UN Photo
As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, we recall the enduring relevance of this historic document. The Charter was conceived during the cataclysm of war. Its signing on 26 June 1945 at the San Francisco Conference heralded a new era of global cooperation.
For delegates present, it marked a decisive turn towards peace following the horrors of the Great Depression, the Holocaust, and two World Wars that had left an indelible mark on the conscience of humanity.
With the signing of the Charter, states vowed to never again inflict such suffering and devastation upon humanity. They envisioned a world rooted in respect for human rights, promotion of peace and security, and support for sustainable development. They set out the rights and obligations required for upholding this shared vision. And they pledged to work collectively, as nations united, to achieve its aims.
This is our moment to revive the spirit of San Francisco and again embrace the ideals that united humanity during its darkest hour. Together, let us light a brighter path towards a more stable, equitable future—one in which tomorrow’s generations are not only spared the scourge of war but thrive in a world solidly built on peace, justice, and human dignity.
From the President of the General Assembly
To understand the Charter’s relevance today is to remember its significance in 1945. For a world mired in endless cycles of conflict and human suffering, the Charter and the principles it represented—dialogue, diplomacy, cooperation, and solidarity—was a path to a better, more peaceful, and prosperous future.
The decades since have only proven the Charter’s enduring legacy. It has shaped decades of progress—guided international action on decolonisation, protected human rights, and promoted justice and sustainable development. The Charter has provided the legal backbone for our collective response to challenges and laid the groundwork for modern agreements like the Pact for the Future.
As we look ahead, we would be wise to remember our past, celebrate our successes, and build our future on the foundation of the UN Charter.
— H.E. Philemon Yang, President of the General Assembly at the 79th session
Delegates and Staff in the Thousands
Delegates of fifty nations met in San Francisco, California, USA, between 25 April and 26 June 1945 at the United Nations Conference on International Organization.
There were 850 delegates at the Conference. Together with the delegates’ advisers and staff and the conference secretariat there were 3,500 people present. In addition, there were more than 2,500 press, radio, and newsreel representatives and observers from many societies and organizations. In all, the San Francisco Conference was not only one of the most important in history, but, perhaps, the largest international gathering ever to take place.
Adding Argentina’s sign in the Opera House according to the seating chart. UN Photo/McLain
Arthur Trimm in the Mutual Broadcasting System Studio in the Veterans Building. UN Photo/McLain
The San Francisco Conference, 25 April-26 June 1945. UN Photo
Information booth at the Fairmont Hotel. UN Photo/McLain
Boy Scout aides taking oath, led by Field Executive Philip K. Swartz. Scoutmaster Frank X. Gordon at extreme right. Scouts from Troops 11, 48, 88 and 147, act as messengers for the delegates at the United Nations Conference. UN Photo/Greene
Mary Canady, long distance operator on delay switchboard in the basement of the Veterans Building. UN Photo/Mcla
The San Francisco Conference, 25 April-26 June 1945. UN Photo
A view of the documents distribution desk. UN Photo
Chinese calligrapher working in the documents production branch on the 4th floor of the Veterans Building. UN Photo/Rosenberg
Arrangements of flags in the Opera House. UN Photo
World war II: 7 may 1945
As World War II ended in Europe, nations were in ruins and the world wanted peace. Representatives of fifty countries gathered at the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco. For the next two months, they proceeded to draft and then sign the UN Charter, which created a new international organization. The United Nations, it was hoped, would prevent another world war like the one they had just lived through.
We The Peoples Of The United Nations Determined"
— United Nations Charter: Preamble
In John Muir Woods, an audience gathers at the dedication of the memorial plaque in honour of the late President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. UN Photo/International News Photo
Delegates holding a copy of the newspaper “Extra,” which shows a title that reads “NAZIS QUIT”. UN Photo
Members of the Russian delegation reading the news of the end of the war. UN Photo/Rosenberg
A delegate reads a newspaper with the headline “Surrender.” On May 7, 1945, Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allies in Reims, France, ending World War II. UN Photo
The United Nations Charter. UN Photo/Rosenberg
Founding of the United Nations 1945: The UN Charter is signed on 26 June and comes into force on 24 October
Bitwodded Makonnen Endalkachau from Ethiopia. UN Photo
A view of the delegation from the United States and Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., Chairman of delegation of the United States of America. UN Photo
Jose Serrato, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the delegation of Uruguay. UN Photo
The San Francisco Conference, 25 April–26 June 1945. UN Photo
W.L. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada and Chairman of the delegation of Canada. UN Photo
Four Committees and Four Commissions
A great deal of work was done in preparatory committees before a proposition reached the full gathering for the manner upon which the Charter should be voted. The voting procedure at San Francisco was important: every part of the Charter had to be, and was, passed by a two-thirds majority.
