The essential role of public servants in an uncertain world
19 June 2026 - This month, the 2026 UN Public Service Forum in Tbilisi, Georgia will explore practical solutions to these challenges. We spoke with UN DESA’s Elizabeth Niland about what it will take to build governments that work for everyone.
Driving coordinated action on SDG 16 to advance the 2030 Agenda
17 June 2026 - The SDG 16 Conference on 17 June will explore how action on access to justice and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions can deliver tangible results for societies and support national development priorities, in line with Action 7 of the Pact for the Future.
International Day of Family Remittances: Driving rural resilience
16 June 2026 - On 16 June, the world marks the International Day of Family Remittances, recognizing the vital contributions migrant workers make to their families, communities and economies worldwide.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Beyond awareness—making elder abuse prevention work
15 June 2026 - World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), observed annually on 15 June, serves as a global call to recognize and address elder abuse as both a human rights violation and a growing policy challenge in ageing societies. It shapes our health, our food systems, our energy production, our cities, our economies, and our ecosystems.
Marking historic progress on rights for persons with disabilities, UN conference tackles critical gaps
9 June 2026 - Known as COSP19, this year’s the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities runs from 9 to 11 June under the theme Celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world, with roundtable discussions, elections, decisions on best ways forward and first-hand accounts of challenges, innovative solutions and success stories from around the world.
Humanity’s future depends on protecting the rapidly changing ocean
8 June 2026 - The ocean covers more than 70 per cent of the planet and regulates climate, sustains biodiversity, and supports economies and cultures worldwide. It’s the foundation of life on Earth.
Why water could help restore trust in global cooperation
4 June 2026 - Water connects every aspect of our lives. It shapes our health, our food systems, our energy production, our cities, our economies, and our ecosystems. It also reveals, perhaps more clearly than any other issue, how interconnected our futures really are.
UN General Assembly elects Bangladesh’s Rahman as next president
2 June 2026 - Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session on Tuesday after defeating Andreas Kakouris of Cyprus in a closely contested vote, positioning himself to steer the world body through a pivotal year marked by intensifying global crises, UN reform efforts and major leadership transitions. has been used as a benchmark of society’s progress.
Advancing the inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities: From Convention to commitment
1 June 2026 - This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the landmark treaty that transformed the global understanding of disability, from a charity and medical model to a human rights-based approach grounded in dignity, equality, autonomy and full participation.
Water unites us: Why the Dushanbe Conference matters
26 May 2026 - Water is life - and yet billions of people still lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation. As climate change intensifies droughts and floods, and demand grows alongside populations, the urgency to act has never been greater.
Developing economies bear the brunt of Middle East conflict as growth slows and inflation rises, UN warns
19 May 2026 - The crisis in the Middle East has delivered yet another shock to the global economy, slowing growth, reigniting inflationary pressures and heightening uncertainty, according to the World Economic Situation and Prospects as of mid-2026 report.
Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2026 – a powerful compass to keep the momentum from Sevilla
18 May 2026 - The Sevilla Commitment, adopted at last year's Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), provided us with a roadmap for overcoming these financing challenges. But for FFD4 to have a lasting impact and deliver on its promise, we have to see tangible progress in implementation.
International Day of Families 2026: Tackling inequalities to support child well-being
15 May 2026 - On 15 May 2026, the United Nations will observe the International Day of Families under the theme “Families, Inequalities and Child Well-being.” The observance highlights how widening inequalities shape family life and affect children’s development worldwide.
The impact of the Middle East conflict on developing economies
14 May 2026 - Despite the ceasefire agreed on 8 April, the Middle East conflict that began on 28 February 2026 has already delivered the largest energy supply shock on record.
UN Advisory Board engages global audience on Africa’s future amid global fragmentation
13 May 2026 - Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions and global economic fragmentation, members of the United Nations High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs (HLAB) brought their insights to a global audience during a Global Policy Dialogue held in Addis Ababa on 8 May 2026.