Secretary-General António Guterres at a podium with a female officer and other officials behind him.
United Nations Organization

Honouring UN personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty

Serving the cause of peace in a violent world is a dangerous occupation. Since the founding of the United Nations, nearly 4,400 brave men and women have lost their lives in its service. Each year, the Secretary-General hosts a memorial service to remember and honour our fallen colleagues and to reflect upon their legacies. This year's ceremony honours United Nations personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2023. Among them are 135 women and men who worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza - the highest number of UN personnel killed in a single conflict since the creation of the United Nations.

Secretary-General António Guterres makes remarks at the annual memorial service. (2023)
Photo:UN Photo/Manuel Elías
More than 35 displaced people were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit an UNRWA-run school in Nuseirat, Central Gaza

Dozens feared dead in Israeli airstrike on UNRWA school in Gaza

6 June 2024 — Amid early reports that an Israeli strike on a UN-run school in Gaza overnight into Thursday left dozens dead, humanitarians warned that cholera and other potentially deadly diseases...

A child receives food at a WFP-supported kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza.

New UNICEF report reveals severe child food poverty amid world crises

5 June 2024 — The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released a new report that highlights alarming levels of child food poverty due to inequity, conflict, and climate crises. 

...

Secretary-General António Guterres delivers his special address on climate action from the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

There is an exit off ‘the highway to climate hell’, Guterres insists

5 June 2024 — “It’s climate crunch time” when it comes to tackling rising carbon emissions, the UN Secretary-General said on Wednesday, stressing that while the need for global action is...

UN Sustainable Development Goals

17 Goals to transform our world

The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries — poor, rich and middle-income — to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.

We the Women

‘We the Women’ survey results

Amid a global backlash against women’s rights, women are committed to championing rights and representation. Survey results from 185 countries show that 86 per cent cite climate change, and more than 50 per cent identify conflict as primary concerns for the next decade. Mental health and family responsibilities are seen as barriers to reaching full potential. Access the full report and the We the Women campaign.

Thomas the Tank engine

Student Resources on the SDGs

Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals! On our student resources page you will find plenty of materials for young people and adults alike. Share with your family and friends to help achieve a better world for all.

hands holding megaphone and speech bubble

ActNow Campaign

ActNow is the UN campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the lead up to the Summit of the Future, join the 1 Million Actions for our Common Future challenge to contribute to a more sustainable and peaceful world. Find new inspiring actions on the app and at un.org/actnow.

Secretary-General watering tree with people around clapping

Goal of the month

 

Special Focus: Environment

 

Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 14: Life Below Water
Goal 15: Life on Land

 

More about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

More from the
United Nations

Featured stories from across the United Nations and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

A woman casts her ballot in Peru. UNDP, Democracy

Making elections matter: Helping people in a "Super Electoral Year"

This year's election is the biggest in human history, with 3.7 billion people across 72 countries having the opportunity to vote. However, many feel they lack control over their lives and their voices are unheard in the political system. Inequality, distrust in government, disinformation, and polarization are significant challenges. Countries need to invest in governance systems that ensure everyone has a voice and their needs and rights are protected. As the UN’s largest provider of electoral assistance, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assists between 40 and 50 countries annually, about a third of which are expected to hold elections in 2024. 

The work of women as animal health professionals is crucial in bridging gender gaps in access to veterinary services in Nigeria. FAO, Women and Gender Equality

The veterinary paraprofessional empowering women farmers in Nigeria

Blessing Andrew is a veterinary animal health worker in Nigeria and the sole practicing female veterinary paraprofessional (VPP) in Sanga, southern Kaduna State. Despite challenges such as questioning her competence and being paid less than her male counterparts, she was motivated to continue her career after receiving training from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Ahmadu Bello University’s College of Agriculture and Animal Science. The training focused on reaching women and promoting gender-responsive approaches to animal health.

In 2024, an estimated 6.7 million people, including displaced, returnees and host communities, will need shelter assistance in Yemen. IOM, Climate Change, Humanitarian Aid

Surviving conflict and harsh climate: Shelter Solutions in Yemen

In her coastal home in Mokha, Zahara is busy cooking and caring for her husband, who is in frail health, and her extended family. Zahara's family, along with three other households, is a close-knit community united by family ties and mutual support. Over a year ago, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) provided them with a new transitional shelter that provides physical protection, security, and privacy. With their new shelter, they have found a haven from Mokha's strong winds and torrential floods, as well as the privacy they have longed for amid the bustling life of communal living.

