Trade and Commerce, UPU

Post for People: Local service. Global Reach

With over one‑third of people offline and half of businesses not trading online, post offices—often the only public access point in remote areas—are vital gateways to the digital economy. #PostForPeople: Local Service. Global Reach, the theme of this year’s World Post Day (9 October), highlights the Post’s role as a trusted, community-centered public service. From countryside hamlets to urban hubs, the Post connects people and expands opportunities. Celebrate #WorldPostDay with us as we renew our commitment to a strong, sustainable postal network that supports communities around the globe.

The rise of e-commerce and trade disruptions, coupled with new regulations, demand that posts adopt global, data-driven supply chain practices.
Photo:Adobe Stock/Andrey
People in the Gaza Strip have expressed their joy over the announcement of a ceasefire.

Middle East LIVE: Israel-Hamas deal paves way for ceasefire, hostage release

9 October 2025 — As people celebrated across Gaza and Israel at the news of an agreement that could hasten the end of the two-year war, UN aid teams on Thursday insisted that they were ready to...

UN chief calls for Israel and Hamas to ‘abide fully’ by terms of US peace plan

8 October 2025 — The UN Secretary-General has welcomed the announcement from US President Donald Trump that Israel and Hamas have “signed off” on the first phase of his 20-point peace plan,...

Peace begins behind bars: A corrections officer’s fight for dignity inside Congo’s prisons

8 October 2025 — The offer sounded almost unreal. The UN was fishing around for someone with a knack for building prisons – preferably a woman – to join its mission in the Democratic Republic 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

The Goals can improve life for all of us. Cleaner air. Safer cities. Equality. Better jobs. These issues matter to everyone. But progress is too slow. We have to act, urgently, to accelerate changes that add up to better lives on a healthier planet. Find new inspiring actions on the app and at un.org/actnow.

Today, half the world is under 30, and this generation is a powerful force for peace. The UN "Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World" campaign, launched on the International Day of Peace, aims to include, invest in, and partner with young people to build lasting peace. 

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 2: Zero Hunger
 
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 woman standing confidently in front of a blackboard, dressed in patterned clothing with a matching headwrap. Women and Gender Equality, UN Women

How to end wars: Invest in the Women, Peace and Security agenda

Women and girls around the world are calling for peace with messages like “Ceasefire” and “End the war.” UN Women is amplifying these urgent demands through its initiatives. Research shows that when women participate in peace negotiations, the outcomes are more effective and enduring. Yet, 25 years since the launch of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda—where global leaders recognized the impact of war on women and committed to their participation in peace processes —governments are still falling short. Understanding the link between gender equality and peace is essential, especially given the risks of neglecting these critical areas.

Three individuals processing coffee beans outdoors. Disaster Relief, UNDP

The resilience revolution

Floods, cyclones, and wildfires devastate communities, but these disasters are shaped by human choices—where we build, how we farm, and what we invest in. Climate change amplifies these hazards, causing over $200 billion in annual damages and $2.3 trillion in total costs. The human toll is immense: displaced families, lost livelihoods, and stalled development. Yet, many governments spend less than 1% of budgets on disaster risk reduction. The choice is clear: invest in resilience or keep paying for disasters. Alt: Two individuals processing coffee beans outdoors.

People of different ethnicity, age, and gender surrounded by different types of food. FAO

Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future

About 673 million people face hunger, while obesity and food waste reveal a system out of balance. Conflicts, extreme weather, economic shocks, and inequality strain the land we farm, the water we depend on, and the biodiversity that supports life. This World Food Day (16 October) marks the FAO’s 80th anniversary and calls for global collaboration to build a peaceful, sustainable, and food-secure future where everyone can access a healthy diet and live in harmony with the planet. Get involved!

Éducation, Peace and Security, UNESCO

Learning against all odds

Despite war and devastation, initiatives like UNESCO’s Virtual Campus and Temporary Learning Spaces are helping Gaza’s students reconnect with learning, hope, and academic life.

Mental health and wellbeing, IOM

Championing mental health in Somaliland

Dr. Yacoub Aden Abdi’s relentless advocacy transformed mental health from a neglected issue into a national health priority in Somaliland.

Energy, Indigenous Peoples, OHCHR

Indigenous voices in energy transition

From the Amazon to the Arctic, Joenia Wapichana and Sara Olsvig are demanding that the shift to sustainable energy respect Indigenous rights, knowledge, and self-determination.

Music, Intellectual and Cultural Property, WIPO

18th-Century legal battle shaped music copyright

Bach’s fight for ownership of his compositions laid the foundation for recognizing music as intellectual property, a legacy now tested by the rise of AI-generated music.

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.

As hospitals lie in ruins and hunger spreads in Gaza, UNFPA’s mobile clinic offers critical maternal care to women giving birth in unimaginable conditions.

Do people still need Expos?

Despite global travel and virtual tech, Expos offer unique spaces for nations to connect, innovate, and inspire collective solutions for global challenges.

Uniting for youth mental health

Gen Z icons TOMORROW X TOGETHER and BIGHIT MUSIC partnered with UNICEF to promote youth mental well-being, contributing $1.4M and mobilizing fans worldwide to reduce stigma and support young people’s emotional health.

UN Podcasts

Various drawings of the cerebral cortex along with the program title, Science in 5.

Little lungs, big risks: The RSV threat to infants

Did you know that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of infant hospitalization worldwide? Each year it claims over 100,000 young lives. In this episode of Science in 5, WHO’s Dr Daniel Feikin shares how new immunization options can protect your baby.

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 woman wading through waist-deep floodwaters in coastal Bangladesh.
Photo:UNDP Bangladesh

How climate information and early warning systems protect lives and economies

As climate change drives more extreme weather, early warning systems are vital to protect lives and economies. These systems rely on climate information—data from sensors and stations—transformed into insights for forecasts and planning. Despite their proven value, investment remains low. Yet early warnings can cut damage by 30% and yield up to 10x returns. In sectors like agriculture and energy, better climate services could unlock over $160B annually in global economic gains.

A man seated among the rubble of a severely damaged building.
Photo:WFP/Arete

Afghanistan trembles, then hungers, now freezes

In eastern Afghanistan’s Andalachakin village, Khair Rahman recounts the devastating late-August earthquake that destroyed his home and injured several family members. With winter approaching, he fears for their survival in harsh conditions. The 6.0 magnitude quake claimed over 2,000 lives and left thousands injured and homeless across four provinces. Many survivors are now living in makeshift shelters or sleeping under the stars. As they confront severe hunger, families like Rahman’s are faced with a dire lack of humanitarian assistance just as winter sets in, adding to their desperate situation. Learn more about WFP's work in Afghanistan.