A hand placing a ballot into a polling box filled with votes.
Democracy and Governance

Democracy works when every voice counts

Democracy is strongest when every voice has a place at the table. On the International Day of Democracy (15 September), the United Nations highlights how dialogue, participation and understanding different points of view can build trust and more inclusive societies. This year’s focus on deliberative democratic processes explores how bringing diverse voices into decision-making can give people greater agency and strengthen governance. As the Secretary-General stresses, democracy is more than elections: it is a daily practice of human rights, the rule of law and meaningful participation.

Freedom of expression is a basic human right, but governments often restrict this right.
Photo:Adobe Stock/ Manit
A hand in a suit sleeve reaches toward a glowing AI symbol composed of connected nodes, circuitry, and binary digits on a dark blue technological background.

Countries must increase AI regulation to avoid ‘existential risks’: Türk

14 September 2026 — Voluntary self-regulation by companies developing frontier artificial intelligence (AI) is “nowhere near sufficient” to address existing harms and prevent advanced autonomous...

Two tall blue banners displaying the IAEA logo, a large 70 numeral, and GENERAL CONFERENCE text stand in a bright conference hall with escalators and a branded pillar.

IAEA chief underscores commitment to nuclear safety and verification

14 September 2026 — The Director General of the UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, opened its 70th General Conference on Monday in Vienna with a message full of optimism, stressing that despite the many...

The Indian Prime Minister and the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, shake hands at the BRICS India 2026 summit in New Delhi.

Guterres: Old global order must change as power shifts to emerging economies

13 September 2026 — UN Secretary-General António Guterres told leaders of a bloc of major emerging economies in New Delhi on Sunday that a more balanced global order requires an overhaul of the...

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. 

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.

SDG logo in General Assembly hall

GOAL OF THE MONTH

As world leaders gather for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, the task is clear: to put the Sustainable Development Goals at the centre of global decision-making. Read more in the Goal of the Month editorial. 

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 scenic view of the coast and skyline of an unknown place, with clouds in the sky. UNEP, Pollution and Waste

Clean air pays off

A new UN report finds that every US$1 invested in tackling climate change and air pollution together could generate around US$15 in economic benefits. Cleaner air can cut healthcare costs, boost productivity and save lives, while also slowing global warming. In 2025, human-caused outdoor air pollution was linked to 6.4 million premature deaths worldwide. The report identifies 25 proven measures across energy, transport, agriculture, homes and waste, warning that every year of delay could cost the world more than US$1.5 trillion in lost benefits.

A woman looking at camera with a black and white landscape painting in the background. OHCHR, Indigenous Peoples

A Māori voice for self-determination

For Māori Indigenous fellow Naomi Watts, self-determination means reclaiming language, culture and Indigenous ways of governing while shaping a future for generations to come. After joining the UN Human Rights Indigenous Fellowship Programme, she called for Indigenous and Western systems of government to have equal respect, authority and autonomy in Aotearoa New Zealand. The programme also gave her community greater access to international human rights advocacy. Watts says Indigenous communities continue to drive change despite barriers and limited resources.

A woman is standing and looking at a jar containing soil. Behind her is a very big wall full of similar jars. FAO, Agriculture and Food

Science takes root in Mozambique

Women scientists are helping turn soil into a source of solutions for Mozambique’s farmers. At the country’s Agricultural Research Institute, Stília Vilanculos and Janete Americano analyse soils and turn the results into practical advice on crops and farming. Through the FAO-supported SoilFER programme, laboratories are gaining new equipment, training and closer links with farmers. By strengthening local expertise and access to reliable soil information, the initiative aims to improve soil health, farm productivity and food security while helping agriculture cope with drought and changing weather.

A classroom full of adults learning.
Éducation, UNDP

Literacy changes lives

Literacy empowers people to manage businesses, rebuild confidence, improve livelihoods and create new opportunities, transforming lives through education, dignity and lifelong learning.

A young man engaging a group of older generation
Climate, Youth, IOM

Youth lead change

Young African climate leaders are driving innovative, community-based solutions that strengthen resilience, address climate mobility and empower vulnerable communities across the continent.

A young lady looking at her phone.
Science and Technology, UNCTAD

Services drive trade

Services now underpin global production and trade, but widening digital gaps limit developing countries’ ability to compete, innovate and benefit from fast-growing digital markets.

