Securing a peaceful future
Responding to a world in transition
A changing world demands a resilient response. The United Nations employs a diverse range of mechanisms and tools to prevent conflict, foster people-centered, peaceful resolutions, and build sustainable peace, including through diplomacy, mediation, disarmament, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, justice and the rule of law, to address the evolving threats to international peace and security.
Finding peace in war - and the urgency to create change
For many, peace is a distant abstraction, defined simply by the absence of gunfire. But for Uruguayan photographer Ximena Borrazás, nearly four years on the frontlines of wars - has revealed a deeper truth: "Real peace takes root not when bullets stop, but when people feel safe to rebuild their lives."
Peace Therapist - Healing minds. Strengthening communities. Building peace.
Peace Therapist is a youth-led, refugee-founded mental health and peacebuilding initiative working across the Middle East, Türkiye, and globally to strengthen individual and collective resilience in contexts affected by conflict, displacement and crisis.
UN Development Programme – empowering youth as partners in development and peacebuilding
At the UN Development Programme, young people are not simply participants in development and peacebuilding – they are essential partners in shaping more inclusive and resilient societies.
It's time to invest in the architecture of peace, not the tools of war. That means living up to disarmament obligations. Rebuilding trust. And strengthening the systems and tools that prevent the proliferation, testing and use of deadly weapons.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, 5 March 2026
In the spotlight
No justice, no peace: Why access to justice shapes everyday peace for women and girls
For millions of women and girls around the world, seeking safety without fear and the ability to claim rights without retaliation, remains a distant dream because of their limited access to justice.
The true cost of peace: Rebalancing world military spending for a sustainable and peaceful future
Global military spending, which hit $2.7 trillion in 2024, is projected to reach $6.6 trillion by 2035 if current trends persist. The massive diversion of resources poses a serious threat to humanity’s future by undermining sustainable peace and development.
Why the hardest duty stations are worth it – a UN Volunteer's story
For Natalia Peshkova, being a UN Volunteer is more than a job - it’s a commitment "to make a difference where it's needed most." From the Central African Republic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, her story is a powerful reminder of what hope and resilience look like in action.
Arsene Gbaguidi: "UN electoral support is about empowering citizens"
In this Expert Take conversation, the Director of MINUSCA's Electoral Division, Arsene Gbaguidi unpacks the various types of electoral assistance the UN provides. He also shares examples of challenges and gains, including boosting participation by women and young people in elections.
The Peace Outlook 2026: Five moments for global action
As we approach 2026, we look at five events that present opportunities to invest in peace and humanity, and cement resilience in communities everywhere - from celebrating volunteerism and investing in youth and women as agents of change, to strengthening crime prevention and ensuring criminal justice both on-and-off-line.
