Belize, 2016: Orin, 4, playing at the seashore with his father, Marshall Mejia, in their hometown of Dangriga.
UNICEF

The Promise of Playful Parenting

Observed every 1 June, the Global Day of Parents provides an opportunity to appreciate all parents for their selfless commitment to their children. Throughout June, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will advocate for expert advice and support for parents, encompassing a broad range of topics from the scientific foundations of play to engaging activities for the entire family. Recognizing the increasing prevalence of online play, the agency will also provide parents with comprehensive guides and detailed explanations to ensure their children's online experiences are safe and positive.

Families, parents and caregivers play a central role in child well-being and development.
Photo:©UNICEF/UN035756/LeMoyne
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed (second left) at the closing of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island States (SIDS4) in Antigua and Barbuda.

SIDS go forward with ‘new sense of hope, solidarity and determination’

30 May 2024 — The roadmap towards achieving resilient prosperity for small island States adopted on Thursday in Antigua and Barbuda “marks the beginning of a new journey” and a decade of delivery...

Secretary-General António Guterres (left) attends the wreath laying ceremony in honour of fallen Peacekeepers at the Peacekeeping Memorial at UN Headquarters.

Guterres honours service and sacrifice of UN peacekeepers

30 May 2024 — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday paid tribute to all peacekeepers serving under the UN flag and those who have died in the line of duty. 

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Conditions at Al Mawasi camp in southwest Gaza remain unsuitable for the hundreds of thousands of Gazans uprooted by the latest escalation of violence in nearby Rafah and elsewhere across the Gaza Strip.

Amid ongoing Israeli incursions into Gaza, aid facilities shut ‘one after another’

30 May 2024 — With no let up in reported street battles and Israeli bombardment across Gaza on Thursday, UN humanitarians warned that the flow of vital lifesaving aid into the enclave has fallen...

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.

We the Women

‘We the Women’ survey results

Amid a global backlash against women’s rights, women are committed to championing rights and representation. Survey results from 185 countries show that 86 per cent cite climate change, and more than 50 per cent identify conflict as primary concerns for the next decade. Mental health and family responsibilities are seen as barriers to reaching full potential. Access the full report and the We the Women campaign.

Thomas the Tank engine

Student Resources on the SDGs

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.

hands holding megaphone and speech bubble

ActNow Campaign

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.

SDG 15: Life on Land

Goal of the month

 

Goal 15: Life on Land

Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

More about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

More from the
United Nations

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

Period poverty is a global health issue affecting women and girls in both rich and poor countries. UN Women

Period Poverty - Why millions of women are unable to afford to have their periods

Over two billion people around the world menstruate every month, but many cannot afford menstrual products or access safe water and sanitation. This leads to period poverty, which costs women and girls too much and should be addressed. According to UN Women, period poverty refers to the struggle to afford and access menstrual products, adequate sanitation, and hygiene facilities, as well as education on managing menstrual health. In essence, period poverty, a global health issue in both rich and poor countries, imposes excessive costs on women and girls, which is an unnecessary burden.

A flock of sheep grazing in a field. Natural Resources and the Environment

Seven ways to restore land, stop desertification and combat drought

Land sustains life on Earth, but more than 2 billion hectares of the world’s land is degraded, affecting more than 3 billion people. Vital ecosystems and countless species are under threat. It is crucial to find ways to stop dry land from becoming desert, fresh water sources from evaporating, and fertile soil from turning to dust. World Environment Day (5 June) will highlight how everyone can help end land degradation and restore blighted landscapes. The United Nations World Environment Programme (UNEP) offers seven ways to get involved in restoring ecosystems.

Nearly 10,000 Mexican producers have strengthened their capacity to conserve and manage their agrobiodiversity over five years. FAO, Agriculture and Food

Mexico: Traditional farming plays a critical role in biodiversity and nutrition

Mexico's traditional multi-crop farming system, known as milpa, is vital to agrobiodiversity. It is the opposite of monoculture, with each family growing a variety of nutritious crops. However, the continued expansion of large-scale intensive farming practices is making communities more vulnerable to natural and economic shocks. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other organizations are working to revive these traditional practices and promote diverse, nutritious foods to address nutrition and food security issues in Mexico.

Disaster Relief, WFP

Resilient farmers thrive after hurricane

Tropical storm Lisa left devastating effects on farmers in Belize, highlighting the crucial role of emergency assistance in building resilience against climate shocks in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Economic Development, UNCTAD

UN Global supply chain forum 2024

The inaugural United Nations Global Supply Chain Forum, hosted by UNCTAD and Barbados convened over 1,000 participants to address escalating disruptions in global supply chains.

Women and Gender Equality

Safeguarding Haiti’s young girls' futures

In Artibonite, Haiti, a shelter provides crucial support and sanctuary for survivors of gender-based violence, led by dedicated volunteers and bolstered by initiatives like UNFPA's rehabilitation efforts.

Communication and Mass Media, IOM

Building cultural bridges through radio

Globalizate Radio serves as a crucial lifeline for Venezuelan migrants in the Dominican Republic, offering essential information, community support, and a platform to challenge stereotypes and promote unity.

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:

A UNIFIL peacekeeper from Spain on a regular patrol in the vicinity of Al Wazzani, south-eastern Lebanon as the sun sets in the horizon. Since 1948, more than a million women and men have served as UN peacekeepers.

