UN marked 81 years of global cooperation
The United Nations marked its 81st anniversary on Saturday, highlighting more than eight decades of efforts to promote international peace, protect human rights and advance sustainable development.
United Nations Day, observed annually on Oct. 24 since 1948, commemorated the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945, when the founding document was ratified by a majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council.
The organization continued to focus on resolving disputes through diplomacy, fighting poverty and hunger, promoting human rights and delivering lifesaving assistance to people affected by conflict, natural disasters and displacement.
Guterres warned of mounting global challenges
In his final United Nations Day message as secretary-general, António Guterres reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in addressing the world's most pressing problems.
The challenges included armed conflicts, the climate crisis, widening inequalities and technological advances that were outpacing efforts to establish effective governance, he said.
“The United Nations is an essential part of the fabric of our world,” Guterres said. “And it’s needed more than ever.”
He stressed that humanity's future depended on countries working together to advance peace, development and human rights.
UN relief efforts began before the organization
The anniversary also highlighted the history of international humanitarian cooperation, including the work of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), established in November 1943, before the UN itself was formally created.
As the Second World War devastated communities across the globe, UNRRA helped address hunger, disease, mass displacement and the destruction of essential infrastructure.
Its operations provided vital supplies and assistance to millions of people seeking to rebuild their lives after the conflict.
Beyond emergency relief, the administration became an early example of countries working together to address humanitarian crises across national borders.
UN Video highlighted UNRRA's legacy through archival footage and personal testimony, recalling its contribution to international relief and postwar recovery.
More than eight decades after the UN Charter entered into force, the anniversary served as a reminder of the continuing role of multilateral cooperation in confronting global crises and supporting people in need.
Source:UN-infographic:AA