The work of the San Francisco Conference was organized into four committees and four commissions. They were composed of chairs, technical members, and representatives of all delegations, charged with the drafting of proposals, adoption of a text, and final voting. More than five thousand documents were considered at the Conference.
Congressman Karl Steffan, Nebraska, Member of House Appropriations Committee, studies the Committee Control Chart with Col. Carter Burgess, Deputy Executive Secretary. UN Photo/McLain
At the first meeting of Commission II, General Assembly, Field Marshal Smuts (Union of South Africa) presides in the auditorium of the Opera House. Herbert Evatt, Australian Minister of External Affairs, in the audience. UN Photo/Rosenberg
Display of Organization Publications. 4th floor, Health Building. UN Photo/Rosenberg
At a meeting of Committee I (International Court of Justice) of Commission IV (Judicial Organization) are, from left: Miguel Cruchaga, Senator, delegate from Chile; Eduardo Zuleta Angel, delegate from Colombia; and Ernesto Dihigo Lopez Trigo, delegate from Cuba. UN Photo/Rosenberg
Bertha Lutz, member of the delegation from Brazil, addesses the meeting of Commission I, Committee 2, held on 15 June 1945. UN Photo/Mili
Dr. Jalal Abdoh, Majlis Deputy from Iran; and Virgilio R. Galvez, Under Secretary of the Treasury from Honduras, during a meeting of Commission IV, Committee 1. UN Photo/Rosenberg
The San Francisco Conference, 25 April-26 June 1945. UN Photo
A view of a pair of glasses on the table. UN Photo
Building Crossnational Relationships
Between April–June 1945, representatives of fifty countries congregated in San Francisco to hold the United Nations Conference on International Organization.
Delegates of the fifty nations spent long days meeting, conversing, and problem-solving together during the two months they spent in each other’s company. Working on the Dumbarton Oaks proposals, the Yalta Agreement, and amendments proposed by various governments, the Conference delegates agreed upon the Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice.
Members of the Chinese delegation arrive at National Airport, Washington, D.C., en route to the United Nations Conference on International Organization. UN Photo
Members of the delegation of Chile. Joaquin Fernandez, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman, seated fourth from right, with members of the delegation. UN Photo
Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., Chairman of the United States delegation, presenting a gavel to A. A. Gromyko, of the U.S.S.R. at the last public session of the Conference. UN Photo/Rosenberg
The San Francisco Conference, 25 April-26 June 1945. UN Photo
Mary MacLeod Bethune addresses the banquet given by the Society for the Advancement of Colored People honoring the delegations of the Dominican Republic, Liberia, and Haiti, on May 26. UN Photo/Greene
Iraq Chairman, Arshad Al-Omari, seated centre, and members of the Iraqi Delegation. Standing (left to right): Mohammed Adham, Haschim Jawad, Dr. Mejid Abbas, Dr. Abde- Ul-Jabbar Chalabi, Thomas Mansy, Darwish Al-Haidari, and Baha Awani; Seated (left to right): Judge H.I. Lloyd, Ali Jawdat, Arshad Al-Omari, and Nasrat Al-Farsy. UN Photo/Lundquist
The UN Charter. UN Photo
H.R.H. Amir Faisal ibn Abdul Aziz, Viceroy of the Hejaz and Ministerof Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Saudi-Arabian Delegation, speaking with a delegate during the Conference. UN Photo
The Charter is approved
Forty-six nations, including the four sponsors, were originally invited to the San Francisco Conference. These were the nations which had declared war on Germany and Japan and had subscribed to the United Nations Declaration. One of these nations—Poland—did not send a representative because the composition of its new government had not been announced in time for the conference. Therefore, a space was left for the signature of Poland, one of the original signatories of the United Nations Declaration.
The conference invited four other states—the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, newly-liberated Denmark and Argentina. Thus, delegates of fifty nations in all gathered at the San Francisco Conference in April 1945. Those fifty nations signed the United Nations Charter, at a ceremony held at the Veterans’ War Memorial Building on 26 June 1945.
