October 24 marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations: history, traditions, events
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- October 24 marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations: history, traditions, events
The world community will celebrate UN Day on October 24. It will be held in the year of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Ceremonies, political debates and cultural events are planned around the world on this day, designed to highlight the role of the United Nations as a unique platform for international dialogue. Izvestia tells about the history of the world organization, what role it plays in the modern world and how the celebrations will be held in the jubilee year.
How UN Day appeared
United Nations Day is not just a symbolic date on the calendar. It marks a historic moment when the UN Charter, its founding document, became legally binding. This happened on October 24, 1945, after it was ratified by the majority of the founding States, including all five permanent members of the Security Council: the USSR, the USA, Great Britain, China and France. From that day on, the UN officially began its work.
United Nations Day has been celebrated since 1948, and in 1971, the General Assembly, by its resolution, recommended that Member States celebrate this date as a national holiday designed to remind of the goals and achievements of the world organization.
The history of the world organization
The organization was conceived as a platform where different countries could peacefully resolve disputes, thereby preventing military conflicts. The predecessor of the United Nations was the League of Nations, the first intergovernmental organization established to promote international cooperation and security. It was established in 1919 after the First World War, but was unable to fully solve the tasks assigned to it, in particular, to prevent the largest conflict in the history of mankind — the Second World War.
The leading powers of the anti-Hitler coalition, primarily the USSR, the United States and Great Britain, already during the war began work on a draft of a new organization capable of preventing similar conflicts in the future. The key milestones on the way to the United Nations were the Moscow Conference in 1943, where the declaration on the need to create a universal international organization was signed, as well as the meetings of the leaders of the "big three" in Tehran and Yalta.
The organization took its final shape at a conference in San Francisco in 1945, where its Charter was signed. The name "United Nations" was proposed by the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt (1932-1945), and subsequently remained unchanged.
The United Nations today: key challenges and priorities
80 years after its founding, the United Nations remains the world's only universal international organization, uniting 193 states. Its mission is multifaceted and covers all areas of global interaction: from maintaining international peace and security to protecting human rights and promoting sustainable development.
The foundation of the Organization's activities today is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 Goals (SDGs). They are aimed at eradicating poverty, combating climate change, and ensuring universal access to education and healthcare.
However, modern challenges such as geopolitical tensions, cyber threats and the consequences of pandemics require significant adaptation from the UN. In 2025, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres initiated a large-scale UN-80 process aimed at transforming and strengthening the organization to better respond to the challenges of modern times.
What you need to know about the UN
The United Nations has a complex structure, which includes six main organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat. The United Nations is funded by mandatory contributions from participating States, the amount of which is calculated based on their ability to pay, national income and population. The official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The recognizable symbol of the United Nations is the image of a map of the planet framed by olive branches, which embodies peace and the global nature of its activities. The organization is headed by Secretary General Antonio Guterres, a former Portuguese Prime Minister who served as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees before his appointment in 2017. The headquarters of the organization is located in New York (USA).
Traditions of UN Day celebrations
The traditions of celebrating UN Day that have developed over the decades reflect its intercultural and multifaceted nature. The central event is the Secretary General's address to the world community, in which he assesses the path he has traveled and outlines priorities for the future. An international concert is traditionally held in the General Assembly Hall in New York.
Thematic exhibitions, scientific conferences, round tables and debates are held all over the world on this day, where experts, diplomats and public figures discuss current global issues. Many UN information centers organize open days and educational events for everyone.
Theme and events in 2025
Each year, the events are united by a common theme. The theme of the United Nations 80th Anniversary Day, "Building our Future together," highlights the need to strengthen multilateral cooperation in an increasingly divided environment. The focus in 2025 is on key international forums such as the World Summit on Social Development and the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which are designed to give a new impetus to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
"UN Day provides an opportunity to ensure broader attention to the common agenda and to reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, which we have been guided by for the past 80 years," the organization's website says.
The UN-80 initiative, launched in March 2025, aims to comprehensively analyze and modernize the organization's work, from a review of mandates to potential structural changes. For the general public, quizzes and information materials are posted on official UN resources to test knowledge about the history and structure of the organization.
How to celebrate UN Day in Russia
The Russian Federation, as the legal successor of the USSR and a member of the UN Security Council, pays considerable attention to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the organization. On behalf of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Public Committee for the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations (UN-80 Committee) was established. His task is to coordinate an extensive program of anniversary events with the support of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the UN Information Center in Moscow.
The action plan was reviewed at the first meeting of the Committee on April 15, 2025 and includes more than 85 initiatives. Among them are international scientific conferences and round tables, lectures, master classes, the release of collections of scientific and analytical materials, the publication of books, the preparation of thematic exhibitions reflecting the key stages of the work of the United Nations and Russia's contribution to the organization.
Many leading universities of the country joined the celebration. Thus, on October 24, the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) will host the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. It will focus on the role of the United Nations in the protection of human rights and the 60th anniversary of the International Covenants, which contain the basic principles of work in this area. Leading experts in the field of international law, representatives of the academic community and human rights organizations will speak at the event.
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