The famous gardens of Lumbini.
Observances

Vesak Day: Embracing Unity and Peace

"Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. It’s a day that we honour the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. On this Day of Vesak (23 May), let us be inspired by its spirit and renew our belief in the potential of the united human family. Together, let's strive towards a more peaceful and sustainable future.

Lumbini, situated in the Rupandehi district of Nepal, was inscribed as "the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha" in UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1997.
Photo:OUR PLACE World Heritage Collection
A child receives food at a WFP-supported kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza.

Increasing disease and humanitarian strain in Gaza amid aid shortages

23 May 2024 — Living conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, with reports of an increase in diarrhoea and suspected cases of Hepatitis A, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.

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Women attend a community meeting held at the UN Women multipurpose centre in the Ngam refugee camp in Cameroon (file).

‘Now is the time to unleash Africa’s peace power’ Guterres tells Security Council

23 May 2024 — Peace is the key to unlocking Africa’s future and for strengthening the continent’s voice and influence in building peace globally, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the...

The community of Nui island waves goodbye to the Prime Minister of Tuvalu following his visit in the aftermath of the destruction of Cyclone Pam.

‘All hands on deck’ in Antigua and Barbuda as small island States chart course to resilient prosperity

23 May 2024 — Leaders from small island developing States worldwide will converge on the shores of Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean this weekend to deliver a bold new plan of action to build...

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.

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.

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.

flame in front of photos of missing family members Human Rights

Legacy of enforced disappearances haunts Sri Lanka

Although Sri Lanka’s war ended 15 years ago, families of the disappeared are still waiting for truth, justice and reparations. Without knowledge of the fate and whereabouts of loved ones, enforced disappearances haunt entire communities, undermining the country’s efforts for reconciliation, human rights groups say. A report from the UN Human Rights Office said Sri Lanka must confront the legacy of enforced disappearances by holding those responsible to account. Working closely with victims, the OHCHR Sri Lanka accountability project is supporting the process.

honey pouring out of vat Agriculture and Food, FAO

Making honey a priority

FAO’s One Country One Priority Product initiative supports beekeepers and honey producers in Rwanda and Viet Nam. The project modernizes beekeeping, replacing conventional beehives with rectangular structures, boosting honey production and improving beekeepers’ earnings. As part of the initiative FAO champions environmentally sustainable practices aimed at reducing dependence on harmful chemicals and cultivating a harmonized ecosystem. Meanwhile, community awareness programmes encourage those living near apiaries to appreciate the importance of bees and pollination and dissuade people from exterminating them as harmful pests. 

two men standing in the desert Land, Plants, and Soil, UNEP

Saudi Arabia to regreen deserts to tackle drought

Saudi Arabia is actively working to regreen its deserts and combat drought and land degradation. One notable project involves rehabilitating Thadiq National Park, where 250,000 trees and 1 million shrubs were planted. The Saudi Green Initiative, launched in 2021, aims to turn 30% of the country’s land into nature reserves, plant 10 billion trees, and restore 40 million hectares of degraded land. The goal is to plant 400 million trees by 2030. This effort is crucial given that 60% of the population of West Asia and North Africa faces water scarcity. The country will also host World Environment Day 2024, focusing on desertification, land degradation, and drought resilience.

airplanes taking off on runway
Climate, World Bank

Carbon pricing revenues top $100 billion

Over half of the collected revenue from power, industry and new sectors, such as aviation and shipping is used to fund climate and nature programmes.

White cloud in a blue sky
Climate, UNDP

Take the climate pledge

Sign a pledge to take climate action on behalf of the children in your life and next generations.

person boiling spaghetti in big pot
Food Aid, WFP

WFP targets soup kitchens

Amid access restrictions and closing of bakeries in Rafah, the World Food Programme is working to serve remaining supplies to as many people as possible.

animated village
Intellectual and Cultural Property, WIPO

The Yakuanoi World

Experience a 360° virtual exhibit about intellectual property and traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources.

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.

Making science more accessible in Zanzibar: Illham’s story

In Zanzibar, UNOPS is helping upgrade science labs in secondary schools with funding from KOICA. Watch to learn how this is helping students like Illham to reach their goals.

Waris Ahluwalia on the importance of tea

For International Tea Day 2024, multi-hyphenate (actor-model-designer-entrepreneur) Waris Ahluwalia - who was born in Punjab, India - talks with his mother about the importance of tea in their lives.

Helping women give birth safely in Gaza

See how UNFPA—the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency—is taking action to make motherhood safer at the International Medical Corps (IMC) field hospital in Gaza as the military assault on Rafah leads to more trauma and death: http://unf.pa/opt

UN Podcasts

Mohamed Yahya and the Danish Minister for Development, among others, are in a boat touring informal settlements built on stilts along a lagoon.

No Place Like Home

“Somebody who lived in an IDP camp … [is] suddenly back home, in dignity, self-reliant and thinking, ‘I want to reimagine what life means for me’ … Yes, I'm very proud.”

A former child refugee, Mohamed Yahya knows the life-long pain of yearning for a lost home. That’s why some of his most emotional experiences with the United Nations have involved helping displaced people return to their towns years after they fled a brutal conflict.

Until recently working with internally displaced communities in northern Nigeria, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan is a life-long champion of community-led development.

In this episode, Mohamed Yahya reflects on the challenge of rebuilding scattered communities, on his experiences of being a refugee twice, and on the lasting allure of home.

“There's always a sense of something missing. Because you're deprived of going back to where you were born.”

Photo credit: ©UNDP

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.

smiling child
Photo:UNDP/Andrea Egan

We Are All Part of the Plan

We cannot be without biodiversity. We are part of the complex web of life, and biodiversity is a part of us. Biodiversity describes the wide range of life forms on Earth, from genes to entire ecosystems. It encompasses the processes that maintain life, including evolution, ecology, and climate stability. Biodiversity incorporates all living beings - from humans to microbes and fungi.  Recognizing the imperative to protect the natural world, the world came together in December 2022 where 196 countries signed the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, known as The Biodiversity Plan. This is nothing less than a plan for humanity to restore its balance with the natural environment for a nature positive future. Responding in a bolder, more ambitious way than ever before, the newly launched Nature Pledge is UNDP's commitment to support governments to meet the goals and targets of The Biodiversity Plan and secure a nature-positive future.

Young women work together on a laptop
Photo:UN Women

Artificial Intelligence and gender equality

The world has a gender equality problem, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) mirrors the gender bias in our society. Although globally more women are accessing the internet every year, in low-income countries, only 20 per cent are connected. The gender digital divide creates a data gap that is reflected in the gender bias in AI. Who creates AI and what biases are built into AI data (or not), can perpetuate, widen, or reduce gender equality gaps. Removing gender bias in AI starts with prioritizing gender equality as a goal, as AI systems are conceptualized and built. The AI field needs more women, and that requires enabling and increasing girls’ and women’s access to and leadership in STEM and ICT education and careers. Here, young women participants work together on a laptop at during an African Girls Can Code Initiative's coding bootcamp held at the GIZ Digital Transformation Center in Kigali, Rwanda in April 2024.

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