A man walks between two columns of internet servers.
Health

Protecting mental health at work

On World Mental Health Day (10 October), the World Health Organization highlights the vital connection between mental health and work. A Safe and healthy work environment can protect mental health. Unhealthy conditions including stigma, discrimination, harassment and other poor working conditions, can pose significant risks, affecting mental health, overall quality of life and consequently participation or productivity at work. With 60% of the world's population in work, urgent action is needed to ensure that work prevents mental health risks and protects and promotes mental health at work.

Mental health at work is a global issue that needs immediate attention.
Photo:WHO / Noor Images / Joanna Demarco
Southern suburbs of Beirut following recent Israeli airstrikes.

MIDDLE EAST: Updating live from the Security Council and across the UN

10 October 2024 — As the crisis in the Middle East grinds on, we covered the latest updates from the field and at UN Headquarters as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked UN peacekeepers from the...

UNIFIL peacekeepers patrol in the vicinity of Tyre, south Lebanon. (file)

Israeli forces fire on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

10 October 2024 — Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon early Thursday morning, according to UNIFIL, the mission operating along the Security Council-mandated “Blue Line...

Beirut's southern suburbs lie in ruins following Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.

MIDDLE EAST: Live updates from the Security Council and across the UN

9 October 2024 — As turmoil roils the Middle East, senior UN officials provided humanitarian updates on the impact of continued fighting in Lebanon and Gaza, while many ambassadors in the Security...

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.

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.

summit of the future

Summit of the Future

The Summit is a high-level event on 22-23 September in New York, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future. This once-in-a-generation opportunity serves as a moment to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively achieve agreed goals and tackle emerging threats and opportunities.

children holding up books

SDG Book Club

Reading and learning are essential to children’s growth and development; stories can fuel their imagination and raise awareness of new possibilities. The SDG Book Club aims to encourage them to learn about the Goals in a fun, engaging way, empowering them to make a difference.

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Goal of the Month

 
Zero Hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

More from the
United Nations

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

A View of a road with windmills in the background. Economic Development

Reshaping a sustainable future for the 21st century

How can we reimagine the global financial system for the 21st Century? How do we rebuild trust in the international community in the face of conflict and polarization? With only six years to go, how do we make up lost ground on the Sustainable Development Goals? These are some of the thorny questions that participants at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other actors, will seek to answer. Bringing together leaders from government, the private sector and civil society, the Conference holds the potential to be a critical new forum to reshape and advance sustainable development for the 21st century.

A woman from Burkina Faso poses for a photo with her body image reflected in a mirror. Displaced Persons and Refugees, Education, UNHCR

The 'Mother of the Sahel' brings education and hope to displaced children

Since 2016, Burkina Faso has been experiencing political instability and violent conflict, leading to over 2 million internally displaced people and more than 200,000 refugees in neighboring countries. Maimouna Ba's organization, Femmes pour la Dignite du Sahel (Women for the Dignity of the Sahel), has offered since 2020 school fees for displaced children and skills training for displaced women. She collected donations, rallied support and encouraged volunteers to join her. Since then, her Un Enfant, Un Parrain (One Child, One Sponsor) programme has matched vulnerable children with individual sponsors who contribute towards their school fees.

A man with a traditional Croatian sausage in his hand in a kitchen. Agriculture and Food

From Baranja to the world: A traditional Croatian sausage goes international

Farmers in northeastern Croatia have been making a traditional dried sausage called Baranjski kulen for 120 years. It's seasoned with paprika, garlic, and white pepper, and has gained Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status from the European Union, thanks to the efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Croatian government. Today, this mark of quality helps producers make more money for their hard work and keep culinary traditions alive.

Migrants, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, IOM

Venezuelan families journey for hope

Cesar’s family highlights the resilience of families who, despite facing exploitation and violence, cross borders daily in search of safety and a better future.

Human Rights, OHCHR

End prison exploitation

UN Special Rapporteur Tomoya Obokata urged reforms to end the exploitation of incarcerated individuals, stating their right to decent work and the need for better conditions, protections, and rehabilitation opportunities within prison systems globally.

Women and Gender Equality, Peace and Security, UN Women

Shattered lives, unyielding spirits

Thuraya (85), Kholoud (28), and Leen (14) reflect the profound pain and resilience of women in Gaza, shaped by displacement and conflict across generations, highlighting their strength amid ongoing suffering.

Science and Technology, Trade and Commerce, UNCTAD

New App tackles Africa's trade barriers

Tanzanian entrepreneur Nicholaus Noah successfully addressed new non-tariff barriers in Ghana through the new mobile app by African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), leading to policy reversal and smoother trade for his sisal exports.

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.

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.

GAZA: After one year

Over the past year, UN officials have condemned Hamas's attacks, called for the immediate release of all hostages, and urged ceasefires, as Gaza remains sealed off with no safe areas for civilians; the UN is committed to delivering aid to the people of Gaza.

World Food Day 2024

As we celebrate World Food Day, it’s crucial to acknowledge that despite food being a fundamental human right, millions still face hunger due to conflicts, inequalities, and economic downturns, underscoring the urgent need for access to diverse, nutritious foods for all.

Rural Voices Mobile Journalism award

IFAD is partnering with the Mobile Journalism Awards to offer a US$ 1,000 prize for the best film highlighting a compelling story about rural people and issues, with the winner also receiving the opportunity to present their film at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia in April 2025. Enter here! 

UN Podcasts

women and men holding breast cancer awareness placards

Breast cancer: Take charge of your health

October is breast cancer awareness month.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally, with around 2.3 million new cases every year.

It represents one in eight cancer cases in both sexes and a quarter of all cancers in women, with 70% mortality occurring in resource constrained settings.

It is the most common type of cancer among women, and most breast cancers are self-detected.

World Health Organization expert Dr Mary Nyangasi explains in this episode of Science in 5.

The United Nations in Pictures

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

A pregnant woman walks in a refugee camp located in the Gaza Strip.
Photo:© UNFPA Palestine/Media Clinic

Women of Gaza: A year in crisis

A year has passed since war erupted in Gaza, causing immense suffering, especially for women and girls. More than 41,600 people have been killed, and 96,000 injured, so far, with most of those killed women and children. Palestinian women and girls from Gaza have reportedly been subjected to horrific levels of sexual violence, including while in detention. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) looked back at the immense challenges faced by women and girls over the past 12 months.

A woman knitting traditional Tajikistan products.
Photo:© IFAD/Didor Sadulloev

Exploring the art of weaving around the world

Humans have been producing textiles through weaving for thousands of years.  Yarns or threads are carefully interlaced to create both simple and intricate fabrics. Many rural communities depend on weaving for everyday items such as clothing and household goods, and it also serves as a vital source of income for many people. Let's explore the art of weaving in Vietnam, Tajikistan, Fiji, and Guatemala.