UN topics

The UN focuses its activities on a wide range of topics. From among them, we at UNA Estonia have selected three priority areas: peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development.

Peace and Security

Peace and security is at the very heart of the work of the UN. It has been a cornerstone of the UN’s agenda since the establishment of the organization. As the UN Charter states, part of rationale for the foundation of the organization in 1945 in the aftermath of the Second World War was “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. While the nature of war has greatly transformed over the course of the 20th and the early 21st century, the need to cooperate for the maintenance of security and to create the conditions for peace remains as strong as ever. The UN is the principle forum through which the international community coordinates its efforts and strives to attain peace and security.

For further information, click here:https://www.un.org/en/our-work/maintain-international-peace-and-security

Human Rights

The promotion and protection of universal human rights is a cornerstone of the UN’s activities. Already the UN Charter unequivocally states “the faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small”. Over time, a comprehensive body of human rights law has been created inside the UN framework, with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at its core. These rights include civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. As a cross-cutting theme, the promotion and protection of human rights is part of all UN policies and programmes in the key areas of peace and security, development, humanitarian assistance, and economic and social affairs. As a result, almost every UN body and specialized agency plays a role in the protection of human rights. Most centrally, however, the UN human rights system is guarded by the Human Rights Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which are specifically tasked to promote and protect human rights, and assist states in carrying out their responsibilities.

For further information, click here:https://www.un.org/en/our-work/protect-human-rights

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development remains among the most pressing challenges the world is facing in the 21st century. Even today, millions of people worldwide suffer from poverty, malnutrition, and a lack of opportunities. Given the magnitude of the challenge, lifting people out of poverty and promoting sustainable development is a key concern for the international community, and it is one of the main areas of the UN’s activities.

In 2000, world leaders committed themselves to the achievement of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. While some progress has been made, much remains to be done – especially in the light of newly emerging challenges to sustainable development such as climate change. The post-2015 sustainable development agenda is defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which expands the agenda to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030.

Inside the UN framework, sustainable development features primarily on the agenda of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In addition, there are also many UN agencies which work on specific aspects of development, such as the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, UNICEF, UNESCO and the UN Environment Programme.

For further information, click here: https://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/promote-sustainable-development/