As the UN marks its 80th anniversary, this explainer reflects on how the organization has shaped international peace, security, development, and human rights - and what it means for the future. From its founding in 1945 to today, the United Nations has been at the heart of global cooperation. In this video, UN expert Natalie Samarasinghe takes us through the UN’s biggest achievements over eight decades - from peacekeeping to eradicating smallpox, advancing women’s rights, shaping the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Highlights include:

• 1945: Signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco
• Creation of UN peacekeeping operations
• Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Eradication of smallpox through global vaccination campaigns
• Progress on women’s rights and gender equality
• The Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals