UN Advances Peace, Development Amid Global Challenges

A little boy in Yemen enjoys a happy and active life after making a full recovery from acute malnutrition, thanks to a UN therapeutic feeding programme.

During a year of escalating global turmoil – from widening wars and economic hardship to the relentless advance of the climate crisis – the United Nations has held its ground, working to promote peace, drive sustainable development, and ease human suffering.

The Secretary-General’s annual report, released on Thursday ahead of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly’s high-level meetings, offers a sobering yet resolute account of the Organization’s efforts in the face of mounting challenges.

Mr. Guterres highlighted the resilience of UN personnel, committed to delivering hope and help to those in need despite operating under difficult circumstances. “The present report demonstrates that despite enormously trying times – indeed, precisely because of them – we can and must keep pushing for the better world that we know is within reach,” he said.

Together with partners, the UN coordinated a $50 billion appeal for the humanitarian needs of 198 million people. “In 2024, the United Nations helped mobilize $25 billion of the $50 billion funding target, enabling life-saving humanitarian assistance to reach 116 million people in urgent need across 77 countries and territories.”

This enabled life-saving programmes in the Horn of Africa, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, and regions affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes in Vanuatu, drought in Southern and Eastern Africa, and floods in South-East Asia.

At the same time, UN operations in 2024 came at a heartbreaking human cost. It was the deadliest year on record for UN staff and humanitarian workers, with 373 aid workers killed. The vast majority of those casualties were personnel from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), working in Gaza under extreme and dangerous conditions.

In launching the report, the Secretary-General paid tribute to their sacrifice, reaffirming the UN’s unwavering commitment to standing with the world’s most vulnerable.

Diplomacy for peace remained central to the Organization’s work amid escalating global threats. Despite rising dangers, UN diplomatic efforts continued to protect hundreds of thousands of civilians daily and advance peace processes.

During the political transition in Syria, the UN engaged stakeholders in line with Security Council resolution 2254 – which in 2015 endorsed a roadmap for peace – to de-escalate violence, protect civilians, and prevent regional spillover.

Meanwhile, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank, the UN closely engaged all parties to end violence, enhance humanitarian access, and sustain assistance to affected populations.

In Lebanon, the UN supported de-escalation and the resumption of hostilities in line with Security Council resolution 1701, enabling people to return to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line.

The UN also facilitated peace talks, supported state-building efforts, and helped protect civilians globally, including in Sudan. Efforts to promote peaceful coexistence in Abyei contributed to a decline in intercommunal violence.

The Peacebuilding Fund allocated over $116 million to support national peace plans in 32 countries and territories, with a focus on gender equality. Partnerships with regional organizations, like the African Union, further bolstered conflict prevention.

The 2024 Summit of the Future marked a historic turning point for multilateralism. World leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, a landmark agreement to revitalize international cooperation and deliver solutions for people and planet.

The Pact calls for stronger diplomacy and conflict prevention, reforms to the global financial system, urgent climate action, and accelerated progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also commits to more representative and effective global governance, including Security Council reforms and greater voice for developing countries.

The Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations were adopted as annexes to the Pact. The Compact advances a vision for a safe, open, and inclusive digital future, committing Member States to close digital divides, promote universal digital public infrastructure, and strengthen governance of data and AI.

The Declaration represents the first global agreement to systematically account for the rights and interests of future generations in today’s decisions, embedding foresight in policymaking and paving the way for long-term sustainable action.

Together, these outcomes form the foundation of a generational renewal of multilateralism. As Secretary-General Guterres underscored: “By addressing the pressing issues of our time, the United Nations is paving the way for a more equitable and sustainable future, ensuring that digital technologies are harnessed for the benefit of all humanity.”

The UN continues to be guided by the vision that human rights are a driving force for solutions to global challenges and the foundation for peace, justice, and sustainable development. In 2024, the Organization advanced initiatives to eliminate violence against women and girls, empower rural and marginalized communities, and ensure women’s participation in peace and constitutional processes.

Human rights were also woven into responses to conflict, migration, climate change, and digital governance, strengthening protection, accountability, and inclusion across the Organization’s work.

Sustainable development and climate action remained central. The UN supported 170 countries in implementing nationally determined contributions to reduce emissions and provided targeted assistance for low-carbon transitions in developing States.

The Organization also pressed for reforms to the global financial system to close the widening SDG financing gap, ensuring the most vulnerable countries can deliver on the 2030 Agenda.

The Secretary-General highlighted the dedication of UN personnel working under extraordinary risk. He voiced alarm at the erosion of humanitarian norms, condemning deliberate attacks on civilians, hospitals, schools, and aid workers, which undermine international law and the values of the UN Charter.

Despite record dangers, staff carried forward their mission with courage and resilience.

“The present report demonstrates that despite enormously trying times – indeed, precisely because of them – we can and must keep pushing for the better world that we know is within reach. We will renew our efforts to achieve peace, foster sustainable development, and defend and uphold human rights for all of humanity,” said Mr. Guterres.

Together, these strands embody the spirit of an Organization striving not only to confront today’s crises but to uphold rights, deliver development, and serve people everywhere with integrity and compassion.