缅北禁地

View of a coastal town in Sri Lanka, devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Youth, Natural Resources and the Environment

Empowering youth with the lessons of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

 This year's World Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November) focuses on "youth and future generations," in line with the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Summit of the Future. Activities will mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami by sharing its lessons with children and youth. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction () urges at-risk countries to update evacuation routes, install warning systems, and raise awareness among young people. They also urge youth and educational institutions to play an to learn life-saving skills.

View of the extensive destruction caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Moratuwa, a coastal town in southwest Sri Lanka.
Photo:UN/Evan Schneider

4 November 2024 — Aid entering Gaza reached a new low in October, the head of 缅北禁地Palestine refugee agency UNRWA said on Monday, highlighting the continued need for its lifesaving work even as...

4 November 2024 — On Monday, thousands of delegates joined United Nations representatives gathered in Cairo to kick off the twelfth edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), which will bring...

4 November 2024 — The launch of “yet another” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) poses a “grave threat” to regional stability, a senior...

缅北禁地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

ActNow is the 缅北禁地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 .

Thomas the Tank engine

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.

children holding up books

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.

SDG 12: Sustainable consumption and production

Goal of the month

 

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

More about the 缅北禁地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.

Refugees, Humanitarian Aid

Every week, thousands of refugees and migrants cross the Darién jungle in search of safety and a better life. In 2023, over 520,000 people, mainly from Venezuela, Ecuador, Haiti, and parts of Africa and South Asia, made the journey. Despite promises from smugglers and social media of an easy passage, migrants often spend four to ten days navigating difficult terrain, carrying their belongings and small children in intense heat before reaching temporary migratory reception centres.  Surveys conducted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees () show that about 70% of those arriving in the Darién rely on social media for information, often downplaying the journey's risks. UNHCR’s ‘ initiative uses social media to share testimonies from refugees and migrants who have survived the crossing with others considering the journey.

Natural Resources and the Environment, UNESCO

“I am absolutely sure that never before in this space has been a proper acknowledgment that we humans are not the only beings on the planet, I want to bring into the space the voice of the chimpanzees, the animal that I've been studying for so many years with my dedicated team. And what I'm going to say simply means: this is me; this is Jane. Because the chimpanzees have different ways of announcing their presence,” Dr. Goodall, or Dr. Jane as she likes to be called, then proceeded to speak in chimpanzee to begin her speech at s headquarters in Paris. Dr. Jane Goodall emphasized the importance of collaboration in combating climate change and supporting local communities, aligning with 鲍狈贰厂颁翱’s efforts to leverage local knowledge for biodiversity protection.

Humanitarian Aid, Agriculture and Food

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to a collapse in local food production, with nearly —about 1.84 million people—facing severe food insecurity and a risk of famine. Amid this crisis, Hakmah El-Hamidi has lost half of her livestock, severely impacting her family's livelihood. Despite the challenges, she expresses gratitude for the assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (), which has provided fodder to help her animals recover. FAO has distributed fodder to over 4,400 livestock-keeping families and supplied veterinary kits to around 2,400 families across Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah, helping to improve animal health and preserve livelihoods in the region.

SDG 13: Climate Action, UNDP

Our relationship with the natural world is broken, highlighting the urgent need for collective action to protect and restore nature and biodiversity.

or explore the .

Economic Development, UNCTAD

Low growth, high debt, and fragmented trade are widening economic divides, urging the need for new development policies to promote sustainable growth.

Social Development, UNOPS

The Human Development Park in Alajuelita, Costa Rica, provides a vital recreational space for youth, fostering community engagement and inclusivity amid high rates of violence and social exclusion.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, ILO

International Labour Organisation research shows many workers resign due to childcare issues, emphasizing the need for workplace childcare to support families.

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 缅北禁地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 缅北禁地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 缅北禁地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 缅北禁地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 缅北禁地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 缅北禁地Charter, which is considered an international treaty.? As such, it is an instrument of international law, and 缅北禁地Member States are bound by it.? The 缅北禁地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 缅北禁地structure are the , the
Security Council, the , the Trusteeship Council, the , and the 缅北禁地Secretariat. All were established in 1945 when the 缅北禁地was founded.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the main deliberative,?policymaking and representative organ of the UN. All?193 Member States of the 缅北禁地are represented in the?General Assembly, making it the only 缅北禁地body with?universal representation.