Maintain International Peace and Security

The United Nations came into being in 1945, following the devastation of the Second World War, with one central mission: the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN does this by working to prevent conflict; helping parties in conflict make peace; peacekeeping; and creating the conditions to allow peace to hold and flourish. These activities often overlap and should reinforce one another, to be effective. The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security. The General Assembly and the Secretary-General play major, important, and complementary roles, along with other UN offices and bodies.

Students at Butkhak High School in Kabul, Afghanistan, cheer in unison on the last day of Global Action Week, an international campaign advocating free, quality education for all.

Protect Human Rights

The term “human rights” was mentioned seven times in the UN's founding Charter, making the promotion and protection of human rights a key purpose and guiding principle of the Organization.  In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights brought human rights into the realm of international law.  Since then, the Organization has diligently protected human rights through legal instruments and on-the-ground activities.

A child has a meal at a food distribution centre in the Rwanda camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), near Tawila, North Darfur. More than 8,000 women and children living in the camp benefit from nutrition programmes run by the World Food Programme

Deliver Humanitarian Aid

One of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in its Charter, is "to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character."  The UN first did this in the aftermath of the Second World War on the devastated continent of Europe, which it helped to rebuild.  The Organization is now relied upon by the international community to coordinate humanitarian relief operations due to natural and man-made disasters in areas beyond the relief capacity of national authorities alone.

Grace, a farmer from Kipilat village, and a leading member of the forest community in Ainabkoi, Kenya, planting a tree in 2012.

Promote Sustainable Development

From the start in 1945, one of the main priorities of the United Nations was to “achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.”  Improving people’s well-being continues to be one of the main focuses of the UN. The global understanding of development has changed over the years, and countries now have agreed that sustainable development offers the best path forward for improving the lives of people everywhere.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivers its order on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Nicaragua on 11 October 2013 in the case concerning Construction of a Road in Costa Rica along the San Juan River.

Uphold International Law

The UN Charter, in its Preamble, set an objective: "to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained."  Ever since, the development of, and respect for international law has been a key part of the work of the Organization.  This work is carried out in many ways - by courts, tribunals, multilateral treaties - and by the Security Council, which can approve peacekeeping missions, impose sanctions, or authorize the use of force when there is a threat to international peace and security, if it deems this necessary.  These powers are given to it by the UN Charter, which is considered an international treaty.  As such, it is an instrument of international law, and UN Member States are bound by it.  The UN Charter codifies the major principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations.

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.

General Assembly

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.

Security Council

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.

Economic and Social Council

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.

Trusteeship Council

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.

International Court of Justice

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).

Secretariat

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.

More about the structure of the United Nations

Learn more

Climate Change

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

Gender Equality

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

Ending Poverty

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

Our Common Agenda

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.

International Day of Potato

Potatoes are a key crop across agrifood systems globally, ranging from smallholders producing diverse heirloom varieties by hand in the Andes, to vast commercial, mechanized farms in different continents. As the third most available food crop globally, potatoes contribute to the food security, livelihoods and employment of people in rural and urban areas the world over. On 30 May, we spotlight the potato, Solanum tuberosum (L.) – a crop regularly consumed by billions of people.

The Day is an opportunity to build on the International Year of the Potato, which was observed in 2008. 

Restoring land – one hectare at a time

Hundreds of thousands of people are coming together to revive their lands – by tuning dried up monoculture plots into forest gardens. 

Drones transform Maldives' healthcare

In the Maldives, UNOPS partnered with the Islamic Development Bank to deliver state-of-the-art medical drones.

UN Podcasts

Doreen shakes hands with a robot amidst a group of people who surround her and take photos

With AI, We’re Building the Plane Mid-Flight

“2.6 billion people don't have access to the internet … if you're not part of the digital revolution, you're not going to be part of the AI revolution – we’ve got to close that gap.”

Doreen Bogdan-Martin’s fascinating career handed her a front row seat for the digital revolution. Now Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), she’s among those leading global efforts to set guardrails on the use of Artificial Intelligence.

“I think we've never seen anything like this before … the plane is in flight and we're building it while we're flying - it's tremendous.”

AI presents huge opportunities for humanity, but also poses great risks. In this episode, Doreen Bogdan-Martin reflects on working to ensure the humane and sustainable use of AI, on connecting the billions around the world who are not yet online, and on juggling a career with four children.

Photo: ©ITU/D.Woldu

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.

The risks generated by climate-related disasters in Small Island Developing States are not gender-neutral. During a crisis, incidences of gender-based violence increase, while services are disrupted.
Photo:UNFPA/Patrick Rose

Small Islands of the Pacific: A Climate Crisis is a Gender Crisis

The 65 million people living in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are on the front lines of the climate crisis. Each climate-related disaster poses a risk to people’s lives, livelihoods, homes, safety, and access to services. This risk is not gender-neutral. Gender-based violence (GBV) increases during crises, while services, including GBV-support and maternal and newborn health care, are disrupted. UNFPA is responding to protect women and girls living on the climate crisis front line in the Pacific.

After a volcanic eruption in 2014, the community of Chã das Caldeiras has recovered and now lives in the village and works in agriculture and tourism.
Photo:UNDP/Projecto Vitó Association.

Life after lava: One community preserves its natural and cultural heritage

Cabo Verde is a Small Island Developing State consisting of ten volcanic islands with a population of just over half a million people. Fogo, the youngest and most volcanically active island, is home to the Pico do Fogo volcano, which erupted most recently in November 2014, forcing the evacuation of 964 residents. The community of Chã das Caldeiras, located inside the volcano crater, was buried by lava. Despite this, the resilient community has bounced back, with around 500 people now living in the village and working in agriculture and tourism as part of Fogo Natural Park.

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