In 2025, the United Nations (UN) marks its 80th anniversary, celebrating eight decades of promoting peace, human rights, social progress, and sustainable development worldwide; the theme of the celebration ‘Building Our Future Together’ underscores the Organization’s evolution, its continued relevance, and its mission to address today’s global challenges.

The UN is a global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the articulated mission of maintaining international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among states, to promote international cooperation, and to serve as a centre for harmonizing the actions of states in achieving those goals. United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force on October 24th, 1945 of the UN Charter. Celebrated every year, UN Day offers the opportunity to amplify our common agenda and reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that have guided us for the past 80 years. The United Nations headquarters is located in New York City, with several other offices located in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague. The UN comprises six principal organizations: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, the Secretariat, and the Trusteeship Council which, together with several specialized agencies and related agencies, make up the United Nations System. There are in total 193 member states and 2 observer states. The UN has primarily focused on economic and social development, particularly during the wave of decolonization in the mid-20th century. The UN has been recognized as a leader of peace and human development, with many officers and agencies having been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, but has also been criticized for perceived ineffectiveness, bias, and corruption.

United Nations 80th General Assembly High-level Week 2025

VN viert 80e verjaardag in crisis: mensenrechten onder druk