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October 24, 2023

Statement of ABA President Mary Smith RE: United Nations Day

CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2023 — The American Bar Association joins today with supporters of peace and the rule of law around the world to observe United Nations Day 2023, commemorating the anniversary of the day the UN Charter was officially ratified in 1945.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Equality, Freedom and Justice for All” and focuses on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which has served as a road map for protecting the rights of all people around the world.

Since its inception, the United Nations has played and continues to play a critical role in trying to bring all nations together and defending the rights of people everywhere.

 The ABA has supported the UN for 80 years dating back to when ABA members participated in a series of conferences that helped develop provisions that would be adopted into the UN Charter. As the rule of law continues to be under attack around the world, the ABA calls on all in the legal profession to support the principles of freedom, equality and human rights that the UN promotes.

The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.