51吃瓜

A digital illustration of a human head and brain, overlaid with circuitry patterns and glowing lines.
Artificial Intelligence, General Assembly

UN launches global AI governance dialogue

After selecting a High-Level Advisory Body on AI and establishing a comprehensive Digital Compact, the UN continues to push the boundaries of virtual AI engagement. On 25 September, it is convening a significant High-level informal meeting to launch the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance. This , part of the General Assembly High-Level Week 2025, brings together Member States, Observers, UN specialized agencies, and diverse stakeholders to explore key dimensions of inclusive and accountable AI governance and to share their expectations for the first Global Dialogue in 2026.

UN meeting launches Global AI Governance Dialogue focused on inclusion and accountability.
Photo:Public domain

25 September 2025 — For the first time, mental health is the focus of an official meeting of the General Assembly on Thursday, with world leaders expected to agree on a set of principles designed...

25 September 2025 — While the Israeli military’蝉 assault on Gaza City ramps up, conditions in the south of the war-torn enclave are so cramped that displaced and starving Gazans are sleeping on...

25 September 2025 — Follow our?live coverage here of the third day of the General Debate in New York, featuring leaders from Somalia, Palestine, Yemen, Haiti, Ghana, Azerbaijan, South Sudan and...

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.

SDG Media Zone 22-26 September

SDG Media Zone

Join the United Nations Department of Global Communications during the high-level week of the General Assembly's 80th session from 22-26 September and hear about the transformation and solutions needed to accelerate action on the SDGs. See the details on the SDG Media Zone UN80 programme.

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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 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. 

17 SDG goals

GOAL OF THE MONTH

Special Edition

The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly marks a critical milestone in the global effort to accelerate progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A decade after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, millions of lives have improved through gains in health, education, energy, and digital connectivity.

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.

General Assembly, United Nations Organization

From 23 to 29 September, Heads of State and Government address the United Nations General Assembly, raising topics of global importance on behalf of Member States. The debate, chaired by Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly at its 80th session, focuses on the theme: “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” in any of the six official UN languages—and if you're curious about how it all works, our walks you through the traditions, timing, and the voices that shape the world stage.

UNDP, Social Development

Half of the global population is 30 years old or younger, making up the largest and most educated youth generation in history. Yet, young people continue to face systemic barriers to participating in decisions that affect their lives. Empowering this demographic is essential, not only to uphold their rights, but also as a global strategy to promote conflict prevention, social cohesion, and a sustainable future. Since 2022, with support from the ’蝉 (Peace corridors) programme and funding from Sweden, several youth-led proposals have been incorporated into the Cauca Development Plan, and young leaders have been elected as municipal councilors.

FAO, Agriculture and Food

Morning light shines on Praia das Conchas Ro?a in S?o Tomé as Camila Varela De Carvalho, a 32-year-old cocoa farmer, sends her eight children to school before heading to her farm. With a harvesting tool, she collects ripe cocoa pods, crucial for her family's income. Camila, who also works at the Organic Cocoa Production and Export Cooperative (CECAB), helps improve local livelihoods through sustainable cocoa practices. Supported by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization () and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), CECAB has become the largest cooperative in S?o Tomé, benefiting over 2,000 families and enabling Camila to cover living expenses and her children's education.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, IOM

At 65, Mariam Kamano leads grassroots mediation in Guinea’蝉 Forest Region, resolving cross-border, land, and family disputes with patience, persistence, and unwavering dedication.

Communication and Mass Media, UNESCO

UNESCO and Press House-Palestine empowered 150 journalists in Gaza with skills in digital safety, storytelling, leadership, and mental health support amid ongoing conflict.

Health Interventions, Mental health, UNFPA

In rural southern Hebron, a UNFPA-supported mobile safe space brings to isolated women who face severe barriers to care, and safety amidst the

Trade and Commerce, UNCTAD

Global seaborne trade is projected to grow by just 0.5% in 2025, as rerouting contribute to mounting uncertainty in the maritime transport sector.

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’蝉 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 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

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’蝉 activities; how it makes a difference to the world’蝉 people; and how every citizen can get involved and make a contribution. 

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’蝉 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 Listen

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

Two years too long - Calls for ceasefire in Gaza

For two years,  has urgently called for a as the humanitarian crisis deepens. Over 1.9 million people are displaced, with countless lives lost or shattered.

The real fertility crisis

Should women have more children? Let's explore with Shudufhadzo Musida, .

Young Champions Champions of the Earth 2025

honors young environmental innovators globally, supported by Chris Kemper and Planet A since 2024.

UN Podcasts

woman with fabric and sewing machine

Refugees are builders of economies, not a burden

The majority of the world’蝉 refugees live in countries with fragile economies, where opportunities for employment and self-reliance are often limited. With displacement lasting more than a decade on average, the question of how refugees can build sustainable livelihoods has become increasingly urgent.
In this , Professor Alexander Betts and Bisimwa Mulemangabo discuss how refugees navigate labour markets, the barriers they face, and the innovative ways they create livelihoods.

The United Nations in Pictures

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

Photo:WFP/Charly Kasereka

When funding is squeezed, humanitarian operations suffer – and so do the people that organizations such as the set out to assist. With down 40 percent since , WFP has to reduce and even end rations for some of the most vulnerable people. This year, with food and nutrition assistance as 343 million people in 74 countries face acute hunger. Yet money alone will not solve this crisis. In context after context, across continents, achieving peace – or, at least, peaceful conditions – remains critical for WFP to assist people at scale. Ross Smith, WFP’蝉 Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, , the gaps in funding, and how conflict is deepening urgency.  

Photo:UNDP/ Mert G?kalp

The concept of Blue Voyage – or Mavi Yolculuk in Turkish – refers to a traditional sailing journey along Türkiye’蝉 southwestern coast. In Türkiye’蝉 Bodrum Peninsula, the “Blue Voyage” tradition faces threats from rapid tourism growth and coastal degradation. Once rich in marine life, Bodrum’蝉 shores declined as seagrass meadows—vital carbon sinks and habitats—were removed. In 2023, marine biologist Mert G?kalp and the Underwater Research Society launched Project Posidonia with UNDP-GEF support, mapping 2,185 hectares of seagrass, identifying risks, and recommending marine protections. Beyond science, the project fostered community dialogue, waste and mooring reforms, and international collaboration. 

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