51ÁÔÆæ

A model depicting an urban landscape with houses, roads, and vegetation.
UN-Habitat

Adequate Housing for All

World Habitat Day 2026, under the theme ¡°Adequate Housing for All¡±, focuses on making the right to adequate housing a reality for everyone. It highlights inclusive housing policies, secure land tenure, well-planned and well-serviced neighborhoods, and a wider range of affordable housing options. It gives particular attention to lower-income households, people experiencing homelessness and communities affected by crises, disasters and displacement. The observance also promotes housing that is sustainable, climate-resilient, culturally appropriate and supported by effective planning, financing and governance.

The right to adequate housing is recognized in international human rights instruments and linked to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Photo:? Shutterstock

5 October 2026 ¡ª Pregnancy and childbirth have become a ¡°new fault line in the global climate crisis¡± as extreme heat worsens, the head of the UN climate action body (UNFCCC) warned on Monday,...

5 October 2026 ¡ª The World Food Programme (WFP) has strongly condemned a deadly airstrike on two clearly marked aid trucks in South Kordofan, Sudan, this past weekend.

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3 October 2026 ¡ª The package originated in Entebbe, Uganda, bound for Cairo, containing 10 kilograms of thumb-sized pieces that could have been either bone or elephant ivory.

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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. 

Coming up in December! The, co-hosted by the UAE and the Republic of Senegal, takes place 8 to 10 December in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Conference is an opportunity to strengthen investment, foster innovation, and galvanize political will to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

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

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United Nations

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

OHCHR, Women and Gender Equality

For millions of girls, pregnancy can put health, education and dreams at risk. An estimated 12.3 million girls aged 10¨C19 gave birth in 2025, a finds. Poverty, gender inequality, child marriage and sexual violence heighten the risks, while stigma and barriers to healthcare leave many without support. Yet adolescent pregnancy is preventable. Comprehensive sexuality education, confidential healthcare, contraception and stronger protection can help girls make informed choices. The report urges governments to turn commitments into coordinated action, with girls helping shape the decisions that affect their futures.

WHO, Health

From sporting events to religious festivals, extreme heat can turn a day in the crowd into a health emergency. New World Health Organization (WHO) guidance shows that most heat-related illnesses at mass gatherings can be prevented or treated on site with timely planning. Well-organized medical teams can treat more than 90% of patients at venues, easing pressure on hospitals and ambulances. Safe drinking water, cooling areas, adjusted schedules and clear public information all help protect attendees, volunteers and workers. WHO urges governments and organizers to make heat safety part of every stage of event planning.

FAO

On Tunisia¡¯s Djerba island, Fattouma Ben Chagra earns a steady income making and repairing traps for blue swimming crabs. But without a pension or insurance, she fears what will happen if the catch disappears. Tunisia has turned this invasive species into an economic opportunity, yet many fishing families remain exposed to illness, bad weather and uncertain earnings. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is helping explore ways to extend social protection to fishers and fish workers, linking sustainable fisheries with the security people need to build their futures.

Refugees, Migration, IOM

IOM support helps Ukrainian refugees in Scotland navigate complex immigration processes, secure legal status and build stable futures for their families.

?ducation, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, UNESCO

Literacy programmes worldwide are helping refugees, disadvantaged children and marginalized communities gain skills, confidence and opportunities for brighter, more inclusive futures.

Crisis and emergency response, WFP

Somalia¡¯s hunger crisis is worsening as conflict,  and funding cuts leave millions food insecure and vulnerable children without vital .

Economic Development, UNCTAD

The will explore how global investment in AI, clean energy and critical minerals can support inclusive development.

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.

Structure 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 51ÁÔÆæ 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

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: (20 August),  (21 April),  (15 June),  (21 April),  (22 April),  (19 August),  (18 June) and  (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.

Until everyone is safe ¨C The Promise

has spent the past decade advocating for refugees as a . She reads ¡°,¡± a statement supporting refugees and their right to seek safety.

The statement calls for refugees to receive safety, inclusion, opportunities, and lasting solutions. It encourages governments, communities, businesses, and individuals to work together with compassion and solidarity.

What is deep science?

The explores how deep science transforms scientific discoveries into innovations, driving entrepreneurship, economic growth, and solutions to global challenges.

Our choices add up

Reducing food loss and waste can fight hunger and climate change by improving food security, cutting emissions, and strengthening sustainable food systems.

UN Podcasts

An astronaut taking a picture of planet Earth with a large zoom lens.

What can space teach us about the circular economy?

In a new episode of the ILO¡¯s , Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques and Casper Edmonds, an ILO expert on the circular economy and the world of work, explore what living and working in space can teach us about using finite resources on Earth. They discuss the opportunities and challenges of the circular economy, the millions of people already working in it, and how the transition can create decent work for all.

The United Nations in Pictures

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

Photo:? UNFPA Nepal/Nisha Bhandari

In a crowded shelter in Nepal, 20-year-old Ram Maya replays her mother¡¯s last voice message, asking if she was safe. The floods took her mother and sister-in-law; now she finds strength in cooking for displaced families and caring for children who lost their parents. Other women fled carrying babies, watched their homes vanish and faced life without clean clothes or privacy. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is providing hygiene supplies, healthcare and counselling to help survivors regain comfort and dignity. For women grieving loved ones and caring for their families, surviving the flood is only the beginning.

Photo:Shutterstock/Jennifer Lorena Varner

For Lay, Valy and Rumluek, cutting plastic waste means protecting the places people call home and the livelihoods tourism sustains. In Cambodia, Lay replaced bottled water in his hotels with reusable glass containers. In Lao PDR, Valy helps coffee drinkers borrow and return stainless steel cups. On Thailand¡¯s Koh Tao island, Rumluek brings businesses together to reduce waste and protect the sea that supports local jobs. Their practical solutions show how everyday choices can keep plastic out of the environment. With support from the United Nations Development Programme, local innovators are helping tourism leave a lighter footprint.

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