Washington, DC., 30 September 2025—
The United Nations was born from the ashes of war 80 years ago. In the aftermath of the most devastating conflict in human history, brave world leaders from 50 member states came together with a singular vision: that it could protect humanity from destroying itself. They signed the UN Charter in San Francisco on 26 June 1945. It was a milestone for humanity.
The UN Charter was a commitment from member states to their own people, as well as to each other and to other nations, that humanity had learned from its darkest chapters. “Never Again” was the cry that came after fascism manipulated information, eroded the truth, and dehumanized populations to enable global war and genocide.
The Charter remains a commitment to maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, and fostering social and economic development. As the UN marks its 80th anniversary, its mission remains as vital as ever. From conflict zones to climate negotiations, the UN continues as a global forum for dialogue, diplomacy, and decisive action.
A Record of Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution
The UN was first staffed by people who had seen war. They had seen the worst of humanity. The cruelty of combat and the horrors of the death camps. And it was because of what they had seen that they chose to serve peace. Still today, men and women serve peace and humanity. They are people risking their lives to deliver food and supplies in Gaza, supplying educational materials to women and girls in Afghanistan, and working tirelessly to provide much-needed medical resources and aid in Sudan.
Since its founding, the UN has been at the forefront of preventing conflict and rebuilding societies in the shadows of war. Its peacekeeping missions, over 70 since 1948, have deployed more than one million personnel to hotspots around the globe, including Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Peacekeeping is not without challenges. It is often criticized for being under-resourced or politically constrained. The UN has nonetheless played a pivotal role in mitigating violence, monitoring ceasefires, and supporting fragile transitions toward peace.
As the nature of conflict evolves, the UN has adapted its approach. Today, peace and security are no longer defined solely by armed conflict but also by cyber threats, terrorism, pandemics, and climate-induced instability. Initiatives such as the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, the Digital Cooperation Roadmap, and the Climate Security Mechanism reflect the organization’s growing recognition of these interconnected challenges.
Advancing Disarmament and Nuclear Non-Proliferation
One of the UN’s most significant contributions to global security has been its sustained efforts toward arms control and nuclear disarmament. Through agencies like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and treaties such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the UN has worked to limit the spread of weapons of mass destruction and promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The 2021 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), though not universally adopted, was a landmark achievement symbolizing the global desire to eliminate the nuclear threat. TPNW makes nuclear weapons illegal under international law, prohibiting their development, possession, use, and threat of use. Adopted in 2017 by the UN and entering into force in 2021, the TPNW provides a global framework for disarmament and includes unique provisions for addressing the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, requiring assistance for victims and environmental remediation for areas affected by nuclear weapon use or testing.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite its achievements, the UN faces deep structural and political challenges. At the forefront is the Security Council. The Security Council’s permanent membership, frozen in the geopolitical realities of 1945, often leads to political gridlock. Calls for reform, including expanding permanent membership and abolishing the veto, have grown louder, especially from the Global South, which seeks more equitable representation in global decision-making.
In 2025, seventy-two percent of the world is under authoritarian rule. Security Council vetoes paralyze action on major crises, including in Gaza, Myanmar, and Ukraine. The answer is not to cancel multilateralism, but to strengthen it by addressing the very impunity that undermines international law.
Global Compact for the Future
In celebration of its 80th anniversary, Secretary-General António Guterres has urged member states to rally behind the “Global Compact for Peace and Cooperation,” aimed at revitalizing multilateralism, strengthening international law, and investing in conflict prevention.
The UN Global Compact (UNGC) is a voluntary initiative for businesses to operate responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations with ten universally accepted principles on human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption, and by taking strategic actions to advance broader societal goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The UNGC serves as a leadership platform for responsible corporate practice and encourages innovative solutions and partnerships to address global challenges.
Still Humanity’s Best Hope
At 80, the United Nations stands at a crossroads. In a world marked by rising nationalism, geopolitical rivalry, and environmental breakdown, the need for a functioning, fair, and forward-looking multilateral system has never been greater.
We see children without parents, starving in the ruins of Gaza. We see genocide, once again, occurring before our very eyes. We see cities being bombed to destruction in Ukraine. There is sexual violence in Sudan. Gangs are terrorizing people in Haiti. There is unfiltered hatred online. Is this the world envisioned in the Charter? Do we really need to relearn the hard lessons of the past? We have to choose the right paths. Hope is not blind optimism, but the understanding that we are doing the right thing regardless of whether or not we succeed. It is doing the right thing when the wrong thing is happening.
As former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld once said, “The United Nations was not created to bring us to heaven, but to save us from hell.” For eight decades, the UN has done just that, imperfectly, yet indispensably. We are reminded that peace is not a passive state, but a continuous act of global cooperation. Whether it can rise to meet the next generation of challenges will depend not just on its structure, but on the collective will of its member states. And in that endeavor, the United Nations remains the world’s most ambitious experiment, and humanity’s enduring hope.
Photo Credit: UNGA sign outside UN building in NYC, Sept 20, 2019, by Diplomatic Security Service. Licensed under Public Domain Mark 1.0
Lara Kajs is the founder and executive director of The Genocide Report, an NGO nonprofit organization in Washington, DC. She is the author of Beyond the Veil: Afghan Women and Girls’ Journey to Freedom (forthcoming), Assad’s Syria, and Stories from Yemen: A Diary from the Field, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, and independent bookstores worldwide. Distributed by Ingram. Ms. Kajs frequently speaks about atrocity crimes, forced displacement, state terrorism, and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Follow and connect with Lara Kajs on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.