UN at 80: From “We the Peoples” to the Renewal of Cooperation

By Georgiana F Bugeag

Eighty years ago, in January 1946, delegates from fifty-one nations gathered inside Methodist

Central Hall Westminster for the inaugural session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Emerging only months after the end of the Second World War, they met to define the purpose

of a new international organisation founded on a radical ambition: to replace war with

cooperation, and force with law. On 17 January 2026, I returned to this same hall on behalf of

the United Nations Association Scotland to mark the eightieth anniversary of that founding

moment.

Across a full day of commemorative and reflective events, more than two thousand

participants attended. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of

the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock, parliamentarians, diplomats, representatives of

the UK Government, civic and faith leaders, civil society organisations, students, and

members of the public gathered in one place to reflect on where the United Nations has come

from, and where it must now go. Personally, after six years of involvement with the United

Nations projects, standing in the very room where the United Nations was born was humbling

and energising. It offered a rare opportunity to witness history as something still unfolding.

Background

The first session of the United Nations General Assembly opened in London on 10 January

1946. Delegates from fifty-one countries met to define the scope and authority of an

organisation created to prevent the recurrence of global war. They did so in the name of a

simple but radical idea, set out in the opening words of the Charter: “We the peoples of the

United Nations.” The meeting represented an early attempt to construct a system of collective

security grounded in dialogue, accountability, and international law, codified in the Charter of

the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The commemoration programme revisited this founding moment and reaffirmed the core

principles that inspired the UN’s creation: collective responsibility, multilateral dialogue, and

the belief that peace must be actively built and defended. It provided an opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s enduring mandate, the challenges it now faces, and the responsibilities

shared by governments, institutions, and civil society in sustaining international cooperation.

The Service of Thanksgiving: Remembering the Origins

The day opened with a Service of Thanksgiving in the hall where the General Assembly first

convened in 1946. As the General Assembly had begun with prayer eighty years earlier, the

anniversary programme likewise opened in an atmosphere of worship, reflection, and moral

recommitment. It was a rare and moving reconstruction of the context in which the UN was

conceived, a reminder that the institution was born from diplomacy and collective humility

after another devastating war.

Interfaith contributions echoed core principles later enshrined in the UN Charter and the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: equality before the law, freedom of conscience,

protection from arbitrary detention, and the right to education, expression, and peaceful

assembly. Several passages offered a direct call to action. The repeated refrain from Micah

6:8“do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” served as a moral anchor

throughout the service. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh attended and joined

local schoolchildren in an act of remembrance for those who have lost their lives in the

pursuit of peace.

The service concluded with an Act of Dedication and Commitment to the Future, based on

the preamble to the UN Charter. Participants recommitted themselves to the prevention of

conflict, the pursuit of justice, and reconciliation among peoples. The closing prayer called

for commemoration and renewed action: to rebuild systems of law, protect the vulnerable,

and work together for peace.

UNGA at 80: From 1946 to Our Future

“UNGA at 80: From 1946 to Our Future,” hosted by the United Nations Association-UK

returned participants to the same chamber where the UN began. The conference explored the

United Nations’ past achievements, present challenges, and future direction. Speakers and

panellists reflected on the UN’s founding principles as a “constant compass” in a changing

world and emphasised that multilateralism must be rooted in public support and civic action.

Opening remarks were delivered by Jane Kinninmont, Chief Executive of UNA-UK,

followed by a recorded message from Nobel Laureate Juan Manuel Santos, Chair of The

Elders. Drawing on his experience as a peacemaker, President Santos reflected on the

unfinished work of reconciliation and urged renewed investment in dialogue, warning that

peace, once neglected, can never be taken for granted.

Keynote addresses were delivered by Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th Session of

the General Assembly, António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, and the UK

Attorney General, Lord Hermer. In his address, Secretary-General Guterres reminded

participants that the United Nations was founded not as an abstract institution, but as a moral

commitment to prevent the return of war, emphasising that multilateralism remains

humanity’s strongest instrument for peace in an increasingly fractured world. President

Baerbock stressed that global challenges can only be met through solidarity and shared

responsibility, reaffirming that nations are always stronger together.

Panel discussions examined peace and security, human rights protection, international law,

and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Former UN peacekeeper and parliamentarian

Richard Foord reflected on the gap between resolutions and realities on the ground,

reminding the audience that international law protects civilians only when political will

sustains it. Professor Brian Cox, UN Champion for Space, highlighted how scientific

cooperation beyond borders offers a powerful model for peaceful collaboration in domains

where no nation can act alone.

Later sessions addressed climate change, technological risk, nuclear threats, food insecurity,

and global inequality. Discussion centred on the growing need for international coordination

in managing systemic risks that no state can resolve alone. In the final panel, María Fernanda

Espinosa, former President of the General Assembly, underscored that the credibility of the

UN in the decades ahead will depend on its ability to represent future generations and to

rebuild trust between institutions and the people they serve.

Reception and Exhibition

The formal programme concluded with an invitation-only reception for UNA group leaders,

held immediately after the conference at Westminster Hall. Hosted by the Foreign,

Commonwealth and Development Office, the reception brought together representatives of

national and local United Nations Associations, diplomats, civil servants, and civil society

leaders in an informal setting designed to continue the day’s conversations beyond the

conference chamber. The gathering provided space for reflection on institutional reform,

civic engagement, and the role of national associations in sustaining public support for

multilateral cooperation. It also reaffirmed the importance of networks such as the UNA

movement in translating global principles into local action.

The reception included an opportunity to view the United Nations’ 80th anniversary

photographic exhibition, Shared Lives, Shared Future, which traced the human impact of

international cooperation across decades. Through portraits and field images, the exhibition

highlighted the lived experience behind multilateral diplomacy from peacekeeping and

humanitarian relief to education, health, and development. A particular highlight was that the

work of the United Nations is ultimately measured in human lives and shared responsibility.

Conclusions

The commemoration offered a moment to acknowledge major milestones in the UN’s history,

including progress in humanitarian protection, peace operations, development cooperation,

and the expansion of international legal frameworks. The United Nations remains a beacon of

hope grounded in collaboration, accountability, and persistence. Its endurance reflects the

continuing belief that cooperation is stronger than conflict and dialogue stronger than force.

The repeated refrain to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly” was presented as an

instruction. It offered a programme of responsibility and action: to defend human dignity, to

protect the vulnerable, and to practise cooperation. The anniversary called on each participant

to translate these values into public service, civic engagement, and daily responsibility.

As the Charter declares in its opening words, the UN belongs to “We the peoples of the

United Nations” to citizens who choose to engage, to serve, and to defend multilateral

cooperation in practice. After six years of working on various United Nations projects, this

anniversary placed my own journey into perspective. Standing there, I was reminded that the

United Nations endures because of treaties, resolutions, and most importantly, individuals

who continue to believe that cooperation matters.

Sources

Charter of the United Nations (adopted 26 June 1945, entered into force 24 October 1945).

Report of the First Session of the United Nations General Assembly, London, 10 January–14

February 1946, UN Doc A/64/Add.1.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UNGA Res 217 A (III) (10 December 1948).

Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-

operation among States, UNGA Res 2625 (XXV) (24 October 1970).

Convention on the Rights of the Child (adopted 20 November 1989, entered into force 2

September 1990).

Security Council Res 1325 (31 October 2000).

UNGA Res 75/1, Declaration on the Commemoration of the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of

the United Nations (21 September 2020).

UNGA Res 79/1, Pact for the Future (22 September 2024) UN Doc A/RES/79/1.