Young people remain at the heart of the fight against corruption. Deeply affected by its consequences, they are uniquely positioned to uphold ethical standards in their communities and challenge corruption at every level. Building on the 2024 campaign launched on International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December), the 2025 campaign continues to highlight the role of young guardians of integrity as advocates, raising awareness about corruption. This year’s effort features young leaders sharing insights on links between organised crime and corruption and the key role of AI and emerging technologies.

UNGA80 marks the 80th session of the General Assembly and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, where world leaders gather at the high-level week in New York to discuss global issues. 

Democracy draws its strength from the people - their voices, choices, and participation in shaping societies. It flourishes when their rights are protected, particularly of those most often left behind. On the International Day of Democracy (15 September), the United Nations Democracy Fund hosts an event marking its 20th anniversary, to highlight how democratic participation can be transformed “From Voice to Action”. Rooted in the opening words of the UN Charter, “We the Peoples”, this event presents democracy as a living force for agency, hope, and cooperation.

Women remain underrepresented in legislatures worldwide, limiting their influence on policymaking. UN Women and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) work to advance women’s political participation through leadership training, inclusive laws, and collaboration. The IPU’s Forum of Women Parliamentarians empowers female MPs, promotes male allyship, and backs the 2025 theme: “Achieving gender equality, action by action.” Founded in 1889, the IPU promotes conflict resolution through dialogue and supports democratic institution-building in post-conflict nations. 

With 3.7 billion people getting to vote this year, the stakes have never been higher. UNDP is working before, during and after elections to strengthen governance systems and ensure #EveryVoiceCounts far beyond the ballot box.

Fighting corruption is vital to the World Bank’s mission to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity on a livable planet. Here are four innovative ways it is doing it.

The UN supports democracy by promoting human rights, development, and peace and security. In the 79 years since the UN Charter was signed, the UN has done more to support democracy around the world than any other global organization. The UN promotes good governance, monitors elections, supports civil society to strengthen democratic institutions and accountability, ensures self-determination in decolonized countries, and assists in the drafting of new constitutions in post-conflict nations. Find out more in Global Issues: Democracy

Parliamentary diplomacy is a way to build relationships and promote cooperation between national parliaments. Parliamentarians participate in inter-parliamentary organizations, bilateral exchanges, and other parliamentary diplomacy initiatives. In this way they can represent their countries' interests, foster dialogue and cooperation with counterparts from other nations, and work towards building consensus on international issues. The international Day of Parliamentarism, 30 June, is also the anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global organization of parliaments.

“I think it’s a false premise that human rights are dead. To some extent, I think its being promulgated by naysayers and people who have given up on the framework,” said Eleanor Kennedy, senior policy expert from the Open Society Foundation (OSF) in this episode of Voices of Dignity: Pathways to Justice by UN Human Rights.

Last year, OSF put out “Can Democracy Deliver?” a first of its kind look at attitudes and opinions toward all aspects of democracy and human rights. Kennedy said the report brought up many surprising and challenging attitudes regarding human rights and its mechanisms, including if current human rights frameworks actually were delivering on their promises.

But one idea that came through loud and clear in the report, Kennedy stressed, was that the rumours of the demise of human rights has been greatly exaggerated.

The absence of justice directly fuels conflict. Lack of justice, be it actual or perceived, causes resentment and conflict at both the individual and societal levels. United Nations peace operations that provide support to national justice and security institutions are governed by UN Security Council resolutions. The overall objective remains to strengthen national capacities; extend the authority of the State; and enhance the effectiveness and inclusiveness of justice and security institutions as well as confidence in those institutions, with a view to preventing violence, fighting impunity and sustaining peace. 

Corruption not only follows conflict but is also frequently one of its root causes. Corruption also undermines human development and increases inequality. It corrodes rule of law and destroys public trust in governments and leaders. The 2022 International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December) seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development. At its core is the notion that tackling corruption is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that only through cooperation can we overcome the negative impact of this crime.

“I got such a feeling of outrage, healthy outrage, proactive outrage, which I still feel now.”

Staffan de Mistura has dedicated his life to making a difference. Now the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, he spent a large part of his 48-year career at the UN striving for an end to some of the most intractable conflicts of modern times.  

“I have no regrets. I would have never chosen another type of job. I think you can [make a difference] even in the worst-case scenario - always.”

From Syria and Afghanistan to Sudan and Iraq, the seasoned diplomat is known for bringing creative thinking to the negotiating table even when others have lost hope. In this episode of Awake at Night with Melissa Fleming, Staffan de Mistura reflects on harnessing constructive outrage as a driving force, on his determination in the face of despair, and why at 75, he isn’t ready to retire just yet.

This year, the International Day of Democracy (15 September) focuses on the importance of media freedom to democracy, peace, and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. Free, independent and pluralistic media, able to keep the public informed on matters of public interest, is a key ingredient to democracy. It enables the public to make informed decisions and hold governments to account. Increasingly, journalists around the world face limits to their ability to operate freely – with a grave impact on human rights, democracy and development.

Sweet Victory is a game that introduces players to behavioral science tactics and techniques that are relevant to peace and security questions. It encourages using behavioral science to strengthen resilience against disinformation and political manipulation. Sweet Victory was developed by the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA).

We face a global crisis of trust. COVID-19 has caused the greatest ever recorded reversal in human development. It has also compounded the crises that we already face: planet threatening climate change, environmental degradation, poverty and deepening inequalities. The pandemic also underscored how vital effective political leadership is in all aspects of our lives. It has never been more important to have political processes and institutions that we can trust to act in our best interests. A key facet of UNDP’s new Strategic Plan is reimagining governance.