Ever since the United Nations Organisation (UN) was founded some 60 years ago, the worldwide Bahá'í community has actively supported it. In 1945 when the UN Charter was signed in San Francisco, Bahá'í representatives were present.

The Bahá'í community regards organisations such as the United Nations and its agencies as essential to the creation of a peaceful world order.

In 1948, the Bahá'í International Community was officially recognized by the UN.

The Bahá'í International Community (BIC) is a non-governmental organisation that represents the world-wide membership of the Bahá'í Faith.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the BIC established official relationships with the UN Economic and Social Council, the UN Environment Programme, the UN Children's Fund, the UN Development Fund for Women and the World Health Organisation.

The BIC has offices at the United Nations in New York and Geneva. Specialised sections within these offices are devoted to the advancement of women and to the environment.

As a non-governmental organisation, the Bahá'í International Community makes frequent submissions to UN bodies and participates in UN-sponsored conferences.

Many Bahá'í communities around the world lend support at national and local levels by promoting the aims of the UN to the public, often in collaboration with United Nations Associations.

The Bahá'í Faith's involvement with international peace organisations go back to the early years of the twentieth century.

During World War I, 'Abdu'l-Báhá exchanged letters with the Central Organisation for a Durable Peace at the Hague. He offered encouragement and suggestions for the organisation's work.

After World War I, when the League of Nations was set up with its headquarters in Geneva, an International Bahá'í Bureau was established there, which served as a base for Bahá'ís participating in League activities.

International institutions are necessary because today nations cannot survive in isolation. In a world that is economically, technologically and socially globalised, governments and peoples are impelled to cooperate with one another. Institutions that are truly representative of the peoples of the world, in a democratic spirit, will provide the means to ensure systematic cooperation and justice between countries.

The UN has made enormous progress in building up international law and dispute resolution procedures. Its agencies provide machinery for promoting global aims such as eradicating disease, protecting the environment, upholding human rights, and attacking poverty. In the future, more effective measures can and must be built on the foundation that has already been laid.

Further information

For further information about the relationship of the Bahá'í community to the United Nations, see www.bic-un.bahai.org/about.cfm. For a library of statements made by the Bahá'í International Community to UN bodies and conferences, see www.bic-un.bahai.org. For articles about the Bahá'í community and the United Nations see www.onecountry.org/listun.html.