Argentina/UN Photo/Yould
Australia/UN Photo/McLain
Belgium/UN Photo/McLain
Bolivia/UN Photo/McLain
Brazil/UN Photo/McLain
Canada/UN Photo/McLain
Chile/UN Photo/McLain
China/UN Photo/McCreary
Colombia/UN Photo/McLain
Costa Rica/UN Photo/McLain
Cuba/UN Photo/McCreary
Byelorussian S.S.R. (Belarus)/UN Photo/McLain
Czechoslovakia/UN Photo/McCreary
Denmark/UN Photo/Rosenberg
Dominican Republic/UN Photo/McLain
Decuador/UN Photo/McCreary
Egypt/UN Photo/Yould
El Salvador/UN Photo/McCreary
Ethiopia/UN Photo/McCreary
France/UN Photo/McCreary
Greece/UN Photo/McLain
Guatemala/UN Photo/McLain
Haiti/UN Photo/McLain
Honduras/UN Photo/McLain
India/UN Photo/McLain
Iran/UN Photo/McLain
Iraq/UN Photo/McLain
Lebanon/UN Photo/McLain
Liberia/UN Photo/McLain
Luxembourg/UN Photo/McLain
Mexico/UN Photo/McLain
Netherlands/UN Photo/McLain
New Zealand/UN Photo/McLain
Nicaragua/UN Photo/McLain
Norway/UN Photo/McLain
Panama/UN Photo/McLain
Paraguay/UN Photo/McLain
Peru/UN Photo/McCreary
Philippines/UN Photo/Yould
Saudi Arabia/UN Photo/McCreary
South Africa/UN Photo/McCreary
Syria/UN Photo/McCreary
Turkey/UN Photo/McClain
United Kingdom/UN Photo/McClain
Ukrainian S.S.R. (Ukraine)/UN Photo/McCreary
Uruguay/UN Photo/McCreary
United States/UN Photo/McCreary
U.S.S.R./UN Photo/McCreary
Venezuela/UN Photo/McCreary
Yugoslavia/UN Photo/McClain
Preparatory Years: UN Charter History, 1941-1945
Click on the picture to see the pdf version.
Legacy of the charter
Over the last eighty years, the Charter has guided the United Nations, Member States, and the international community in advancing every metric of global progress—from promotion peace, justice, and inclusive societies to eradicating poverty and hunger and mobilizing action across issues of climate, education, and human health.
It provided the legal backbone for a broad, rules-based multilateral system: one that enshrined the principles of self-determination; helped prevent nuclear war; oversaw the end of apartheid; and helped more than eighty colonies achieve independence, thereby tripling United Nations membership in just thirty years and giving a majority of the world’s peoples a voice on the global stage.
Its call for “universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction” paved the way for the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and led to a range of treaties addressing genocide, refugees, slavery, torture, and the rights of women, along with covenants that enshrined basic civil and political rights for the first time. More recently, its principles laid the foundation for the Pact for the Future, the most wide-ranging agreement in years that aims, above all, to ensure our institutions deliver in a world dramatically changed since their establishment.
A.A. Gromyko (left) of the U.S.S.R. conversing with Senator Tom Connally (United States) at a meeting of Commission II, Security Council, Committee 1, Structure and Procedures, held on 14 June 1945. UN Photo/Mili
Full view of Opera House interior during one of the Commission II (General Assembly) meetings. UN Photo/Greene
The Charter Today
As we look ahead, we would be wise to remember our past, celebrate our successes, and build our future on the foundation of the UN Charter.
— H.E. Philemon Yang President of the General Assembly at the 79th session
Today, we stand again at the precipice. A climate crisis rages unabated. Conflicts again roil our world. Economic volatility, wealth disparities, and political shock waves again threaten the maintenance of international peace and security. And trust, built tirelessly over decades, is again giving way to suspicion and tension among States in proportions never experienced since the end of the Cold War over three decades ago.
Eighty years ago, the United Nations was born from a promise of “never again,” placing it at the heart of a global compact to improve standards of life—in larger freedom—for everyone, everywhere. We cannot abandon these principles now. The tools we used in 1945 to defeat the forces of death and despair are those we need now to address the complex issues challenging the very multilateral foundations on which we stand.
As we observe the 80th anniversary of the Charter, we must reaffirm our shared commitment to its principles and values. We must respect the enduring significance of its opening words— “We the peoples”—which embody our collective responsibility to live together in peace.
Hear messages from Members States about the significance of the UN Charter
The San Francisco Conference, 25 April - 26 June 1945. UN Photo
United Nations Charter Conference in San Francisco, California, USA, 26 June 1945. UN Photo
This exhibit has been made possible through the generous contributions of the following UN Member States, Observers and other organizations: Brazil, Republic of Cameroon, People’s Republic of China, European Union, Norway, State of Qatar, Republic of Singapore, United States of America, and United Nations Foundation.
Organized by the Office of the President of the General Assembly
This exhibit was launched in June 2025