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A teacher helping a student to use an optic braille reader in a classroom.
Disabled persons

Braille as a tool of empowerment

Braille is a tactile representation of alphanumeric symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical, and scientific symbols. It is used by blind and partially sighted people to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in a visual font. Persons with vision impairment are more likely than those without to experience higher rates of poverty and disadvantage. On World Braille Day (4 January), the United Nations recognizes Braille as essential for education, freedom of expression and opinion, access to information and social inclusion.

UNICEF helped develop accessible reading materials for the blind, visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing for primary school children in Uganda.
Photo:? UNICEF/UN0747901/Rutherford

3 January 2026 — The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he is “deeply alarmed” over the standoff between the United States and Venezuela in recent months, which culminated on Saturday...

2 January 2026 — Humanitarian partners in the Gaza Strip are struggling to reach hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people as winter storms batter damaged homes and temporary shelters.

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31 December 2025 — The UN Secretary-General has condemned amendments adopted by Israel’s Knesset to a law aimed at ceasing the operations of the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA),...

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 and at .

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. 

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.

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

Goal of the Month 8

 

Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all

 

More about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

神马午夜福利网 the
United Nations

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

World Bank, Economic Development

Standards are the invisible threads that keep global trade and technology running smoothly—ensuring consistency, safety, and trust. The World Bank’s reveals how these silent agreements can unlock growth, but warns that overregulation can choke progress. While vital for exports and innovation, developing countries often lack influence in setting them. A balanced mix of mandatory and voluntary, tiered standards plus strong quality infrastructure can boost participation and trust. Ambition must match capacity to avoid inefficiency and inequality.

Humanitarian Aid, UNOPS

Across the globe, the United Nations Office for Project Services ()  joined forces with the UN family and partners to tackle urgent challenges and uplift vulnerable communities in 2025. From rebuilding hope in Afghanistan to strengthening resilience in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaza, and Haiti, these stories showcase how collaboration can transform lives—even in the most difficult circumstances.

FAO, Economic Development

Norbu Gyeltshen and his wife, Pema Sedon, have transformed their farm in Bartsham, eastern Bhutan, by introducing quinoa, which they initially planted as an experiment. Now, quinoa is central to their work, leading to a harvest of about 1,200 kilograms last season, boosting their income and community resilience. Recognized as Bhutan’s special agricultural product, quinoa has become a national priority, thriving across all 20 districts. Supported by the FAO's farmers are receiving training and building seed banks, fostering confidence in sustainable farming practices.

Economic Development, ILO

Through the ILO’s SCORE programme more than 1,700 small and medium-sized enterprises have improved safety, productivity and competitiveness, helping them grow and create better jobs.

Art, Peace and Security, IOM

Through minimalist ceramics shaped by memory and displacement, Crimean Tatar artist Elvira Demerdzhi creates moments of calm and cultural continuity amid Kyiv’s ongoing war.

Migration, IFAD

By investing in rural development, jobs and value chains, IFAD helps turn migration from a necessity into a choice by creating stable, home-grown opportunities where people live.

Science and Technology, UNCTAD

A shows that while AI is becoming a powerful, affordable tool for entrepreneurs in developing countries, its impact depends on supportive ecosystems, skills development and clear, innovation-friendly governance.

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 , 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.

神马午夜福利网 of the
United Nations

The main parts of the UN structure are the , the
Security Council, the , the Trusteeship Council, the , 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.

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.

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

On 25 November 2025, the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council initiated the process of selecting and appointing the next Secretary-General. Candidates are nominated by a Member State or a group of Member States. Learn more about the multi-step selection and appointment process of the next United Nations Secretary-General.

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.

Watch and 神马午夜福利网

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

Interview with Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt: 'Get Going' on Digital Governance

says the future of digital technology must put people, creativity and purpose first, as powerful tools become more embedded in daily life. Speaking at a UN meeting on 20 years of global digital cooperation, he highlighted the responsibility to use technology for inclusion and positive change, not just profit.

Heartbeat of oceans

have documented the planet’s largest animal migration at the southern tip of Africa, a vital natural phenomenon now threatened by climate change and industrial drilling.

Blue growth rising

Seaweed farming is rapidly growing in Latin America and the Caribbean, offering sustainable food, coastal livelihoods, economic growth, and environmental benefits like ecosystem restoration and carbon capture.

UN Podcasts

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The role of nuclear energy in a sustainable future

As the world moves toward a more sustainable future, nuclear energy is back in the spotlight. While wind and solar power are key to reducing carbon emissions, their intermittent nature presents challenges.

Could nuclear energy provide a stable, low-carbon alternative?

UN Trade and Development () economist Claudia Contreras joins to explore nuclear energy’s role in the global energy transition. She discusses its benefits, including reliability and efficiency, as well as its risks – radioactive waste, safety concerns and geopolitical challenges.

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The United Nations in Pictures

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

Photo:UNOCHA/Francis Mweze

2025 hit millions of people hard – in the , the , and elsewhere. Escalating conflict and brutal funding cuts pushed already struggling communities even deeper into crisis. Attacks on civilians, including , continued. And the delivered its deadliest year yet, unleashing storms, floods and that overwhelmed already fragile communities. There were staggering needs, but also faint glimmers of hope. Here are the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs () stood by people in crisis in 2025. Here, OCHA staff talk with patients in South Kivu, who receive free healthcare at Kalehe General Referral Hospital, with the support of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Humanitarian Fund. 

Photo:? UNFPA Paraguay/Mario Achucarro

In Paraguay, where nearly 8 out of 10 women have experienced some form of in their lives, young female scientists, athletes, musicians and others are working to fight that fate, joining an anti-violence campaign spearheaded by , the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency. The initiative – – uses social networks, music concerts and community activities like mural painting to raise awareness of the right to live in a world free of violence. It has garnered support from public and private sector partners, civil society organizations and sports institutions, building momentum ever since its launch in 2022. Here, young women involved with the initiative, including Jennifer - a karate champion and teacher -  on how dreams can be achieved when girls lift each other up – and can live their lives without violence.

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