Marking 80 Years of the United Nations: Together for Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Rights

United Nations Day is observed every year on 24 October, the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.

Marking 80 years of the United Nations, we celebrate the power of partnership and unity, as well as more than three decades of the UN’s presence and support in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reminding us that only together can we build a fairer, safer, and more sustainable future for all.

A reception hosted by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, attended by representatives of government institutions, international partners, the diplomatic community, civil society, and youth, marked eight decades of commitment to peace, human rights, and sustainable development.

Arnhild Spence, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said:

As the United Nations marks 80 years, this milestone reminds us that peace, development, and human rights are inseparable. Bosnia and Herzegovina stands as proof that lasting peace creates the foundation for progress. In a world facing deep divisions, the United Nations remains a vital force for cooperation and dialogue. Together with our partners - from government and civil society to youth and the international community - we see every day what is possible when ‘we the peoples’ choose to act as one.

As part of the SDG Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina, held from 20 to 24 October, more than 25 events across the country brought together institutions, local communities, the private sector, academia, and international partners to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda. Under the theme “From Commitments to Impact”, the SDG Week 2025 demonstrated how partnerships, innovation, and collective action can lead to tangible change, and served as a platform to highlight Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through local action, collaboration, and innovation.

The week of celebrations concluded with a Friday screening of the documentary film Chasing a Dream by director Mladen Mitrović. Through a story of friendship and remembrance, the film emphasizes the universal values of solidarity, peace, and humanity on which the UN itself is founded. Director Mitrović thanked the audience, noting that this screening, held on UN Day, symbolically represented a homecoming for him, as he shares a birthday with the UN.

On the same day a volunteer activity was held in the Inclusive Sensory Park Kantarevac in Mostar, where young volunteers planted flowers and medicinal herbs, arranged flower beds and play areas, and discussed the values of volunteerism and activism, as well as the responsibility and role of youth in building a fairer and more inclusive society.

Both events were organized within the framework of the Dialogue for the Future project, jointly implemented by UNDP, UNESCO, and UNICEF with the support of the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund, in cooperation with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH.

The UN team remains committed to joint action for peace, dignity, and progress for all people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.