Children, Refugees, UNICEF

Forced to grow up

Refugee camps force children to mature prematurely, stripping away their childhood and thrusting them into harsh realities.

Climate Change, IFAD

Restoring ecosystems sustainably

Food systems are collapsing due to climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem destruction, but by empowering rural communities to lead sustainable management practices, we can restore ecosystems and ensure food security.

Economic Development, UNCTAD

Global debt crisis

UN has sounded an urgent alarm about the soaring global debt crisis, stressing the critical need for immediate action to alleviate its impact on developing nations and foster progress towards sustainable development goals.

Human Rights, ILO

LGBTQ+ census measures

Current practices in measuring sexual orientation and gender identity in population censuses vary widely, with some countries including questions related to these aspects while others do not, reflecting ongoing debates and evolving social attitudes towards LGBTQ+ issues globally.

What we do

Due to the powers vested in its Charter and its unique international character, the United Nations can take action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21st century, including:

A UNIFIL peacekeeper from Spain on a regular patrol in the vicinity of Al Wazzani, south-eastern Lebanon as the sun sets in the horizon. Since 1948, more than a million women and men have served as UN peacekeepers.

Maintain International Peace and Security

The United Nations came into being in 1945, following the devastation of the Second World War, with one central mission: the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN does this by working to prevent conflict; helping parties in conflict make peace; peacekeeping; and creating the conditions to allow peace to hold and flourish. These activities often overlap and should reinforce one another, to be effective. The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security. The General Assembly and the Secretary-General play major, important, and complementary roles, along with other UN offices and bodies.

Students at Butkhak High School in Kabul, Afghanistan, cheer in unison on the last day of Global Action Week, an international campaign advocating free, quality education for all.

Protect Human Rights

The term “human rights” was mentioned seven times in the UN's founding Charter, making the promotion and protection of human rights a key purpose and guiding principle of the Organization.  In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights brought human rights into the realm of international law.  Since then, the Organization has diligently protected human rights through legal instruments and on-the-ground activities.

A child has a meal at a food distribution centre in the Rwanda camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), near Tawila, North Darfur. More than 8,000 women and children living in the camp benefit from nutrition programmes run by the World Food Programme

Deliver Humanitarian Aid

One of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in its Charter, is "to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character."  The UN first did this in the aftermath of the Second World War on the devastated continent of Europe, which it helped to rebuild.  The Organization is now relied upon by the international community to coordinate humanitarian relief operations due to natural and man-made disasters in areas beyond the relief capacity of national authorities alone.

Grace, a farmer from Kipilat village, and a leading member of the forest community in Ainabkoi, Kenya, planting a tree in 2012.

Promote Sustainable Development

From the start in 1945, one of the main priorities of the United Nations was to “achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.”  Improving people’s well-being continues to be one of the main focuses of the UN. The global understanding of development has changed over the years, and countries now have agreed that sustainable development offers the best path forward for improving the lives of people everywhere.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivers its order on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Nicaragua on 11 October 2013 in the case concerning Construction of a Road in Costa Rica along the San Juan River.

Uphold International Law

The UN Charter, in its Preamble, set an objective: "to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained."  Ever since, the development of, and respect for international law has been a key part of the work of the Organization.  This work is carried out in many ways - by courts, tribunals, multilateral treaties - and by the Security Council, which can approve peacekeeping missions, impose sanctions, or authorize the use of force when there is a threat to international peace and security, if it deems this necessary.  These powers are given to it by the UN Charter, which is considered an international treaty.  As such, it is an instrument of international law, and UN Member States are bound by it.  The UN Charter codifies the major principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations.

Structure of the
United Nations

The main parts of the UN structure are the General Assembly, the
Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat. All were established in 1945 when the UN was founded.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.

Security Council

The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members (5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members). Each Member has one vote. Under the Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.

Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as implementation of internationally agreed development goals.

