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Social Development

A universal need in uncertain times

Amid growing unrest and deepening divides, 12 July marks the International Day of Hope—a call to light the candle of hope in us all. Rooted in the UN’s vision of peace and dignity, the day highlights hope as a force that bridges distance and draws us towards a more just and united world. It invites us all to act—with kindness, courage, and care—so that even in darkness, the small flame of hope keeps burning, lighting the way forward.

Hope plays an essential role in promoting well-being, mutual respect, social stability, and sustainable development.
Photo:AI-generated illustration by Sadek Ahmed

12 July 2025 — The fuel crisis in Gaza has reached a breaking point, threatening to bring all humanitarian operations to a halt and endangering the lives of everyone reliant on aid inside the...

11 July 2025 — Between October 2024 and June this year, Haiti has been caught in a vicious and unending cycle. First, gang violence expanded westward into the Artibonite and Centre Departments....

10 July 2025 — When Natalia Kanem reflects on her eight-year tenure at the helm of the UN reproductive health agency, she doesn’t begin with global statistics, boardroom breakthroughs, or even...

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.

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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 .

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Student Resources on the SDGs

Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals! On our student resources page you will find plenty of materials for young people and adults alike. Share with your family and friends to help achieve a better world for all.

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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.

Partnerships for the Goals

Goal of the month

 

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

 

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.

Climate, UNDP

Performance-based climate finance ties the flow of financial resources directly to the achievement of specific, measurable and independently verified climate results. This clear connection between funding and outcomes increases transparency, which in turn builds trust among all stakeholders involved – from governments and donors to frontline communities working on climate action. Performance-based climate finance also sparks innovation. Since finance depends on the achievement of results, implementers are keen to find the most effective and efficient ways to deliver impact.  is a key enabler of performance-based climate finance worldwide, with extensive experience on climate mitigation.

Climate, Disaster Relief, FAO

Many disasters, whether man-made or weather-related, are unpredictable. Nevertheless, a growing number of disasters can now be predicted thanks to continuously improving early warning systems. Action before disasters strike can help limit the devastating impact that these have on people and communities everywhere. As extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and humanitarian needs are soaring, it is more crucial than ever to ensure that each dollar goes further. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization () promotes anticipatory action to help people in vulnerable situations stay steps ahead and weather the storm.

Health, Finance, WHO

The consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks fuels the epidemic of non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, which account for over 75% of all deaths worldwide. The World Health Organization () is urging countries to raise real prices on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035.  comes at a time when health systems are under enormous strain from rising noncommunicable diseases, shrinking development aid and growing public debt. WHO is calling on countries, civil society, and development partners to support the “3 by 35” Initiative and commit to smarter, fairer taxation that protects health..

Health Interventions, UNICEF

Expanding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine access is vital to eliminate cervical cancer. Here are about HPV and vaccines.

SDG 5: Gender Equality, UN Women

For the first time, gender equality ranks alongside healthcare and climate change as a top global concern, yet 58% of young people don’t know how to support it.

Science and Technology, UNCTAD

A small number of digital giants now control nearly half of global digital market sales, about increasing market concentration.

Data and Statistics, UNECE

A new UN policy recommendation adopted in Europe could lead to improved verifiability of sustainability claims, greater reporting efficiency, enhanced data sovereignty for businesses and increased consumer trust.

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 国产AV 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 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 国产AV 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’s activities; how it makes a difference to the world’s 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’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 Listen

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

One day I will

“One Day, I Will” is a photography series by Vincent Tremeau that portrays children in crisis-affected areas dressing up as who they want to become, revealing their dreams and resilience.

In 2025, following a , the project highlighted local children’s hopes and strength, and is featured at the UN Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.

What if you couldn’t make any life choices?

This World Population Day, stand with  to ensure every woman and girl has the freedom to speak, choose, and control her own body.

Using AI to transform mine action

United Nations Office for Project Services is to enhance mine action and recovery efforts in Afghanistan, Colombia, and other post-conflict areas.

UN Podcasts

colorful illustration showing people interacting with technology with the ILO podcast logo ontop

Mapping AI’s Impact on Jobs

Senior Researcher Pawel Gmyrek joins Manjula Selvarajah, technology columnist and host at CBC Radio One (Canada), to unpack the findings of a new .

The explores how GenAI is transforming the world of work, the methodology behind the ILO’s refined global exposure index, and what policymakers, workers, and employers should keep in mind as the technology evolves.

The United Nations in Pictures

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

medium size robot reclining on a desk
Photo:ITU

AI isn’t science fiction anymore—, and it’s shaking up everything from healthcare to your sandwich maker. Robots like “Nao” and “QT” are already helping patients - including kids - with mental health, boosting confidence, and maintaining a positive outlook. Young innovators (aged 10 - 18) are programming and building robots to rescue disaster victims in an . The national championships in 22 countries, mainly in the Global South, now culminate a World Cup. But at this year’s the vibe was clear: if we don’t steer AI wisely, we’re in for a wild ride. As ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin put it, the real danger isn’t AI— it's deploying it without fully understanding the implications for people and the planet. She also warned against the digital divide, which threatens to leave 2.6 billion people behind. How do we ensure AI works for all of humanity? Time to skill up, team humanity!

Photo:Nuria Angeles Tapia/UNDP Peru

High in the Peruvian Andes, the resilient community of Culta — perched over 3,800 metres above sea level near Lake Titicaca — is . As rain and frost wiped out crops and droughts dried up springs, local women leaders, like Pascuala Pari and Fanny Ninaraqui, rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Their secret weapon? Seeds! Through colorful seed banks and clever exchanges — think bartering quinoa like Pokémon cards — they’re reviving ancient crops such as the ca?ihua [an heirloom crop related to quinoa], oca [a traditional root vegetable], and multi-colored quinoa. Backed by , GEF’s Small Grants Programme, and Peru’s Ministry of Environment, these women-led groups are not just planting food; they’re sowing resilience, reclaiming lost biodiversity, and leading the charge for sustainable farming with sprinklers, savvy, and spirit. With each harvest, they’re proving that agrobiodiversity isn’t just about crops; it’s about culture, climate action, and a whole lot of courage.

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