The United Nations turns 80 on Friday, October 24, 2025

By Jonna Kevin, Mariehamn

The UN consists of independent states that have voluntarily joined together to promote peace and economic and social progress. Although the UN has been criticized in recent years, sometimes rightly so, it is still a unique alliance between states. Without it, there would be more suffering in the world and less room for global diplomacy. Although many of us do not think about it, such quiet and international diplomacy has made life bearable for ordinary people in many parts of the world and has become a model for how countries and regions can cooperate within other organizations as well.

These include the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the OSCE, which played a decisive role in bringing the Cold War to a peaceful end. Today, the OSCE wants “dialogue to be our voice and cooperation our tool.”

For decades, various events and peace demonstrations have been organized around the world on UN Day, October 24, and during the UN Disarmament Week that follows it. A new and interesting feature this year is the North American movement No Kings, which uses peaceful means to draw attention to the importance of adhering to mutual agreements instead of giving in to the current Trump administration’s methods. The movement believes that militarism is a breeding ground for authoritarian rule in both the US and other countries, and was demonstrating in various locations under the slogan “Invest in people, not weapons or war!” on Saturday, October 18.

Wars are caused by those in power and dictators, not ordinary people. That is why European grassroots movements have also taken initiatives, resulting in, among other things, the popular appeal Helsinki +50 People’s Declaration on Common Security and Human Rights . It is an appeal for renewed dialogue between all governments, regional organizations and the UN to develop common institutions and strengthen multilateral cooperation on security, economy and culture based on mutual respect. All individuals and organisations can give the 80-year-old UN a worthy celebration by participating in the renewal of the so-called Helsinki spirit! The declaration, written in English, can be read in its entirety on the website https://helsinkiplus50.org . It can be signed until the turn of the year 2025-2026, when Switzerland takes over. the chairmanship of OSCE.