A close-up of a person's hands refusing to smoke a cigarette.
Health, WHO

World No Tobacco Day: Exposing lies, protecting lives

Every day, tobacco and nicotine industries use carefully engineered products and deceptive tactics to hook a new generation of users and keep existing ones. These products are highly addictive and designed to sustain use, trapping users in a cycle of dependence. Stricter regulations are needed to reduce the appeal of these products and protect current and future generations from their harmful effects. On World No Tobacco Day (31 May), don’t let the tobacco and nicotine industries trick people with their playbook. Let’s stand together and make it crystal clear: No more tricks, no more traps.

An estimated 37 million children aged 13-15 years worldwide use tobacco.
Photo:Adobe Stock/Pormezz
WHO calls for urgent action to ban flavoured tobacco and nicotine products

Flavoured nicotine products driving youth addiction, WHO warns

30 May 2025 — For most nicotine users today, their first experience with the drug is a flavoured product – making it easier, and more appealing, to try.

...

Humanitarians have warned of deteriorating conditions in Gaza amid severe hunger and a lack of critical supplies. (file photo)

Gaza is the ‘hungriest place on earth’, as Israel continues stranglehold on aid

30 May 2025 — Starving Gazans continue to be deprived of aid as international relief efforts are being severely constrained by the Israeli authorities, the UN humanitarian affairs coordination...

Aftermath of a Russian airstrike in Sumy city, Ukraine. (April 2025 photograph)

Ukraine: Hopes for peace on life support, Security Council hears

29 May 2025 — A glimmer of hope for peace in Ukraine has been overshadowed by a devastating new wave of Russian attacks, UN officials told the Security Council on Thursday, warning of soaring...

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 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.

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.

children holding up books

SDG Book Club

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 of the month

 

Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.

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.

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.

A military woman placing a medal on her male colleague.
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.

A lady working on wood.
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.

A mother feeding her child a special peanut paste from a sachet.
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.

A man carrying his daughter on a baby carrier fashioned with a seat.
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:

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.

Raising parents: The joys and challenges of parenthood

What does parenting really look like?

June is Parenting Month, and 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, for the premeire 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

A consumer uses his mobile phone to unlock a scooter sharing rental service in Lima, Peru

Copper: Essential to our transition to clean energy, but at what cost?

It’s more than just a metal. It’s in our phones, our homes, our cars – quietly powering our daily lives. As demand increases for clean technologies, like solar panels and electric vehicles, copper is increasingly in the spotlight. But what are the costs and consequences of mining it – and who really benefits? Can we meet these demands without repeating past mistakes? In this episode of UNCTAD’s The Weekly Tradecast, we speak with Professor Daniel Franks, Director of the Global Centre for Mineral Security at the University of Queensland. Listen now to learn about the global race for critical minerals, the environmental and social costs of extraction, and the urgent need for inclusive reforms in how we power our future.

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 Argentina/Emilio White

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.

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