Founded at the end of World War II in 1945, to replace the League of Nations, the United Nations (UN) currently has 192 member states globally. The only widely-recognised nation which is not a current UN member state, is the Vatican City (Holy See), but it participates as an observer, as does Palestine. The United Nations has massive influence over international law & security, and is tasked, by the global public, to look after most of the humanitarian crisis' which occur. At this point in history, it is impossible to gauge the effectiveness of the UN as an organisation which aims to end poverty, war and disease, and which promises to stimulate social development worldwide.