Oct. 24 Marks United Nations Day

Ahmed Emam

The United Nations Day is observed annually on Oct. 24 to remember the values that this organization stands for, including the concepts of humanity, unity, and world peace.

The United Nations was established on this day in 1945 to save humanity from the scourge of war and the fury of destruction following the two world wars and the Cold War most notably, to ensure that the human globe would never again be exposed to such instances of tragedy. Since then, the international body has taken on the pledge, and numerous initiatives to improve a lot of people have been made.

The theme of this year is “The Frontlines of Climate Action.” It seeks to encourage world leaders in advance of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai later this year and the International Conference on Small Island Developing States in Antigua and Barbuda the following year.

In his video message on this special day, Secretary-General António Guterres said: "The United Nations is a reflection of the world as it is – and an aspiration of the world we know it can be. It is our responsibility to help build that world of peace, sustainable development, and human rights for all."

He affirmed the need to expand opportunities, and leave no one behind, ensure justice, equality, and empowerment for women and girls.

Guterres called for providing life-saving relief to those in need and argued world nations to be flexible enough to address challenges that did not even exist when the UN was born – from the existential climate crisis to the perils and promise of artificial intelligence.

"The United Nations is guided by timeless values and principles, but it must never be frozen in time. That is why we must always keep strengthening ways of working and applying a 21st-century lens to all we do," he noted.

He concluded his message: "On this United Nations Day, let us commit with hope and determination to build the better world of our aspirations. Let us commit to a future that lives up to the name of our indispensable organization. We are a divided world. We can and must be united nations."