Human Rights, Countering Terrorism

Building a world where diversity is celebrated

Across the globe, people continue to be harassed, attacked — and even killed — simply for what they believe. Places of worship are desecrated. Communities are terrorized. Online platforms are flooded with hate. We must confront this threat head-on. On this International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief (22 August) we remember the victims and recommit to action. Let us stand together to build a world where diversity is celebrated, and everyone can live in safety and dignity.

Open, constructive, respectful debate and dialogue can play a positive role in combating religious hatred, incitement, and violence
Photo:Adobe Stock/Oleg (AI Generated)
A child suffering from malnutrition lies on a bed in the Patient Society Hospital in Gaza City.

Famine in Gaza: ‘A failure of humanity itself’, says UN chief

22 August 2025 — More than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine, marked by widespread starvation, destitution and preventable deaths, according to a new UN-backed food security...

Libya: Security Council urged to back popular ‘yearning’ for national elections

21 August 2025 — Recent elections in Libya are a sure sign of the people’s desire to choose their own representatives, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the country said in the...

Amid massive destruction of Gaza City, UN chief renews ceasefire call

21 August 2025 — With intensifying Israeli activity in and around Gaza City reportedly continuing on Thursday, UN chief António Guterres renewed his urgent call for a ceasefire, as Palestinians...

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.

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

 

Goal 9: Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

More from the
United Nations

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

A humanitarian food distribution scene in Haiti while several individuals are handing out white food containers. Humanitarian Aid, WFP

Humanitarian Day: Reports from Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

World Food Programme (WFP) staff reflect on life in two of the toughest places on earth. At dawn in northern Haiti, far from the violence of Port-au-Prince, aid workers travel safely to support farmers and schools. While insecurity hampers food distribution in the capital, resilience thrives. Over half of Haitians face hunger yet hope persists amid hardship. In January, M23 rebels seized Goma, DRC, killing nearly 1,000 people and triggering mass evacuations. UN staff fled as chaos erupted. WFP warehouses were looted, food stocks lost. Amid displacement and violence, aid efforts stalled, leaving vulnerable groups at greater risk. The hardest part is knowing how quickly everything can collapse – and how long it takes to rebuild.

A vaccination center with a medical professional in a blue administering an injection to a child. The child is being held by an adult dressed in an orange and yellow garment. Health, World Bank

Why Universal Health Coverage matters in West and Central Africa

Leaders from African governments and partners are gathering this week in Japan for the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), highlighting the importance of Universal Health Coverage as essential for all. With a rapidly growing youth population in West and Central Africa, investing in health and nutrition is vital for economic potential. Strong health systems are necessary for resilience against crises like COVID-19. Despite progress, challenges remain, including limited access to care and low health spending. The World Bank aims to support health services for 1.5 billion people worldwide by 2030 – including 200 million in West and Central Africa- and is working on strategies to enhance local health systems and boost medical manufacturing across the continent.

A group of women wearing blue aprons gathering around a table where there are several jars of pickled vegetables, including carrots and green peppers arranged in two rows. Agriculture and Food, FAO

Sealing jars, opening doors

In Jabal Saraj, Afghanistan, Hasina and 19 other women have found a livelihood by producing jams and pickles. With support from the FAO's Household Food and Livelihood Security project, funded by Luxembourg, they gather to peel, dice, and package fresh produce. Previously housewives facing financial struggles, they now earn an income, allowing them to provide essentials for their families, such as food, clothes, and school fees. The project equipped them with training and resources for processing and marketing their products, empowering these women to improve their lives and stand on their own feet.

IOM

Ecuador: 374-Year-old House rescued, now home for migrants

In Quito’s historic house, migrants find refuge, community, and support from landlord Francisco. They share stories of resilience and hope while building new lives together.

OHCHR

Women’s incarceration rooted in gender inequality and violence

In 2022, women and girls constituted less than 7% of the global prison population. Their number surged 60% since 2000, highlighting gender-based violence in detention.

