Boy Scouts of the United Nations

The Boy Scouts of the United Nations existed from 1945 through perhaps the early 1980s as the Scouting association serving the families of diplomats and staff of the United Nations, active in both Geneva and at Parkway Village in New York.

History

However, the concept of and aspirations for Scouting in such a fashion predates the formation of the United Nations itself.

In a full-page cartoon from the July 1929 Punch magazine, entitled "Patrols of Peace", the League of Nations, represented as a goddess, looks out at the 3rd World Scout Jamboree, held in Birkenhead, United Kingdom, saying, "They say I've got no army; but why should I want one with these allies?" (Beneath is stated "With Mr. Punch's congratulations to the Chief Scout on the coming-of-age of the movement-now international-which he inspired.")

An early 1945 issue of the Cass City "Chronicle" newspaper stated::"The "Boy Scouts of the United Nations" are planning to resume their world-wide friendships, through correspondence, exchange of equipment and by meeting in person at the great World Scout Jamborees when the war is won. The Boy Scouts of America, celebrating its 35th anniversary from February 8th to 14th, with its theme "Scouts of the World-Brothers Together" is encouraging its members to establish contacts with other Scout Troops in war-torn lands, and if possible, help them restore Scouting." [cite news | first=Jerry | last=Fritz | title=World-Wide Friendships | url=http://newspapers.rawson.lib.mi.us/chronicle/CCC_1945%20(E)/issues/02-09-1945.pdf | work=(image caption above article "News Items About Boy Scouts") | publisher= Cass City Chronicle | pages= 3 | date=1945-02-09 | accessdate=2006-08-26 |language = English|format=PDF]

The term "United Nations" was used at the time to refer to the Allies of World War II, having been originally coined for that purpose by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942.

In 1957 the United Nations Scout Association, which was founded in 1948 had 48 members.cite book
last = Michel
first = Rudi
coauthors = Reinhard Schmoeckel;Hans Gerhard Rumpf
title = Der Kornett Heft 5 Pfadfinderbewegung
publisher = Bund Deutscher Pfadfinder Landesmark Westfalen
year = 1963
location = Minden
pages = 50
language = German] It became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1950. [cite book
author= Edward G. Wood
coauthors= Kenneth Brookes
title = Uniforms and Badges of the World
publisher = The Boy Scouts Association
location = London, Liverpool, Prescot
year = 1960
pages = 17
url = http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/uniformsbadges.pdf
format= PDF
accessdate= 2008-06-05 ]

One troop of the Boy Scouts of the United Nations took part in the 7th World Scout Jamboree in Bad Ischl. [cite journal |
title = 1000 U.S.Boy Scouts to Attend International Jamboree in Austria | journal = The Stars and Stripes| pages =4| date =10 th of March 1951
year = 1951] [cite journal |
title = Schon 12.000 Anmeldungen für Pfadfindertreffen| journal = Salzburger Nachrichten|language = German-|date =18 th of Dezember 1950
year = 1950] [cite journal |
author= Herbert Buzas|title = Weltereignis zwischen Zelten- Österreich, Schauplatz des siebten Jamborees-Ischl wird eine Metropole der Jugend| journal = Tiroler Tageszeitung|language = German-|date =5th of Mai 1951
year = 1951]

Also, children of diplomatic and commercial representatives of East bloc countries were members of the Boy Scouts of the United Nations. [cite book
last = Kroonenberg
first = Piet J.
authorlink = Piet J. Kroonenberg
title = The Undaunted- The Survival and Revival of Scouting in Central and Eastern Europe
publisher = Oriole International Publications
location = Geneva
year = 1998
pages =67
isbn = 2880520037 ]

Today

Scouting and Guiding maintain close relations with the United Nations today, as with the work of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts [cite web
title =UN Programmes and Funds
publisher = World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
url=http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/issues/WAGGGS_and_the_UN/How_we_work_with_the_UN/UN_programmes_and_funds
accessdate =2008-02-16] ,World Organization of the Scout Movement [cite web|title =Working with others-United Nations and its Agencies
publisher = WOSM
page = 8
url = http://www.scout.org/en/content/download/6312/59093/file/TR_2002-2005_5_EN.pdf
format = pdf
accessdate =2008-02-16 ] [cite web|title =World Refugee Day
publisher = WOSM
date = 2006-06-20
url = http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/news/2006/world_refugee_day
accessdate =2008-02-16 ] and International Scout and Guide Fellowship [cite web
title = COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL SCOUT AND GUIDE FELLOWSHIP AND THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
publisher = International Scout and Guide Fellowship
url = http://www.isgf.org/Members/faouzia/Folder.2003-12-19.1039/file.2007-05-15.2808879340/download| format = doc| accessdate =2008-02-16] with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and the World Organization of the Scout Movement have formal consultative relations with UNESCOcite web
title = NGOs maintaining official relations with UNESCO | publisher = UNESCO
url = http://erc.unesco.org/ong/en/directory/Liste_ONG.asp|accessdate =2008-02-16] . The International Scout and Guide Fellowship has also official relations with UNESCO.

ee also

*Skolta Esperanto Ligo
*World Friendship Fund
*Scouts-in-Exile
*Scouting in displaced persons camps

References

External links