For the world’s most vulnerable people, the UN functions as a global 911 service – a first responder that helps deliver food, shelter, clean water, medical assistance and education to those caught in the middle of deadly conflicts or suffering in the aftermath of natural disasters. Last year, just under 20% of the world’s children lived in or fled from a conflict zone, more than 280 million people faced acute hunger and one in 69 people were displaced – a figure that has doubled in a decade. Thanks to the generosity of key donors like the U.S., the UN and its humanitarian partners reached 128 million people with life-saving assistance in 2023.

To protect Americans, the U.S. must prevent the spread of disease abroad. Addressing threats at their source saves lives and uses taxpayer dollars most effectively. Among our strongest partners in prevention is the World Health Organization (WHO), which works in over 194 countries and alongside more than 70 research institutions across our nation to make America safe, healthy and prosperous. For example, WHO plays a critical role in combatting a deadly bird flu outbreak that has impacted American poultry and dairy farmers and sent grocery store prices for meat and eggs soaring. In partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and others, WHO evaluates potential vaccines and provides guidance on bird flu prevention, surveillance and response.

Most illicit fentanyl in the U.S comes from Mexican cartels who obtain precursor chemicals from China and other countries. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime partners with the U.S. to stem the flow of these substances. Recently, the U.S. government worked with UNODC to schedule chemicals used to domestically produce fentanyl, adding them to an international control list that makes it harder for criminals to access resources for production. In the last year alone, overdose rates in the U.S. have decreased by almost 25% – the largest decline in U.S. history. While there are numerous factors driving the downturn, international cooperation plays an important role.

Three decades ago, countries around the world committed to the Montreal Protocol – a landmark international agreement described by President Ronald Reagan as a “monumental achievement” – to reduce the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons, gases that deplete the ozone layer and warm the planet. Since then, estimates show that the world has curbed 98% of ozone-depleting substances. By setting clear, enforceable targets cognizant of every nation’s needs, the agreement propelled action and remains the only treaty signed by every country on Earth.

The Protocol is also credited with helping the world avoid millions of skin cancer cases and as many as1.8 degrees Fahrenheit of warming. The treaty was supported by environmental NGOs and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, reinforcing how much U.S. participation in the treaty makes American businesses more competitive overseas.

The protection of human rights has been core to the UN since its inception and was enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) more than 75 years ago. Now the world’s most translated document, the UDHR – an initiative led by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt – articulates civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights to which all humans are entitled. While not legally binding, the UDHR is built on America’s founding documents and has been a guiding light for global constitutions.