Trusteeship Council

The Trusteeship Council was established in 1945 by the UN Charter, under Chapter XIII, to provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories that had been placed under the administration of seven Member States, and ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the Territories for self-government and independence.

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its seat is at the Peace Palace in the Hague (Netherlands). It is the only one of the six principal organs of the United Nations not located in New York (United States of America).

Secretariat

The Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and tens of thousands of international UN staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by the General Assembly and the Organization's other principal organs.

More about the structure of the United Nations

Learn more

Climate Change

Climate change is the defining issue of our time and now is the defining moment to do something about it. There is still time to tackle climate change, but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society.

Women at UN CSW63 Side Event - “Take the Hot Seat”. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

Gender Equality

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is greeted on his visit to the Central African Republic

Ending Poverty

While global poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 2000, one in ten people in developing regions still lives on less than US$1.90 a day — the internationally agreed poverty line, and millions of others live on slightly more than this daily amount.

A young girl holds a smiling infant at the Zaatari Refugee Camp

Our Common Agenda

Following up on a pledge made by UN Member States at the UN’s 75th anniversary, the report Our Common Agenda looks ahead to the next 25 years and represents the Secretary-General’s vision on the future of global cooperation. It calls for inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism to better respond to humanity’s most pressing challenges.

Watch and Listen

Video and audio from across the United Nations and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

Cabo Verde enhances climate resilience

Climate change and prolonged droughts pose an ever-increasing threat to agriculture in Cabo Verde.Through the FAO-China South-South Cooperation project, a group of Chinese experts pass on their knowledge and expertise to Cabo Verdean farmers and livestock producers to fight pests, manage soil and animal production, and offer other useful techniques in adapting to the effects of climate change. 

Climate change and agricultural workers

"Heat at Work" highlights ILO's efforts to protect Mexican greenhouse workers from climate-induced excessive heat.

Helping teens manage screen time

Are you concerned about how much time your teen is spending on screens?

UN Podcasts

Doreen shakes hands with a robot amidst a group of people who surround her and take photos

With AI, We’re Building the Plane Mid-Flight

“2.6 billion people don't have access to the internet … if you're not part of the digital revolution, you're not going to be part of the AI revolution – we’ve got to close that gap.”

Doreen Bogdan-Martin’s fascinating career handed her a front row seat for the digital revolution. Now Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), she’s among those leading global efforts to set guardrails on the use of Artificial Intelligence.

“I think we've never seen anything like this before … the plane is in flight and we're building it while we're flying - it's tremendous.”

AI presents huge opportunities for humanity, but also poses great risks. In this episode, Doreen Bogdan-Martin reflects on working to ensure the humane and sustainable use of AI, on connecting the billions around the world who are not yet online, and on juggling a career with four children.

Photo: ©ITU/D.Woldu

Latest Audio from UN News

The United Nations in Pictures

Images from across the United Nations and our world-wide family of agencies, funds, and programmes.

Burkina Faso's economy relies on subsistence agriculture but is marked by low crop productivity.
Photo:UNDP Burkina Fasso

A farming community in Burkina Faso builds resilience to drought

Burkina Faso's economy relies on subsistence agriculture, mainly cereals like sorghum, millet, corn, and rice, but faces challenges with low crop productivity due to land degradation in the northern Sahelian zone. In 2018, residents of Kirsi established the Wendpanga Simplified Cooperative to address land degradation and desertification with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The cooperative, consisting of 180 members, has already reclaimed 260 hectares of degraded land using techniques such as the zaï, stone barriers, and half-moons.

A woman with an umbrella walks among the graves in a cemetery.
Photo:UNFPA El Salvador/ Gonzalo Bell

Remembering the victims of femicide in El Salvador

El Salvador is a particularly dangerous place to be a woman. The Latin American country has a high rate of gender-based violence with an average of 23,398 cases reported annually between 2019 and 2022. The UNFPA is working with the Spotlight Initiative to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors in El Salvador. One program, Women at the Centre, trains social workers to recognize and support women and girls at risk of violence. This initiative is crucial, especially considering the stories of families who have lost loved ones to femicide in El Salvador. Here, they share their stories, along with one brave survivor whose life will never be the same.

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