The UN at 80: What Has It Achieved?

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, we take a moment reflect on how the organization has shaped peace, security, development, and human rights worldwide. We also assess what its role will be in the decades to come.

Founded in 1945 after World War II’s devastating effects, the UN has been at the center of global cooperation. Over the past eighty years, it has played a crucial role in preventing conflict, addressing global health crises, and advancing rights and opportunities for people everywhere.

To celebrate eight decades of hard work, we highlight some of the UN’s most recognized achievements:

• 1945: The signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco
• The creation of peacekeeping operations to help maintain stability in conflict zones
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a cornerstone of international norms
• The eradication of smallpox through worldwide vaccination campaigns
• Progress in women’s rights and gender equality
• The global framework of the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals, which continue to shape international development

From its founding ideals to its ongoing efforts to tackle today’s challenges, the UN remains a unique forum for dialogue and action, and reminds us that cooperation not only important, but fundamental, to creating a more peaceful, just, and sustainable future.