The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1945, after the Second World War, to promote international cooperation and peaceful coexistence between countries. It is composed of 193 member states and aims to address a wide range of global challenges, including poverty, hunger, health, education, human rights, and peace and security. The UN also serves as a forum for member states to discuss and develop international policies and initiatives, and it operates a number of specialized agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to implement programs and projects in specific areas. The headquarters of the UN is located in New York City, and the organization also has offices and facilities in other parts of the world.