UN Peacekeeping

The Future of Peacekeeping

For nearly 80 years, UN peacekeepers have made tangible impact to communities in conflict zones—from Liberia and Namibia to Cambodia, Sierra Leone, and Timor-Leste—helping countries transition from conflict to lasting peace. Today, more than 68,000 civilians, military, and police personnel are deployed across 11 UN missions. Observed under the theme “The Future of Peacekeeping”, this year’s International Day of UN Peacekeepers (29 May) looks at the invaluable contributions peacekeepers have made and underscores the need to adapt peacekeeping to meet evolving global challenges. #PKDay

The observance honors the more than 4,400 peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace, including 57 in 2024 alone.
Photo:UN/DPO
Massive mounds of waste are resulting in spread of disease in Gaza. (file photo)

Gaza: Top UN envoy calls on Israel to end devastating strikes, starvation of civilians

28 May 2025 — Gaza’s population is being “starved and denied the very basics,” while the region stands at a dangerous crossroads, the UN’s Middle East peace envoy warned the Security Council...

‘My husband died in my arms’: Russian drone attacks on Ukrainians amount to crimes against humanity, UN investigators report

28 May 2025 — Russian drone attacks against civilians in the Kherson region of Ukraine constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes, independent UN-appointed human rights investigators...

UN aid teams plead for access amid reports Gazans shot collecting food

28 May 2025 — In Gaza, dozens of Palestinians have been reportedly injured and shot trying to collect aid from the new US and Israeli-backed aid distribution facility operating independently of...

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 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.

Thomas the Tank engine

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.

children holding up books

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.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

 

Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.

More from the
United Nations

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

A collage featuring various elements: an old television with an eye displayed on the screen and an antenna on top, three faces with open mouths and curved white ribbons with random alphanumeric characters. Disinformation, Climate Change

How can we tackle climate misinformation and disinformation?

The fight against climate misinformation is a global effort involving governments, academia, media, and civil society. These actors engage in research, policy advocacy, education, and public outreach to combat misinformation that undermines climate understanding and action. The UN has launched the Global Principles for Information Integrity to promote healthy information spaces, and in November 2024, a Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change was established by Brazil, the UN, and UNESCO. However, most efforts are concentrated in the Global North, highlighting the need to empower Global South stakeholders to address climate misinformation.

Back of a person's head with braided hair and background featuring a futuristic cityscape with tall, reflective buildings that have circuit-like patterns on their surfaces. África, OHCHR

Reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence

With calls for reparations for the historical legacies of enslavement and colonialism growing louder, this year's Permanent Forum on People of African Descent held a session titled "Africa and People of African Descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of artificial intelligence”. Participants emphasised that the injustices of colonialism and systemic racism continue to affect African nations and people of African descent. They highlighted that reparative justice should include formal apologies, truth-telling processes and various forms of reparations, in order to foster reconciliation, justice, equality and solidarity in society.

Agriculture and Food, FAO

Three tales of biodiversity revival in Latin America

From the highest cloud forest in the Andes to one of the smallest fish in a Chilean river, biodiversity is the invisible thread that ties ecosystems together and sustains agricultural production and food security. Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystems and agricultural production, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, which host about 50% of the world’s primary forests. These forests play vital roles in carbon sequestration. However, biodiversity is declining due to human activities and climate change. The agrifood sector depends on biodiversity for services like soil health, pest control, and pollination. Acknowledging this, three GEF-funded FAO projects are dedicated to conserving and restoring ecosystems in Brazil, Chile, and Venezuela.

Women and Gender Equality, UN Women

Women for peace

Thirty years after the Beijing Platform for Action, women remain underrepresented in UN peace operations, yet their leadership is crucial to building lasting global peace and security.

Art, Culture, UNESCO

Restoring cultural heritage

Deborah Papannah, a 27-year-old visual arts student, is pursuing a career in restoration to preserve her country's colonial buildings and artifacts, empowered by training from UNESCO’s Transcultura programme.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger, WFP

Battling child malnutrition

The darkest moments for Nyanene Gatdoor come when her 2-year-old son Tuach sobs from hunger. “When the baby is crying in front of you, and you have nothing to give him, you feel pain in your heart,” says the 25-year-old mother of 3.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, WIPO

Carrying a global vision

From a mother’s struggle to an international brand, Tammy Rant, founder of Tushbaby revolutionized babywearing through thoughtful design, global trademark protection, and a commitment to supporting parents everywhere.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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 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

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

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

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.

What does parenting really look like?

June is Parenting Month, and this month, Raising Parents invites you into the lives of four families as they navigate the everyday joys and challenges of parenthood. With support from The LEGO Foundation, this short film is a powerful reminder that just as there is no one way to raise a child, there is also no one way to be a parent. 

Join us on June 1 2025 and let's watch it together. 

World No Tobacco Day 2025

Every day, tobacco and nicotine industries use carefully engineered products and deceptive tactics to hook a new generation of users and keep existing ones. Unmask the appeal

Quality of mortality data

Accurate death certificates and coding are essential for quality mortality data and effective public health strategies.

UN Podcasts

Jobs: The Path to Prosperity

With 1.2 billion young people in emerging economies reaching working age over the next decade—and only about 420 million jobs expected to be generated—the urgency of finding scalable and sustainable solutions has never been greater.

In this episode of The Development Podcast, we hear from one young person about their journey into the world of work and what the World Bank Group is doing to address one of the most urgent issues facing development: how to meet the stable employment aspirations of the developing world's fast-growing youth population.

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.

A baby sitting in a rug in central Myanmar, the country was hit recently by two earthquakes.
Photo:OCHA

Myanmar, under the open sky

Two powerful earthquakes hit central Myanmar on 28 March 2025, destroying thousands of homes and reducing hospitals, schools and other essential infrastructure to rubble. Weeks later, millions of people are still struggling to adapt to their new reality: living in makeshift shelters that expose them to scorching heatwaves, early rains and alarming protection risks. Here are some of their stories. You can help: Support the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund. Your donation will directly help local organizations.

A jaguar roaring in Comandante Andresito, a town located on the Argentina border between Brazil and Paraguay.
Photo:UNDP

Where hope roars

Diego, Hilda, Juan, and their son Hugo are farmers in Comandante Andresito, Argentina, where together they face the same challenge, living alongside jaguars, known as 'yaguareté' in the region. These large felines, significant in indigenous culture, have seen their population decline by 50% since the 19th century, largely due to habitat loss and conflict with livestock farmers. In Argentina, the situation is even more dire. It’s estimated that 95 percent of the jaguar's original habitat has been lost. To alleviate these issues, a protection insurance program was introduced, providing farmers with financial compensation and technical support following confirmed jaguar attacks.