A harvester loading a food truck.
Peace and Security, WFP

Trade routes matter

Disruptions to key global trade routes raise food, fuel and fertilizer costs, threatening food security and increasing hunger risks in vulnerable countries worldwide.

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

Podium of the General Assembly Hall seen from below with the gold wall and the golden UN logo behind

Selecting the next Secretary-General

The United Nations process to appoint the next Secretary‑General continues with interactive dialogues guided by the principles of transparency and inclusivity. Watch the dialogues with the candidates: Ivonne A-Baki (20 August), Michelle Bachelet Jeria (21 April), María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés (15 June), Rafael Mariano Grossi (21 April), Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis (22 April), Olara Otunnu (19 August), Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett (18 June) and Macky Sall (22 April).

 

A group of people carrying their few belongings, walking in front of buildings in ruins, at sunset.

The Spotlight series

This series shines a light on communities facing conflict, displacement, public health emergencies and other humanitarian challenges around the world. Drawing on reporting from across the UN system, it amplifies voices from countries including Haiti, Gaza, DR Congo, Yemen, Afghanistan and Myanmar, to foster understanding, encourage engagement, and help mobilize support, assistance, and protection for the most vulnerable people.

Climate Change

Climate Change is one of the defining issues of our time and we are at a pivotal moment. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Taking decisive action today will make adapting to these impacts in the future more effective and less costly.

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. 

Watch and Listen

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

Be careful online

Technology has created new ways for children to face sexual exploitation and abuse online, with 1 in 5 children across 21 countries affected in a single year. Keeping children safe requires stronger platform safeguards, greater accountability and better support, not just individual caution.

Open knowledge. Shared opportunity.

Open Educational Resources enable free access, adaptation and sharing of learning materials, expanding educational opportunities through openly licensed knowledge that benefits learners and educators worldwide.

Commodities explained

Commodities are essential raw materials traded globally, powering industries, everyday products and economic growth while connecting producers, markets and consumers worldwide.

UN Podcasts

Alvaro harvesting cabbages with a farmer

Planting hope in remote communities (AAN S13-E13)

“There's much more consciousness of having food and food security as a matter of national security, and clearly it's not only about availability of food. What food should we be growing? Where should we invest? Does it make sense that a lot of countries are importing a lot of the rice, for example, from the east when transportation costs go up?“

Growing up in rural Spain, Alvaro Lario’s parents managed a small fruit farm that sold melons in local villages. Now he is President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and is helping small scale farmers to thrive all around the world.

“All of these people are extremely entrepreneurial. They're extremely creative. They have a lot of willingness and energy. Many times it's just the lack of opportunity or the lack of means, and I think that's what makes this job or this role very rewarding.”

The UN supports rural communities around the world as they gain economic self-reliance through agricultural activities. In this episode, Alvaro Lario reflects on attracting private sector investment for those projects, on what indigenous groups can teach others about resilience to global shocks, and shares how building one new road can transform thousands of lives.

Photo: ©IFAD/Joe Kinyanjui Kageni

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.

man holding drone detector
Photo:UNOCHA/Matteo Minasi

Delivering aid under the drones

In Ukraine’s front-line city of Kherson, the threat of drone attacks has transformed everyday life. For Vlad, delivering humanitarian aid in Ukraine’s front-line city of Kherson means constantly watching the sky. As part of his work, he uses a drone detector that picks up signals from nearby drones, helping him identify when one is approaching and giving his team crucial time to find cover. He heads Ukraine Unity Bridge, a local organization whose volunteers evacuate civilians, provide transportation and deliver humanitarian assistance to some of the most dangerous areas of the city and surrounding communities. The danger is constant: humanitarian workers have been killed or injured while delivering aid or evacuating civilians, and anti-drone nets now cover parts of the road into the city. Yet Vlad and others continue reaching people in need, navigating a city where drones have made even ordinary journeys dangerous.

girls cultivating plants
Photo:©FAO/Elevernie Davis

Women cultivating the future

Across Latin America and the Caribbean, women are strengthening food security, livelihoods and communities. In Belize, teacher Elevernie Davis has turned a school garden into a living classroom, where children learn agricultural skills while growing fresh vegetables for nutritious school meals. Some students have even started gardens at home, sharing what they learn with their families. Nearly 800 students and more than 50 teachers have been trained. From Belize to Brazil, Guatemala, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic, women are showing how knowledge and opportunity can help build more sustainable food systems. The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 offers a unique opportunity to place women farmers at the centre of the agrifood systems agenda and accelerate action.

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