Hikers walking on a glacier.
Natural Resources and the Environment

Glaciers: Guardians of Earth's Future

Glaciers are essential to Earth's ecosystem, serving as key freshwater reservoirs and indicators of the planet's health. They provide water to millions, regulate sea levels, and support biodiversity. Yet, these frozen giants are under threat. Rising global temperatures are causing glaciers to retreat rapidly, leading to water scarcity, higher sea levels, and more natural hazards. The first World Day for Glaciers (21 March) urges us all to protect their vital role in sustaining life for future generations. Join our events and follow the UN News live blog of the celebration (8 a.m. New York time)!

Glaciers are considered important water towers since they store about 70% of the world's freshwater.
Photo:Adobe Stock/DJoseph
Possessions litter the floor of a bombed residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Ukrainians tortured, raped, executed by Russian captors, Human Rights Council hears

19 March 2025 — The Human Rights Council on Wednesday heard gruesome testimony of torture, rape and execution of Ukrainian detainees and soldiers allegedly committed by Russian forces, as a high-...

At least one UN staff member has been killed in an explosion at a UNOPS premises in central Gaza.

UN staff member killed in central Gaza blast, five others injured

19 March 2025 — At least one UN staffer has been killed and at least five others injured – several very severely – following an explosion at two UN guesthouses in Deir al Balah in the central Gaza...

An IOM staff member in Haiti assesses the needs of some of those displaced by violence.

UN migration agency forced to restructure amid significant budget cuts

18 March 2025 — The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is undertaking “essential structural adjustments” at its Geneva headquarters and globally, in response to a substantial 30 per...

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.

Goal of the Month

 
Gender Equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

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 wearing headphones and painting a mural depicting a girl. Human Rights, Women and Gender Equality

UNESCO Gives Voice to Afghan Women and Girls: Restoring Their Rights

Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, education for girls over 12 has been banned, making Afghanistan the only country where girls cannot attend secondary school. This has affected around 1.5 million Afghan girls, with UNESCO warning that over 4 million could be impacted by 2030 if the ban continues.  This setback reverses decades of progress, where girls' primary school enrollment rose from nearly zero in 2001 to 2.5 million in 2021. Even more concerningly, the restrictions are taking a toll on women and girls’ mental health. Despite this bleak situation, UNESCO has been funding and training Afghan media outlets to broadcast educational programs to approximately 17 million Afghans.

A human figure sits on a cell phone in the sky, surrounded by a thunderstorm, and dreams about multiple objects, such as books, computers, and symbols of power and feminism. Human Rights, Women and Gender Equality

Shelter protects and empowers women facing gender-based violence in Tunisia

In Kairouan, central Tunisia, a shelter established by women's human rights defenders provides protection, psychological care, medical consultations, and legal support for women and children who are survivors of gender-based and domestic violence. “Victims are given a safe space to be heard and assessed,” says director Manel Kochat. The center also focuses on economically empowering survivors through vocational training in skills like sewing, pastry-making, and hairdressing, helping them achieve self-sufficiency and escape the cycle of poverty and exploitation. On International Women’s Day, the UN Human Rights (OHCHR) recognized the efforts of women activists and feminist movements in the fight against violence towards women and girls.

A group of children sitting around a table and eating in a school in El Salvador. Children, Food

The transformative power of school meals

A teacher from El Salvador, a young student from the Dominican Republic, and a family farmer from Guatemala are united in their commitment to the transformative power of healthy school food. Esmeralda Ruiz, a teacher in Concepción de Ataco, El Salvador, turned an academic assignment into a mission to promote healthy eating among her school community. In 2020, she took a course on developing healthy and sustainable school environments, supported by organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency. With this knowledge, Esmeralda raised awareness about the importance of healthy eating at the San Francisco Catholic Educational Complex, organizing events and fairs for students and parents. Through these initiatives, nearly 600 students and their families are transforming their eating habits while fostering stronger community ties, ensuring that healthy eating is seen as both a right and a daily practice.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, World Bank

Strengthening both genders

Global policies empowering women and men through land rights, childcare, safe transportation, education, and financial access drive economic growth and societal progress.

SDG 13: Climate Action, UNDP

Key to climate resilience?

Early warning systems mitigate climate risks, saving lives and minimizing losses, but challenges like funding, data gaps, and communication persist.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, ILO

Empowering women through artisanal craft

Fátima Santos benefits from an International Labour Organisation programme, empowering women in Piauí’s carnauba supply chain through artisanal weaving and decent work.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, UNOPS

Cities by her, for her

Through the Cities 4 Women initiative, women and girls are driving urban change by co-designing public spaces, advocating for safety, and ensuring development meets their needs.

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.

Invest in women

It will take an estimated 137 years to end extreme poverty for women and 257 years to close the pay gap between women and men. But what if we choose not to wait? In 2025, the world can choose to invest in gender equality so all of society benefits. Instead of waiting centuries, let’s choose to do it now.

We are power

Generations of fearless feminists have driven progress, but while equality has improved, change remains slow, fragile, and uneven.

From housemaids to farmers

On International Women's Day, Anta and her friends in Senegal benefit from the Agrijeunes project, developing agribusinesses with IFAD's support, empowering rural youth.

UN Podcasts

A crane loading steel pipes

On tariffs and trade wars as the economy continues to struggle to recover

Not long ago, we were deep in a cost-of-living crisis. Inflation has now eased a bit but geopolitics remain tense and the global economy is still struggling to recover.

But rather than moving towards more open trade, many countries are becoming more protectionist. Adding to the unease, countries are threatening to slap huge tariffs on major trading partners.

In the current climate, there are fears that escalating tariffs could lead to trade wars - a scenario with grim prospects for many developing countries. For more on the ins and outs of tariffs, tune in to the UNCTAD’s Weekly Tradecast with Emily Blanchard, former Chief Economist at the U.S. State Department and  Associate Professor at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

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 medium shot of a woman wearing headphones in a radio station.
Photo:© UNHCR/Charity Nzomo

The refugee women breaking barriers

Today, over 60 million women and girls worldwide are either forcibly displaced or stateless. Many have fled from conflict, violence, and human rights abuses, yet they continue to live on the frontlines of crises, often separated from loved ones and exposed to greater risks of poverty, exploitation, and further violence. These women face significant obstacles as they strive to continue their education, secure employment, and access healthcare and other essential services.  However, it’s important to recognize that they are more than just refugees or survivors of displacement; they are mothers, students, business owners, leaders, and skilled professionals. Given the opportunity, their knowledge and lived experiences can contribute valuable solutions to their communities. The UN Refugy Agency (UNHCR) is committed to ensuring that the voices of displaced women are included in decision-making processes that affect their lives.

Aerial wire of mountains and a lake in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Photo:Credit: Imrana Kapetanovic/SPA Project/UNDP in BiH

Protecting nature, promoting women's leadership

Lake Prokoško, located in the Vranica mountain range, is a stunning natural monument in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Declared a regional nature park in 1982 and a national nature monument in 2007, it faces threats from illegal construction and environmental degradation. Selma Kadrić Muharemović from the Public Utility Company ‘Šćona’ emphasizes the importance of protecting the lake through sustainable tourism initiatives like ecotourism, traditional crafts, and organic farming, supported by funding from protected area manager associations. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, women-led organizations are instrumental in preserving natural heritage. The five-year 'Sustainability of Protected Areas' project aims to enhance conservation and create opportunities for advocacy and empowerment. These efforts seek to ensure the protection of the country's rich biodiversity for future generations.

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