The exhibition “Shared Lives, Shared Future” has officially opened in Portugal to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 70th anniversary of Portugal’s admission to the UN. Both exhibitions are on display in two iconic squares, with free public access, until 12 April.
From Portugal to the mountains of Afghanistan and from the streets of Brazil to the highlands of Uzbekistan, this UN exhibition showcases 25 powerful, real-life stories. These narratives highlight individuals from every continent and generation, whose lives have been profoundly transformed by the work of the United Nations. The exhibition offers the public a visual journey through the many ways in which multilateralism shapes daily life around the world.
The United Nations Under-Secretary for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, attended the official inauguration of the exhibition in the Portuguese capital along with the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Ana Isabel Xavier, and the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas.
“The UN throughout its 80-year-old history, has always been about what it says in the Charter: ‘We, the people’. These are the people of Portugal, and these are the people of the world. And the United Nations is here for everyone,” Ms Fleming said.
Promoted by the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC), in partnership with the Lisbon City Council, the Porto City Council, and with the collaboration of JCDecaux Portugal, “Shared Lives, Shared Future” is on display at Praça do Município, in Lisbon, and at Praça D. João I, in Porto, until 12 April 2026.
This exhibition presents real stories collected from around the world, illustrating the direct impact of the United Nations on people’s lives—from promoting peace and security to humanitarian action, sustainable development, international regulation, and the protection of human rights. In Lisbon and Porto, visitors can view 25 of these stories; many others can be explored online at https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/exhibit/un80. Originally organized by the UN Department of Global Communications, the exhibition was adapted by UNRIC to also include the main areas of work of the world’s largest international organization, as well as some of Portugal’s key contributions since its accession to the UN.
The exhibition, available in Portuguese and English, will be accessible 24 hours a day, allowing visitors to explore it freely at any time.
Under the theme #BuildingOurFutureTogether, the exhibition highlights that, regardless of geography or origin, whether in a mountain village in Afghanistan, a small Pacific Island, in Portugal, Estonia, Africa, or Brazil, the work of the United Nations system influences the daily lives of millions of people. It also underscores the importance of international cooperation as the path toward a safer, healthier, and fairer world for present and future generations.
