COVER N. 293 - UN - GENEVA

Postmark: 1211 Genève - Nations Unies 03.08.2023

Posted on the 3rd August; Received on the 13th August 2023

_________________________________________________________________________________

UN Genève; the one United Nations Postal Administration cover that I was still lacking, after New York and Vienna. Not anymore, thanks to Alex the Phantom! Thank you so much, pal, it's really a great addition to the collection.

Yesterday the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the UN came to a close and the 78th was initiated.... many have been the progresses that this organization has ensured over the years since its inception in 1945, but after 77 sessions, one would think that it is really time for a procedural update, especially in what concerns veto power by the permanent members of the security council. Failing that, there will always be the potential for the repetition of aggression situations promoted or with the participation of one of the "big 5", like the ones we are witnessing today in Ukraine, without such actions being able to be positively counteracted from a binding legislative standpoint. 

I have read there was a little step forward to this end last year, when a decision of the General Assembly was adopted establishing that  any veto, would automatically imply the convening of an General Assembley Plenary Session, wherein the vetoing power would have to explain its position in an open debate, but this does not change much, now, does it....?

The World Federation of United Nations Associations is an NGO founded in 1946, in Luxembourg, which claims to have the mission of  "building a better world by strengthening and improving the United Nations through the engagement of people who share a global mindset and support international cooperation–global citizens".

it's objectives, as stated in its bylaws, are:

 (a) To be a peoples' movement for the United Nations; 

(b) To co-ordinate and further the activities of its Members and to promote the establishment of new United Nations Associations; 

(c) To co-operate, where appropriate, with other organizations whose objects include the support of the United Nations and its development; 

(d) To promote tolerance, understanding, solidarity and co-operation among men, women and children throughout the world without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion or political orientation; 

(e) To contribute to the removal of obstacles to peace, to work for justice, security and disarmament, and to promote the development of peaceful co-existence and co-operation among nations; 

(f) To strive for the recognition of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the world and for the recognition of the responsibilities and duties which those rights involve for individuals, groups and States;

(g) To promote economic development, enhancement of social progress and better standards of life; 

(h) To promote research, information and education about the goals of the Charter of the United Nations and the work of the United Nations system.

Over the years, on several occasions, the organization has also promoted a  fundraising program "based on the sale of first day covers of UN stamps and lithographs produced by artists and celebrities, such as Picasso, Lou Zheng Jang, Miró, Salvador Dali, Ruben Leyva, Al Hirschfeld and Andy Warhol to promote the ideals of the UN".

The souvenir sheet on the cover was issued to this end on 14NOV1986, with each of  its four stamps denominated in Swiss Francs, replicating a painting  by well known artists: 0,25 CHF - Las palomas - Benigno Gomez; 0,45 CHF - Alexander Calder; 0,50 CHF - Peace Keeping Operations - Juan Miró; 0,70 CHF - Musical Instruments - Ole Hamman.