Charter of the United Nations (1945)
The Charter of the United Nations is the founding document of the United Nations and a multilateral treaty. It was signed on 26 June 1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization and came into force on 24 October 1945.
Statute of the International Court of Justice (1945)
The International Court of Justice was established by the Charter of the United Nations as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The Court is composed of 15 independent judges who are experts of international law, none of whom may be nationals of the same state. The Court applies international law to settle disputes between states, and provides advisory opinions on legal questions.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations.
(1989)
The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by Member States in 1989. It says childhood is separate from adulthood, and lasts until age eighteen; it is a special, protected time, in which children must be allowed to grow, learn, play, develop and flourish with dignity. The Convention went on to become the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history and has helped transform children’s lives.
(2015)
The 2030 Agenda is designed to secure the rights and well-being of everyone on a healthy, thriving planet. It remains the world’s roadmap for ending poverty, protecting the planet and tackling inequalities. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the cornerstone of the Agenda, offer the most practical and effective pathway to tackle the causes of violent conflict, human rights abuses, climate change and environmental degradation and aim to ensure that no one will be left behind. The SDGs reflect an understanding that sustainable development everywhere must integrate economic growth, social well-being and environmental protection.
The Paris Agreement (2015)
To tackle climate change and its negative impacts, world leaders at the reached a breakthrough on 12 December 2015: the historic . The Agreement is a legally binding international treaty. It includes commitments from all countries to reduce their emissions and work together to adapt to the impacts of climate change and calls on countries to strengthen their commitments over time.
Pact for the Future (2024)
As a result of the Summit of the Future which took place in New York in September 2024, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, which includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations (). The Pact covers a broad range of themes, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance.