News item | 29-10-2020

On 24 October 1945, the United Nations was established to facilitate international cooperation in various fields to promote peace and security in the world. The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the UN, is located at the Peace Palace in The Hague. Last weekend we marked the 75th anniversary of the United Nations with a number of activities around the Peace Palace.

Blog: “Great work done, much more to be done”
As an introduction, Erik de Baedts, director of the Carnegie Foundation – Peace Palace and member of the Advisory Council Netherlands Association for the United Nations (NVVN), summarised the achievements, obstacles and potential for the future in his blog “75 years United Nations: Great work done, much more to be done”.

23 October: TV broadcast “75 Years of the United Nations”
On Friday 23 October, Dutch broadcaster NPO 1, in cooperation with the National Committee 4 and 5 May, broadcast a special program about 75 years United Nations from the Peace Palace in The Hague. Besides video messages from Queen Máxima and from António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, there was attention for the history and values of the UN. A large number of artists such as Jeangu Macrooy, Giovanca, Douwe Bob, Ntjam Rosie and Bastiaan Everink supported personal and moving stories with their music. Actor Benja Bruijning and presenter Saïda Maggé introduced the stories and interviewed various guests such as Karel van Oosterom (from 2013 to mid-2020 Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the UN) and Jahkini Bisselink (between 2017 and 2019 Dutch Youth Representative to the UN).
The program can be viewed here (Dutch language):

24 October: Online event “Shaping our future together”
On Saturday 24 October, 75 years of United Nations was celebrated with an online event from the Peace Palace. The President of the International Court of Justice, Abdulqawi A. Yusuf, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok and the Hague Mayor Jan van Zanen participated in this event. A dialogue between President Yusuf, Minister Blok and international students was moderated by the Dutch UN Youth Representative Hajar Yagkoubi. The entire event can be watched online:

24 October: ‘Turn Europe UN-blue’
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the UN, the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC) launched the “Turn Europe UN Blue” initiative. As part of this European campaign, a number of iconic buildings, monuments and other special locations were illuminated in blue, the official color of the United Nations, on 24 October 2020. “The UN blue represents clear unclouded skies, and symbolises peace, justice, clean air and a Covid-free world. It is a joy to see its calming effect on people when projected on iconic buildings in Europe, such as the Peace Palace in the Hague” said the President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Abdulqawi A. Yusuf.
On the initiative of the Dutch Association for the United Nations (NVVN), the Peace Palace was illuminated in blue from 7 .p.m. to 9 .p.m. (CEST).