2025 marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War and the Holocaust. To acknowledge this milestone year, the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme has chosen “Holocaust Remembrance and Education for Dignity and Human Rights” as the theme for the observance. This theme emphasizes the significance of remembering the Holocaust during times of human rights challenges and pays tribute to survivors. On the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust (27 January), you can join us in observing the Holocaust Memorial Ceremony.

United Nations Day (24 October) marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945. UN Day offers the opportunity to expand on Our Common Agenda, the Secretary-General's vision for the future of global cooperation, and to reaffirm the principles of the Charter that have guided the Organization for 79 years. The recent adoption of three key documents by the General Assembly "will help ensure that the United Nations system adapts, reforms and rejuvenates to meet the changes and challenges around us and deliver solutions for all," says Secretary-General António Guterres.

New report on Dag Hammarskjöld's death in 1961 fatal crash

A new report concerning the investigation into the conditions and circumstances resulting in a fatal crash in 1961 that killed then-United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld assesses that it remains plausible that an external attack or threat was the cause, a United Nations spokesman said today. One of the most enduring mysteries in United Nations history will linger on, with the new assessment announced on Friday suggesting that “specific and crucial” information continues to be withheld by a handful of Member States. Read about the mystery that still surrounds the death of the revered UN chief Hammarskjöld, 63 years after his tragic plane crash.

The risk of the world’s major powers engaging in conflict is at its highest level since the Cold War, and the possibility of nuclear war breaking out is greater today than it has been for several decades. On the final episode of Focus on the Future podcast, Conor Lennon and Ben Malor from UN News concentrate on international peace and security, and how the Pact for the Future could help to reduce tensions. We’ll hear from the UN’s heads of Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (and explain the difference between the two concepts), and the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who warns against “normalizing” the idea of using nuclear weapons.

From 24 through 30 September, Heads of State and Government will address the General Assembly raising topics of importance to the Member State. Watch the debate live and on-demand in any of the six official languages! Chaired by H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang, President of the 79th session, the debate will this year focus on the theme "Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations".

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly marks a crucial milestone in the global effort to accelerate progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Department of Global Communications hosted its annual flagship SDG Media Zone featuring impactful in-depth interviews and dialogues on global issues that matter to people around the world. See our live coverage of the week that brought together world leaders, influencers, activists, experts, content creators and media partners to highlight actions and solutions in support of the #GlobalGoals.

The Summit of the Future (22-23 September) is a high-level event bringing together world leaders to forge a new international consensus on delivering a better present and safeguarding the future. Effective global cooperation is critical to our survival but difficult to achieve in an atmosphere of mistrust, using outdated structures that no longer reflect today’s political and economic realities. The Summit will adopt three agreements: a Pact for the Future, a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. Follow the live coverage on our website, UN Web TV and UN News.

The Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship is a unique opportunity for young journalists (ages 22-35) from developing countries to cover the opening of the United Nations General Assembly and other UN events. The three-week programme includes special briefings, interviews with senior officials, and visits to news organizations. Fellows are expected to continue their journalism work and promote a better understanding of the United Nations in their home countries. Since its founding in 1981, the fellowship has been awarded to 652 journalists from 168 countries.

The preamble to the United Nations Charter brought to life a new organization for countries to maintain international peace, build friendly relations, and solve global challenges, known as multilateralism. International agreements like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change are examples of successful multilateralism. The United Nations General Assembly, which meets annually, provides a forum for countries to address shared challenges and foster unity. For example, the upcoming Summit of the Future aims to breathe new life into the multilateral approach, proposing a "Pact for the future" to strengthen the international system.

Serving the cause of peace in a violent world is a dangerous occupation. Since the founding of the United Nations, nearly 4,400 brave men and women have lost their lives in its service. Each year, the Secretary-General hosts a memorial service to remember and honour our fallen colleagues and to reflect upon their legacies. This year's ceremony honours United Nations personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2023. Among them are 135 women and men who worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza - the highest number of UN personnel killed in a single conflict since the creation of the United Nations.

Young people emerge as unparalleled prophets of resilience, spearheading awareness on vital sustainable development fronts.

The United Nations recognizes the importance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings. Governments and international organizations should invest in conditions that support happiness by upholding human rights and integrating well-being and environmental dimensions into their policy frameworks. The United Nations invites everyone to celebrate the International Day of Happiness (20 March). The same day sees the release of the World Happiness Report 2024, centered around the theme of happiness for the young, the old, and everyone in between.

Our Common Agenda is the Secretary-General's vision for the future of global cooperation, in answer to the 75th anniversary pledge of Member States to strengthen global governance. It calls for inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism to better respond and deliver for the people and planet and to get the world back on track by turbocharging action on the Sustainable Development Goals. It outlines possible solutions to address the gaps and risks that have emerged since 2015, calling for a Summit of the Future, which will be held in September 2024.

The UN's work in the second half of 2024 will be just as challenging as the first half. If 2023 marked a pessimistic midway point for achieving the 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda, the High-Level Political Forum will be an opportunity to assess progress on the SDGs. With a focus on long-term goals, the Summit of the Future will seek to build a consensus on how to deliver “a better present and safeguard the future”, while the next UN Climate Conference will take the first steps towards “transitioning away” from fossil fuels. Additionally, humanitarian workers will receive well-deserved recognition.

As we enter a new year, the UN will once again play a crucial role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges such as strengthening the global economy, supporting climate action and maintaining peace in conflict zones. In the first half of 2024, the Organization will convene the “World’s Environment Parliament”, and the Commission on the Status of Women will discuss ways to accelerate gender equality. The UN will deliberate on the threats and opportunities of digital technology, while indigenous peoples will gather to discuss global issues.