October 24th Is United Nations Day

Since 1948, member states of the United Nations have been recognizing and celebrating October 24 as United Nations Day—commonly referred to as UN Day. Only 3 years earlier, in 1945, did the Charter of the United Nations come into force; it has since saved countless lives, assisted refugees, and promoted sustainable development to combat climate change across the world. 

Today, almost 80 years later, we celebrate these accomplishments, as well as recognize the work and progress that still needs to happen. As a way to show support, here are 7 organizations fighting for human rights, equality, and peace across the globe. We encourage you to learn about them, support them financially, and consider volunteering your time. May we one day live in a world where human rights are universal. 


Equality Now

Headquarters | NYC, London, & Nairobi
Mission | To end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world
Where They Work | Worldwide

Wherever women and girls are treated unjustly, we are there. This phrase fuels Equality Now, a humanitarian organization founded by lawyers in 1992 with one mission: use the law to protect and promote the human rights of women and girls around the world.

For too long violent crimes have gone unnoticed. In some countries, violence takes the form of child marriage and female genital mutilation. These acts are not only accepted as tradition, but celebrated. Equality Now fights these crimes through legal advocacy, policy change, government accountability, local partnerships, and media. Most notably, they fight these crimes by giving women and girls a voice, a voice that demands one thing: Equality Now. 

*Everlane, one of our most-loved sustainable clothing brands, donates $5 of every product sold from their 100% Human Line to Equality Now

Learn more about Equality Now


Life For Relief & Development

Headquarters | Southfield, Michigan
Mission | Dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to people regardless of race, gender, religion, and cultural background
Where They Work | North America, Africa, Asia

For over 25 years, Life For Relief & Development has been providing aid to 45+ countries worldwide. A nonprofit organization, their mission is deeply rooted in the belief that the safety and wellbeing of every person is not just a priority, but a basic human right. Whether responding to poverty, famine, war, natural disaster, or economic turmoil, Life is there to help. Awarded the 2010 The Noble Humanitarian Award, they have saved countless lives and are recognized specifically for their continued work with refugees around the globe.

Learn more about Life For Relief & Development


Love Does

Headquarters | San Diego, CA
Mission | Providing education to children in conflict zones
Where They Work | Uganda, Nepal, India, Iraq, Somalia 

Currently, there are 1.8 billion young people in the world between the ages of 10 and 24; 121 million of those young people are not enrolled in secondary school. Moreover, 66 million girls around the world never attend primary school. Love Does is on a mission to drastically reduce this number. 

Founded in 2002 by Bob Goff, author of the New York Times Best-Selling book Love Does, the NGO is creating sustainable education opportunities for children in conflict zones and remote areas around the world. Believing that education breaks the cycle of poverty and is a basic human right, the organization works on the ground to fund and build schools operated by local community members. 

Learn more about Love Does


Cultural Survival

Headquarters | Cambridge, Massachusetts
Mission | Advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights and cultures worldwide
Where They Work | Worldwide

About 5% of the world’s population is made of Indigenous Peoples spread out over 90 countries—that’s about 370 million people. They speak unique languages and live in the planet’s most biodiverse environments. They include the Yanomani and the Tupi People of the Amazon, the White Mountain Apache of Arizona, and the Inuit of the Arctic. In Guatemala and Bolivia, half of the countries’ populations are made up of Indigenous Peoples.

Cultural Survival is committed to supporting, honoring, and respecting these groups. Through political action, communication strategies and raising awareness about climate change, the NGO empowers and supports the human rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide. These rights include the right to control and sustain their assets and resources, the right to speak their languages, the right to practice cultural traditions, and more.

Learn more about Cultural Survival


The Enough Project

Headquarters | Washington D.C.
Mission | To support peace and end mass atrocities in africa’s deadliest conflict zones
Where They Work | Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan & South Sudan, Somalia

Working in Africa’s deadliest conflict regions, The Enough Project has set out to end genocide and restore peace to some of the world’s most vulnerable and devastated communities, including the children kidnapped by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). With a team comprised of former government and UN officials, policy analysts, country experts, journalists, investigators, researchers, editors, lawyers and more, the nonprofit humanitarian organization has launched numerous successful campaigns to raise awareness and end violence in Africa. 

Learn more about The Enough Project


Freedom House

Headquarters | Washington D.C.
Mission | Defending human rights and promoting democratic change, with a focus on political rights and civil liberties
Where They Work | Worldwide

Over 2 billion people in the world are currently living under oppressive rule. Censorship, suppression, harassment, prosecution, and even death are all fears for people living without freedom. Freedom House wants to change this.

Founded in 1941, the NGO acts as a catalyst for civil liberties, defending human rights and promoting democratic change. Advocating that U.S. leadership collaborate with like-minded governments around the world, they fight for individual freedoms and counter authoritarian efforts. 

Learn more about Freedom House


Plan International

Headquarters | Surrey, United Kingdom
Mission | Advancing children’s rights and equality for girls around the world
Where They Work | Worldwide

Every child has the right to be healthy, educated, protected, valued and respected. This is the anthem for Plan International, a nonprofit human rights organization founded in 1937. Currently active in 71 countries worldwide, the NGO seeks to empower children through education, advocacy, policy, and partnership. With a special focus on girls, the most discriminated against and excluded group in the world, they founded the campaign Because I Am A Girl—a youth-led, global movement for girls’ rights and gender equality.

Learn more about Plan International