The UN was the first global international organisation to which Latvia joined on 17 September 1991, shortly after the restoration of independence. The UN was established in 1945 and is currently composed of 193 Member States.
The UN headquarters are located in New York, Geneva and Vienna, as well as several regional offices and missions in other parts of the world. The headquarters of the UN in Vienna is called the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), whose main issues are drug problems, organized crime, anti-corruption, counter-terrorism, looking at these issues from the prisms of health, security and justice. Latvia has consistently advocated respect for international law and territorial integrity in the UN and other international organisations, and has acted on issues that promote sustainability and development both in Latvia and on a global scale. Latvia also has been active in thematic issues, such as promotion of women's rights and opportunities, rule of law and rule of law, freedom of the media and protection of journalists, promotion of the use of information technologies. Following developments within the framework of the UN, Latvia has important issues regarding digital solutions and artificial intelligence, including the achievement of sustainable development goals, as well as climate action.
In demonstrating Latvia's ability to assume responsibility and make an active contribution to global processes, Latvia aspires to become a first-time member of the United Nations Security Council at the elections in 2025 (for the term 2026-2027).
Latvian human rights experts have been elected to several UN committees in recent years – the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Committee against Torture, the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on arbitrary detention. Since 2018, the UN Programme of the Latvian Youth delegate to the UN has been established in Latvia.
Latvia has been elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2015-2017 term and to the UN Executive Council for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women for the 2013-2015 term. Latvia has been a Member of the UN Committee on Science, Technology and Development since 2007. Moreover, Latvia was elected for the third time as a Member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council for the term of 2020-2022. Latvia also is elected to the UN Commission on the status of Women for the term of 2021-2025.
Latvia participates in military and civilian missions around the world. Latvia has participated in the UN multilateral integrated stabilisation mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the UN ceasefire monitoring organisation mission (UNTSO) and the UN peacekeeping operation in Lebanon (UNIFIL). In recent years, Latvia has become increasingly involved in UN peace-building efforts and in strengthening the non-proliferation, control and export control regime.
Over the years, Latvia has provided voluntary financial support to various UN agencies and foundations, including the UN Security Council, AND to the victims of the OCHA, UNHCR, OHCHR, PBF, UN Women, UNICEF, UNESCO, UN aid and work Agency for Palestinian Refugees UNRWA, OSRSG-SVC, SIDS4 and ICC Trust Fund.
Current issues: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; conflict in the Middle East, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
For the period 2025-2027 Latvia is a member of the Vienna-based UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ).