girl in headscarf at a desk, holding a pen and looking straight at the camera
Children

My day, my rights

World Children’s Day (20 November) is a global day of action for children and by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Around the world, children are standing up and talking about their lives, their hopes, and their rights.  My day, my rights speaks to a simple truth: from the moment the sun rises, children wake up to a world shaped by choices they didn't make. But every child, everywhere, also wakes up with rights, including the right to be protected, to learn, and to have their voice heard. It’s time to listen to children and stand up for the rights of every child.

Children and young people are powerful agents of change, bringing new ideas and perspectives that can help shape a better world for all of us.
Photo:© UNICEF/Rasnat
Humanitarian organizations support people affected by deadly overnight attacks in Ternopil in western Ukraine.

Civilian deaths in Ukraine surge past last year’s toll as winter deepens crisis, Security Council warned

20 November 2025 — Millions in Ukraine have been left without heating, water or basic public services as winter temperatures plunge – and civilian deaths this year have already surpassed the total...

Online abuse against women is surging globally.

AI and anonymity fuel surge in digital violence against women

20 November 2025 — What was once hailed as a vehicle for empowerment has, for millions of women and girls, become a source of fear.

Read the entire...

Negotiations continue to take place throughout the day at COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

What’s at stake in the COP30 negotiations?

20 November 2025 — Talks at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, were suspended on Thursday after a fire broke out in the venue, triggering evacuations that halted negotiations between more...

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

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.

Act Now for a Peaceful World

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

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 Goal 13: Climate Action

Goal of the Month

 
Climate Action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

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 woman gently placing her arm on the shoulder of a child in a dimly lit, rustic setting. Ending Poverty, UNICEF

Ending child poverty: Our shared imperative

Poverty severely impacts childhood, endangering children's lives, health, and development while denying their fundamental rights. Today's children face crises like conflict and climate change, exacerbating their suffering. While monetary poverty is critical, it only tells part of the story; many children experience deprivations in housing, nutrition, sanitation, education, and healthcare. This multifaceted poverty leads to poor health outcomes, limited learning opportunities, and bleak future prospects. Ultimately, poverty threatens societal stability and economic growth, fostering conditions conducive to violence and extremism. Urgent action is needed to address these issues.

A silhouette of a woman standing indoors near a window with a grid-like metal frame. UN Women

Pakistan's Anti-Rape Crisis Cells transforming support for survivors.

Nadia, a young tutor from Karachi, faced harassment through WhatsApp from a trusted neighbor, leading to a traumatic assault. In the past five years in Pakistan, around 1.8 million women have experienced cyber-crimes, but only 3.5% of offenders face conviction. The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 aims to combat such crimes, but enforcement is weak. After her attack, Nadia found support at Pakistan's first Anti-Rape Crisis Cell, established in 2023. There, she received medical, legal, and psychological help, helping her regain confidence and a sense of justice, inspiring her to advocate for all silenced women.

A man wearing a grey jacket, tan trousers and dark sandals is squatting on dry, cracked soil in an open field. FAO, Agriculture and Food

Disasters cost global agriculture $3.26 trillion over three decades

Agriculture and food security face severe threats from increasing disasters, which have caused an estimated $3.26 trillion in losses over the past 33 years, about $99 billion annually. A new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights how digital technologies are enhancing risk monitoring and response. It provides a comprehensive assessment of how various disasters disrupt food production and nutrition. Digital innovations are facilitating a shift from reactive crisis management to proactive resilience-building, with tools such as parametric insurance and early warning systems enabling communities to mitigate risks effectively.

A young girl getting her medical check up.
SDG 2: Zero Hunger, WFP

Global hunger reaches alarming levels

With two confirmed famines in 2025 and 318 million people facing severe food insecurity in 2026, WFP warns that conflict, funding cuts, and climate shocks are driving unprecedented humanitarian crises.

A woman holding a microphone with her colleague holding her shoulder.
Disaster Relief, IOM

“We will never leave this land, no matter what”

A village fighting rising seas with unshakable spirit and an unbreakable promise to its ancestral land.

Industrial emitters releasing gas into the air.
Pollution and Waste, UNCTAD

Global growth is decoupling from carbon

The world is edging past critical climate thresholds as emissions hit new highs, proving that the weakening link between GDP and CO₂ is still far too slow to keep global heating in check.

Energy, UNOPS

Southeast Asia’s low-carbon future

From startup to regional leader, Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership unveils a five-year strategy to accelerate decarbonization, boost energy security, and ensure a just, inclusive, and sustainable low-carbon future.

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

General Assembly hall with the Secretary-General at the podium

The Essential UN

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

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.

Watch and Listen

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

Dealing with unexploded ordnance in Gaza

UNMAS leads mine action efforts in Gaza, helping humanitarian partners assess explosive ordnance risks and enabling safe operations during and after hostilities. Since 2009, and especially after the October 2023 escalation, it has expanded its work to include early recovery support and risk education for civilians across Gaza and the West Bank.

Ocean data powers climate predictions

Global ocean observations, coordinated by UNESCO’s GOOS and contributed to by over 80 countries, provide critical data to predict, manage, and adapt to changes in the marine environment and climate impacts.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) makes infections harder to treat, and World AMR Awareness Week, held every November 18–24, raises global awareness and drives action to combat this growing health threat.

UN Podcasts

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

Pig Tapeworm – from gut to brain

A worm that can cause epilepsy? Meet Taenia solium — the pig tapeworm that travels from gut to brain, causing seizures and preventable epilepsy in millions. In this episode of WHO' Science in 5, Dr Bernadette Abela explains how this parasite spreads when pigs eat human feces and humans consume contaminated food or water — and what we can do to stop it. Learn how cooking meat properly, improving hygiene, and vaccinating pigs can break the cycle.

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.

woman collecting water at bottom of borehole
Photo:© UNFPA Angola/Noriko Hayashi

Vanishing rivers: Water crisis impacts women's lives in southern Angola

Helena collects water from a borehole in Giraul village in Angola, where the river has stopped flowing. Women are desperate to collect water for their families amid prolonged drought, but cholera outbreaks have been reported in the area due to contaminated water. Clean water is essential during childbirth – without it, the risk of infection increases. Birthing equipment must be properly cleaned, and new mothers need safe water for bathing. Maria, a traditional midwife in Giraul, who provides a lifeline for women who can’t make the journey to a hospital, asks women to collect water before they go into labour. UNFPA is training midwives to help women deliver safely, as well as delivering youth programmes that help pregnant adolescents get the care and support they need and stay in school. UNICEF and the World Food Programme are working with the Government of Angola to manage drought and provide water and food support to the region.

group of youths posing on beach with bags
Photo:©UNDP/Clara Wetzel

What happens when we trust youth to lead climate action?

The world is heating. Inequalities are deepening. And yet, across continents, young people are stepping into the cracks of broken systems and reimagining what’s possible. While the world works to respond to the climate crisis, youth from around the world are showing what happens when youth are not just invited to the table but trusted to lead. This article introduces five of these young leaders: Sundus from Pakistan (seen here with her team that brings damaged reefs back to life), Elvis from Liberia, Luís from Bolivia, Pablo from Colombia, Specioza from Uganda. All of them, with support of Youth4Climate, are building new systems of food, energy, mobility and education, from the ground up. Their projects are different, but their experiences and drive are shared. What they show us is clear: when young people are trusted and supported with the right resources, they can drive meaningful and lasting change.

Main Bodies

Departments / Offices

Resources / Services

Key Documents

News and Media

Issues / Campaigns