United Nations Organisation (UNO)

What it is: The United Nations began on 24 October 1945, when its Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of the other signatories, after the San Francisco conference of 25 April to 26 June 1945. It has 193 member states, and the UN's list shows India admitted on 30 October 1945. Article 1(2) of the Charter names "equal rights and self-determination of peoples" as a basis for friendly relations among nations. Article 2(7) says nothing in the Charter authorises the UN to intervene in matters "essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state".

Its part in this history: Sikh political bodies address the UN as the place from which recognition and help are sought. This differs from the work of the Human Rights Council, which is where human rights violations are documented and is covered on its own page.

Key moments

• 29 April 1986: the five-member Panthic Committee's Declaration of Khalistan, issued from Sri Akal Takht Sahib, appeals "to the member countries of U.N.O. to grant us recognition, help and assistance" and says "We appeal for similar help to the U.N.O." (text as published by 1984 Tribute).
• 1 November 2013: Sikh groups filed their 1984 genocide petition in Geneva (see the Human Rights Council page). Indian diplomats told AFP that India's position on 1984 was well known and that its justice system had dealt with it.
• 30 April 2024: Paramjit Singh Mand, working president of Dal Khalsa, presented the party's no-election policy at Amritsar and said the Punjab dispute should be resolved by a plebiscite under the UN, not by elections under Indian rule. Sikh Siyasat's report mentions no Charter article or UN resolution.

Where it stands: None of the sources opened records a UN response to the 1986 appeal. Dal Khalsa's call is a party policy, not a process the UN has taken up.