United Nations Day

Updated Thursday, 22 October 2020

To celebrate the United Nations Day (24 October), we round up some useful resources to look at the evolution of human rights, peace and international interventions.

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knotted gun, UN headquarters United Nations Headquarters UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.

24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

This year again, we saw the United Nations come together on armed conflict, human rights, the environment and many other issues. We continue to show what collective action can do. We can do even more. In a world that is more connected, we must be more united. On United Nations Day, let us pledge to live up to our founding ideals and work together for peace, development and human rights.

Evolution of human rights

Everyone should be protected under a set of natural or legal laws, but how has the definition of these rights changed since they were first conceived?

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Modern slavery

This free course, Modern slavery, is designed to develop an understanding of the international system of human rights protection in relation to modern slavery, but also encourage an appreciation of the influence of International Human Rights Law on the development of the domestic system of human rights protection.

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Saving Setrus: To Intervene or not to Intervene

A neighbouring state is falling into war. You're the Prime Minister - can you use your political capital to legally intervene? Should you even try?

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Climate justice for the next generation

This free course, Climate justice for the next generation, frames global warming and climate change in terms of social justice, human rights and intergenerational equality and emphasises how children and those least responsible for climate change are the ones who suffer its most significant consequences. The course looks at the impact ...

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Can yoga help us achieve sustainable development goals?

Shonil Bhagwat explains the yogic way of understanding how individual actions relate to global challenges.

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Modern slavery quiz: would you prosecute?

Slavery did not end with abolition in the 19th century; it still continues today in every country. Take a look at this scenario and decide whether you should prosecute in this interactive quiz.

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