Every year, the U.N. and its member nations observe October 24th as United Nations Day around the world. It is celebrated to remember the organization and its agenda of promoting human rights, diversity, and progress across the world. The year was 1945 when the organization was formed as 51 countries ratified its founding charter and made a commitment to maintain global peace and security, to promote social progress, higher living standards, and human rights. The Philippines is among the 51 founders of the United Nations and celebrating UN Day is one of the mandates of Zonta International. Why should we celebrate? For one, the U.N. saves lives. While world media attention focuses on the international controversies and policy intervention failures, U.N.’s powerful life-saving work with its agencies like the World Food Program, U.N. Peacekeeping force, and the U.N. Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (also known as U.N. Women) is rarely covered in the international news front. One example is U.N. Women’s programs in promoting maternal and child health which saves 30 million women yearly. This includes vaccinating 58% of the world’s children, saving 3 million lives every year. ZCME stands by with U.N. Women’s sustainable goals and focuses on strategic points such as women should lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems; women should have income security, decent work, and economic autonomy; women and girls should live a life free from all forms of violence; and lastly, women and girls should have contributions and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience. Without the work of the U.N., many believe the world would have to deal with enormous levels of conflict and chaos. At present, over 193 member states continue to keep the founding members commitment to peacekeeping and building, to developing and maintaining friendly relations amongst nations, and to promoting humanitarian efforts towards providing tangible assistance and relief across the world. United Nations Day celebrates the foundation of this great organization, and is a great opportunity for you to learn about its past, present, and its plans for the future.