The released Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organisation (A/80/1) offers a comprehensive overview of how the United Nations responded to the global challenges of 2024 – from escalating conflicts and extreme climate events to widening inequalities and unregulated technologies.
Despite these pressures, the UN remained active on the ground, delivering critical support and advancing its global mandates.
Key messages from the report include:

• Humanitarian action: More than 116 million people received life-saving assistance across conflict zones such as Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and the Horn of Africa.
• Peace operations: 11 peacekeeping missions and 40 political missions supported mediation, prevention, and protection efforts worldwide.
• Human rights: Over 14,700 violations were documented, with support provided to 49,000 survivors of torture and 3,100 arbitrarily detained individuals.
• Sustainable development: While global progress remains uneven, gains were noted in education, energy access (92% globally), and social protection coverage (over 50% of the population).
• Gender equality: Over 1,400 grassroots women’s organisations received support; efforts advanced on care policies, gender-based violence, and data systems.
• Climate action: More than $200 million was allocated to low-carbon development in 35 countries, alongside global progress on adaptation, pollution, and renewable energy.

UN reform and innovation: The Organisation continued to modernise, achieving gender parity in senior roles, investing in digital transformation, and improving coordination.
The report underscores the UN’s determination to deliver results for people and planet, even amidst deepening global uncertainty.
Access the full report here.