80th United Nations Day
In 1945, during the final stages of the Second World War, the devastation experienced by nations led to a strong desire for world peace. As a result, from April 25 to June 26, 1945, representatives of 50 countries gathered in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization. On June 26, 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed. Following the San Francisco Conference, the United Nations was officially established on October 24, 1945, after being ratified primarily by the United States, the United Kingdom, China, France, and the Soviet Union, along with the majority of other signatory states. This newly founded organization aimed to prevent the outbreak of another world war similar to the one that had just occurred.[1] The words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war,” support this argument.[2] The day the UN Charter entered into force, October 24, 1945, is celebrated as United Nations Day.
The United Nations, the world’s most universal organization, celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2025. On September 22, 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the General Assembly at the commemoration ceremony of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, making the following remarks.
“We the peoples of the United Nations…”
These are not just the opening words of the United Nations Charter – they define who we are.
The United Nations is more than an institution. It is a living promise – spanning borders, bridging continents, inspiring generations.
For eighty years, we have worked to forge peace, tackle poverty and hunger, advance human rights, and build a more sustainable world – together.
As we look ahead, we confront challenges of staggering scale: escalating conflicts, climate chaos, runaway technologies, and threats to the very fabric of our institution.
This is no time for timidity or retreat.
Now, more than ever, the world must recommit to solving problems no nation can solve alone.
On this UN Day, let’s stand together and fulfil the extraordinary promise of your United Nations.
Let’s show the world what is possible when “we the peoples” choose to act as one.”[3]
The United Nations improves people’s lives worldwide by promoting peace, education, human rights, and access to healthcare. In doing so, it fosters social progress and better living standards for all. To date, the UN has facilitated the adoption of 30 disarmament agreements and overseen the destruction of more than 55 million landmines. It currently deploys over 11 peacekeeping operations, supporting countries on their path toward peace. In addition, as a defender of human rights and justice, the UN supports governments’ reform initiatives in over 90 countries, encourages compliance with international laws and standards, and documents human rights violations around the world. Possessing the legitimacy, expertise, skills, and logistical capacity unmatched by any other organization, the UN protects and assists more than 100 million people each year through its humanitarian aid programs. Together with its specialized agencies, the UN fights hunger, disease, and poverty, while providing humanitarian assistance in times of crisis and emergency.[4]
Over the 80 years since its founding, the United Nations and its health agencies have significantly reduced maternal and child mortality rates, saved millions of lives through vaccination programs, and helped control and prevent the spread of deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. As in the past, in its 80th year, the UN continues to face global challenges such as the climate crisis, inequality, poverty, nuclear threats, terrorism, and the risks posed by artificial intelligence. In March 2025, Secretary-General António Guterres launched the UN80 initiative with the aim of transforming the way the organization operates. The goal of this initiative is to create a United Nations that provides greater support to its personnel and their critical missions, operates more efficiently and cost-effectively, responds more sensitively to crises and national needs, contributes more effectively to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and is more accountable to both taxpayers and the people it serves.[5]
At present, the United Nations stands out as the world’s most influential organization and the international body with the largest membership 193 member states. Although the UN has at times faced criticism for issues such as the Security Council veto system and financial dependence, its achievements over the past 80 years in areas such as peacekeeping, vaccination, maternal and child health, education, epidemic control, poverty reduction, and human rights are undeniable. Overall, the organization’s sustained existence and growing influence over eight decades can be regarded as a great asset for humanity and global peace. From this perspective, it would not be an overstatement to say that the United Nations will continue to be the world’s most active and impactful organization in the years to come.
