United Nations staff in Samoa mark the UN Day on Friday in a staff event held at
Taumeasina Island Resort, joining in the global celebrations of the organization’s 75 th
anniversary.
Formed at the end of the Second World War on October 24 th 1945, the UN has
grown to become the world’s single largest humanitarian organization with 193
member states. The UN’s main mandate is to maintain international peace and
security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress,
better living standards and human rights.
The UN Day this year holds even more significance as the organization’s 75 th
anniversary is marked during a time when the world is still in the throes of the
COVID-19 pandemic which has radically transformed our economies and societies.
The ongoing health crisis wasn’t lost on Friday night’s event, all speakers somberly
acknowledging that, whilst the organization has a lot to celebrate in terms of its
achievements over the past years, there still remains a lot to be done.
“What we must be reminded today is the great privilege we share as UN staff,
volunteers, consultants and contractors to be serving on the barricades of
multilateralism at the time people and the planet need us the most. We must live up
to the highest aspiration of the farthest left behind and honour the vision of the
founding members of the United Nations 75 years ago,” said Simona Marinescu, UN
Resident Coordinator in Samoa.
To mark its 75 th anniversary, the United Nations led a worldwide people’s debate:
UN75, the World We Want, the United Nations We Need. Launched by UN
Secretary-General, António Guterres, it is the largest and furthest-reaching global
conversation ever on building the future.
Through UN75, the United Nations encourages people to come together to define
how enhanced international cooperation can help realize a better world by 2045, the
UN’s 100th birthday.
Events also focused around the start this year of the Decade of Action and the need
to accelerate delivery for the Sustainable Development Goals, with the urgent push
for all countries to achieve these goals in the next 10 years.
Secretary General, Antonio Guterres said the ideals of the UN — peace, justice,
equality and dignity — are beacons to a better world, especially now as the UN is
marking its 75th anniversary at a time of great challenge, including the worst global
health crisis in its history.

“Everything we do during and after this crisis must be with a strong focus on building
more equal, inclusive and sustainable economies and societies that are more
resilient in the face of pandemics, climate change and the many other global
challenges we face,” said Mr. Guterres.
There are 15 United Nations organizations based in Apia that form the UN Country
Team serving the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau: FAO, ILO, UNDP
together with UNCDF, UN Volunteers, the Global Fund and the Small Grants
Programme, UNEP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, WHO, WMO, and
OCHA.
The UN Country Team in Samoa works collaboratively on joint development
programmes to serve the people of Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, and Tokelau.
In Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi’s words: “The United Nations can only
be more effective in defending peace, security and shared prosperity if we, the
Member States, remain strong in our resolve to uphold human rights, live life within
the planet boundaries and leave for our future generations a better world than the
one we took over.”
-ENDS-
Note for Editors:
There are 15 United Nations organizations based in Apia that form the UN Country
Team serving the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau: FAO, ILO, UNDP
together with UNCDF, UN Volunteers, the Global Fund and the Small Grants
Programme, UNEP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, WHO, WMO, OCHA.
The implementation of UN programmes, are led by government ministries; in
partnership with international and regional organizations, the private sector, non-
governmental organizations, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations
and the media.
The UN Country Team is coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator and the
UNRC Office.