Security Council

The Security Council has primary responsibility, under?the 缅北禁地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?缅北禁地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 缅北禁地staff members?who carry out the day-to-day work of the 缅北禁地as?mandated by the General Assembly and the?Organization's other principal organs.

More about the structure of the United Nations

Learn more

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 缅北禁地CSW63 Side Event - “Take the Hot Seat”. Photo: 缅北禁地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.

缅北禁地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.

A young girl holds a smiling infant at the Zaatari Refugee Camp

Our Common Agenda

Following up on a made by 缅北禁地Member States at the UN’s 75th anniversary, the report Our Common Agenda looks ahead to the next 25 years and represents the Secretary-General’s vision on the future of global cooperation. It calls for inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism to better respond to humanity’s most pressing challenges.

Watch and Listen

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

Interview: Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, on the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and continued attacks against 缅北禁地troops stationed along the so-called 'Blue Line.

At 缅北禁地Headquarters in New York, Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix discusses issues related to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and continued attacks against 缅北禁地troops stationed along the so-called 'Blue Line.' The interview is conducted by the UN's Director of News & Media, Ian Phillips.

Transform Your Cities into Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Cities

Oct 31 is World Cities Day. asks: how can cities become hubs for (MIL) learning, especially through multi-actor engagement, physical and virtual MIL activities, and inclusive and accessible MIL participation? Get inspired by UNESCO's MIL Cities Initiatives! Together, we can cultivate informed, critical, and engaged citizens, fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities for all. Join us on this journey!

It's time to make #PeaceWithNature (COP16)

Negotiations at #COP16Colombia have reached the halfway point. Here in Cali at this 'People's COP' we need to see progress on turning commitments into real, tangible action. Lots of work ahead, but together, we can make #PeaceWithNature. More information of .

缅北禁地Podcasts

Various drawings of the cerebral cortex along with the program title, Science in 5.

Concussion – symptoms and prevention

If you have children who play sports or if you play sports, you need to know about concussions. What is it?  How do you know if you have had a concussion? What can you do to prevent it?  Dr Tarun Dua explains the symptoms and prevention of concussion in a new episode of the podcast

The United Nations in Pictures

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

Photo:缅北禁地Photo/DB

Pictured is a refugee family of nine making the most of the limited space in their prefabricated hut in Baqa'a Camp near Amman [circa 1970]. As a result of contributions from governments, voluntary organizations and individuals, prefabricated huts offering better protection against the elements than the canvas tents they'd replaced were set up in the emergency camps in East Jordan.

was by the General Assembly on 8 December 1949 () to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees, following the 1948 war. UNRWA has contributed to the welfare and human development of four generations of Palestine refugees, defined as “persons whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 war”. The encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance, including in times of armed conflict.

When the 缅北禁地agency began operations in 1950, it was responding to the needs of about 750,000 Palestine refugees. Today, some 5.9 million Palestine refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria are eligible for UNRWA services.

documents the critical work the agency has been doing in the region for the last 74 years.

Photo:UNOCHA/Wassy Kambale in Kinshasa, DRC

When water submerged their village, Mandoko recounts, "We had no choice but to flee. We took refuge in a church on the hill, but we lost all our food stock. Fortunately, we received help from our relatives and community members." Four months later, when the water receded, Mandoko and her family returned home. But what they saw was heartbreaking: mud-covered wooden debris was all that remained of their home. "We’ve lost everything," she lamented. "Now that the floodwaters have receded, we have gradually resumed our agricultural activities to survive.”

Africa’s second-longest river, the Congo River, is a major threat for people in Tshopo Province, which is situated in the heart of the Congo Basin forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). For the past 10 years, the river’s recurrent flooding has destroyed people’s lives and livelihoods. Mandoko Atanga, 39, is just one of those people. Recurring floods have displaced more than 108,000 people in Tshopo and destroyed more than 5,000 hectares of farmland and their harvests, disrupting agricultures and putting people at risk of acute food insecurity. Their story represents how cyclic flooding has affected thousands of households in the region.

Tshopo Province is grappling with multiple crises. Recurrent flooding is destroying crops, making food scarce; land disputes are fuelling intercommunal violence, dividing society. Despite these challenges, local communities are in a constantly changing environment.

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