Indigenous Peoples

Baka and Bantu women revive weaving traditions

The weaving practices of these communities in Cameroon are being revitalized to preserve cultural heritage and promote economic autonomy.

Economic Development

Strengthening urban services and communities in Lebanon

UNOPS is revitalizing public services and spaces in Lebanon – helping to strengthen local communities and foster greater resilience.

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

General Assembly hall with the Secretary-General at the podium

The United Nations is the only place on Earth where all the world's nations come together to discuss common problems and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity. Learn about the main areas of the UN’s activities; how it makes a difference to the world’s people; and how every citizen can get involved and make a contribution. 

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.

Watch and Listen

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

2024 was the deadliest year ever for humanitarian workers. 2025 could be even worse. We repeat this grim line year after year – and fear it no longer shocks. Last year on World Humanitarian Day, we demanded protection for humanitarians in conflict zones. Resolutions were passed, promises were made. But nothing changed on the ground. The rules and the tools exist. Security Council resolution 2730 sets a path. A major political declaration is on the way. What we need now is the will – and the courage – from all with power or influence to #ActForHumanity.

Six grave violations against children in armed conflict

Severe violations against children have become a deadly new norm. UNICEF highlights the six most serious violations affecting children in armed conflicts.

Yemen: enhancing rural livelihoods

Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 19 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and an estimated 74% living below the poverty line. The ongoing conflicts and intense droughts have severely impacted Yemen’s social and economic infrastructure, especially in rural areas. To respond to these challenges, IFAD together with its partners and the Government of Yemen, launched the Rural Livelihoods Development Project.

UN Podcasts

Yacoub stands in the middle of a highway. Many journalist microphones at his face and a group of people in the distance behind wearing red jackets

When war comes home, with Yacoub El Hillo (AAN S11-E4)

“[Serving refugees] is not a job, it's a mission, and there's always fire in the belly that keeps you wanting to do more, but also never giving up. This is the UNHCR I joined.”

Yacoub El Hillo spent more than thirty years serving refugees and displaced people in some of the world’s worst conflict zones. But when cataclysmic war erupted in his hometown of Khartoum, Sudan, the Regional Director for Africa at the United Nations Development Coordination Office (DCO) had to help his own family flee the violence.

“I don't think there's any home in Khartoum that was spared … the assumption is that everything is gone.”

Having served in more than 16 duty stations, from Liberia to Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan, Yacoub El Hillo has rarely seen any conflict as devastating as the one currently decimating Sudan. In this episode, he reflects on the scale of the human suffering there, looks back on a rich and varied career with the UN, and shares why all nations deserve a chance to strive for a brighter future.

Photo: ©OCHA Syria

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 sudanese woman with her two children seated on the ground.
Photo:UNHCR/Andrew McConnell

Six things to know about the humanitarian situation in Southern and Eastern Africa

Humanitarian needs across Southern and Eastern Africa have reached alarming levels this year– nearly 85 million people now need urgent assistance. But at the same time, brutal funding cuts are severely undermining humanitarian efforts, forcing aid agencies to scale back or suspend life-saving assistance. As a result, millions of people lack access to essential services and protection. By July, only 21 per cent of the US$10.5 billion required had been received. Your donation through the Regional Humanitarian Fund can help save lives and bring hope to the most vulnerable communities in Southern and Eastern Africa. You can donate to the Regional Fund.

Tall trees with thick trunks and extensive branches reaching upward viewed from below.
Photo:UNDP

Where the Land Speaks

In Colombia's mountains and forests, the spirit of Mother Earth resonates through nature, traditional chants, and misty landscapes. This profound connection inspired the Comunidades Indígenas por los Bosques (Indigenous Communities for the Forests) initiative, led by UNDP Colombia. Supported by the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) and Climate Promise, it aims to empower Indigenous Peoples' organizations in their efforts for biodiversity and climate resilience. The initiative is rooted in ancestral knowledge, cultural heritage, and Indigenous governance, highlighting the importance of preserving both the land and its traditions.