Humanitarian Work

The international community relies on the United Nations to coordinate humanitarian relief in emergencies beyond the relief capacity of national authorities alone. Whether caused by natural or man-made disasters, this life-saving work is a core goal spelled out in the UN Charter: “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 World War II, helping to rebuild devastated countries in Europe. It continues this work alongside countries and peoples around the globe today.

Climate Action

Climate change is the defining issue of our time. There is still time to tackle its many challenges and rapidly increasing impacts – but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society. Now is the moment to act.

UN Peacekeeping

The central mission of the United Nations is the maintenance of international peace and security. That is why nations created the UN in 1945 in the aftermath of World War II’s devastation. The UN works to prevent conflict, helping parties in conflict make peace, and deploying UN peacekeepers. It helps nations and people create the conditions to allow peace to take hold and flourish, undertaking activities that are most effective when they reinforce one another and are inclusive.

Global Health

Since its inception, the United Nations has actively worked to protect and promote health worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) leads this the work and has contributed to many historic achievements since its founding in 1948.

WHO intervenes during health crises and responds to humanitarian emergencies. It works to quickly identify outbreaks and stop diseases from spreading. And it helps to prevent chronic diseases and to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Global Goals Aim 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. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection. And they provide a framework for COVID-19 recovery.