Share

Throughout the year, the Better World Campaign and the United Nations Association of the U.S.A. refresh our resources on America’s essential relationship with the United Nations — because the only thing more powerful than a nation fully engaged on the global stage is a public that’s fully informed.

We hope you’ll take the time to better understand the UN — from the impact of its lifesaving programs to the real, everyday value Americans see from our investment, both abroad and here at home.

Let’s get started.

The Value of Engagement

More than 80 years ago, in the aftermath of the most devastating war in human history, the U.S. helped launch one of the most ambitious diplomatic projects ever attempted: the United Nations.

Through the UN, countries that had once faced each other on the battlefield came together to resolve disputes peacefully, prevent wars and cooperate on challenges no nation could tackle alone — from maintaining peace and security to promoting human rights and coordinating action on global economic and humanitarian issues.

The world has changed dramatically since 1945. But the founding principles of the UN have not.

Today, the organization remains one of the most important tools the United States has for advancing its national interests — protecting American security, supporting economic growth and promoting the health and well-being of people at home and abroad.

Key to what the UN offers is burden-sharing: by marshaling a collective response to global problems, working through the UN offers the U.S. a way to advance core national priorities while ensuring that the costs of doing so are not borne solely by American taxpayers or soldiers.

HOW THE UN DELIVERS FOR AMERICA

Our engagement with the UN makes a better world — and a better America. That’s why polling by Pew Research finds that a majority of Americans from across the political spectrum view the organization favorably.

Here are a few direct benefits.

  • Peacekeeping

    In fragile regions around the world, UN missions help stabilize conflict zones, protect civilians, support democratic elections, and assist countries rebuilding after war. The results are clear: peacekeeping reduces civilian deaths, helps prevent conflicts from spreading, and lowers the risk of relapse into violence.

    It’s also a smart investment for the United States. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, UN peacekeeping costs American taxpayers roughly one-eighth as much as deploying a comparable U.S. force. And with a permanent seat on the Security Council, the United States helps shape every mandate — ensuring missions advance U.S. interests without putting American boots on the ground.

  • Humanitarian Assistance

    The UN functions as the world’s first responder in humanitarian crises. Every year, UN agencies deliver lifesaving assistance to tens of millions of people affected by war, political instability, and natural disasters.

    Through organizations such as UNICEF, the World Food Programme, the UN Refugee Agency, and the UN Population Fund, the UN system provides food, clean water, vaccines, shelter, education, and maternal health services to some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. When disasters strike or conflicts erupt, these agencies are often the first to arrive and the last to leave — helping stabilize communities before crises spiral into wider regional instability.

  • Economic Prosperity

    The UN also helps keep the global economy running smoothly. Specialized agencies like the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, and the International Telecommunication Union set the technical standards that make modern life possible — from aviation safety rules to maritime shipping regulations and global telecommunications networks. These frameworks allow airplanes to move safely across borders, ships to carry goods across oceans, and digital communications to function seamlessly across continents.

    Without them, the global economy — and the ability of American businesses to compete within it — would grind to a halt.

  • Drugs and Crime Prevention

    Beyond these functions, the UN also plays a critical role in countering transnational threats that directly affect Americans. Through bodies like the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, countries coordinate efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks, combat organized crime, tackle corruption, and dismantle human trafficking operations — threats that do not respect borders but have real consequences for U.S. communities.

    At the same time, UN Security Council sanctions regimes target terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS, restricting their financing, travel, and access to weapons. These tools extend the reach of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, helping to isolate and degrade threats before they reach American shores.

  • Human Rights

    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.