UN General Assembly
1946

Such an organization was definitely decided upon — even before total victory over the forces of aggression — in order to defend this philosophy and to guarantee international peace and collective security to all the peoples of the world, and in order to achieve the abolition of fear and distress and the real enjoyment of liberty, not only in the internal life of every country, but also as a noble and sacred birthright of all men. Dumbarton Oaks, San Francisco and London marked three distinct and characteristic stages in the historic development of the United Nations. The formulation of the fundamental principles, and the extensive public debate thereon, the final drafting and entry into force of the Charter, its transformation into an effective reality by the establishment of the bodies provided for therein, and the initiation of its first activities express, in terms of work done, the significance of these three symbolic names.