic charter (1942), which was the background of the UN Charter, tried to carry out a very difficult mission. The mission was to free the human being from fear. In the declaration of Moscow (November 1943), and in 1944 and 1945 there was a rising of National UN Associations representing people of the UN. The first associations were in Italy, France, The United States, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland.

After the official inauguration of the UNAs of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (October 1945) in Albert Hall with the support of King Georges V, the French Prime Minister Joseph Paul-Boncour established a world association of the UN's people.

Daher with Secretary General Dr. Boutros
Ghali :2000

The first president of the UN General Assembly M. Paul Henri Spaak declared: "The United Nations has the chance to succeed if it benefits from the vital support that comes from the heart and soul of human beings all around the world".

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The establishment of the World Federation of United Nations Associations:

All the United Nations associations approved the proposal of the establishment of the WFUNA. Therefore, a constituent committee was formed to set the constitution (Paris, June 15-16, 1946).

At UN House, Geneva with Dr. Amine Al Hafez and Rep. of Lebanon, Syria and Arab League, 1989

The opening of the constituent assembly took place on July 29, 1946 in the House of Representatives of Luxembourg. The national United Nations Association of 16 states ratified the Basic Rules, on July 2. Then, Mr. Paul Laugier, the Secretary General, declared that the work of "the national UN, and the activities of the WFUNA are both integrated into the work of the UN" whose primary mission is peace and security around the world.

UNA Lebanon attending Plenary Assembly at Moscow, 1989

The WFUNA was able to open new ways for all the people of the world to directly integrate the UN's system. It asked the member countries to fly its flag. Moreover, it worked for the creation of the Economic Council for Africa that led to the foundation of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York, 1950.

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Lebanon and the United Nations:

Lebanon had accompanied the creation of the UN, and participated in its effective development and its activities through different delegations. Dr. Charles MALEK was an active participant in the committee responsible for the formulation of the Universal Declaration of Human rights (1948), considered as the greatest document in our contemporary history.

Lebanon, since antiquity, has been known as a nation of freedom encompassing different religion and political beliefs. Despite its small size, it held international positions due to the following personalities:
Mr. Karim ASKUL, Mr. Georges HAKIM, Mr. Nadim DEMACHKIEH, Mr. Khalil MEKAWI, Mr. Ghassan TUEINI, Professor Fouad SARRUF, Mr. Edward SAWMA and Dr. Assaad KATTIT.

After its participation in the creation of the UN, because of its civil war between 1975-1991, Lebanon went through a period of stagnation and indifference towards non-governmental UN associations, including WFUNA.

Few years ago, Lebanon became active by establishing the first Lebanese non-governmental international association: the "International Union for Peace and Human Rights." First principle initiators were: Mr. Samir DAHER, Mr. Boutros HARB, and Dr. Pierre DAKASH. They were to notice the absence of the Lebanese action in the world Association. The first branch of the association was established in France (1989) and its main office was in the French House of Representatives.

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The birth of the "United Nations Association of Lebanon"

The establishment:

On the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 10, 1988), the French president Mr. Francois Mitterand invited the presidents of the world states, the Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar and the civil society leaders who work for Human Rights, to celebrate the occasion.

With H.E Minister of Foreign Affairs Fares Boueiz H.E Nadim Demachkieh, Dr. Pierre Dakash.

The meeting took place at the "Palais de Chaillot", the place in which the document of the Universal Declaration of Human rights (December 10, 1948) was declared.

Press Conference.

Mr. Samir DAHER (founder and president of the International Union for Peace and Human Rights) met Dr. Marek Hagmajer who informed DAHER that Lebanon was not represented in the WFUNA. An appointment was fixed in Geneva. There, Mr. Hagmajer expressed his wish in having UNA of Lebanon joining the WFUNA and invited Mr. Daher in a letter dated 9 march, 1989 to attend the thirty second WFUNA Plenary Assembly in Moscow (October 1989).

Executive Committee of UNA-Lebanon at UN Day, 1995

From that time, the efforts and contacts with many personalities and former diplomats working in the UN were enhanced. Due to the efforts of those people;
The Ambassador Foaud ELTURK, Ambassador Edward Ghora, Ambassador Nadim Dimachkieh, Ambassador Abbass Hamieh, the Ambassador Salim NAFAA, Ambassador Philip Takla, Prime Minister Amine EL HAFEZ, The Minister Khalil ABOU HAMAD, the Minister Majed HAMADEH, Head of the editors association Mr. Melhem KARAM, Mr. Othman EL OTHMAN, Mr. Badawy ABI DIB, UNA of Lebanon was established .

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United Nations Association of Lebanon, was established by the license No.: AD/10 on September 5, 1989 It is the only national non-governmental organization, which carries the name of the UN. UNA of Lebanon joined the World Federation for United Nations Associations “WFUNA” in June 1995 in San Francisco

Members of UNA of Lebanon share the same aims and principles of the UN charter and work on fulfilling them; they co-operate with UN agencies and organizations and with other NGOs that share the same goals to spread their beliefs.

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