UN Interviews

Global collaboration key to safeguard Holocaust memory in the digital age 07.02.2026 15Min.

As Holocaust remembrance increasingly moves into digital spaces shaped by artificial intelligence, virtual worlds and interactive media, experts are calling for stronger global coordination to ensure ethical, sustainable and responsible memory work.Speaking at UN Headquarters around International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Professor Victoria Grace Richardson-Walden stressed that no single institution or sector can address these challenges alone. Policymakers, technology companies, museums, educators, researchers and digital creators must work together, she said, to avoid fragmented efforts that waste resources and risk losing vital historical material as technologies rapidly evolve.UN News’s Ana Carmo started by asking her why global collaboration is key for shaping the future of Holocaust memory in digital spaces. 

In Ukraine, ‘the battlespace has become a lot deeper, a lot wider and a lot more lethal’ 03.07.2026 17Min.

As drones, artificial intelligence and new weapons transform modern warfare, Ukraine has become one of the world's most mine-contaminated countries, creating new dangers for civilians while threatening global food security and recovery. In an interview with UN News, Paul Heslop, Chief Mine Action Adviser at the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, explains how drones have fundamentally changed the battlefield, making conflicts more lethal and leaving behind increasingly complex explosive hazards. Speaking to Jolina Dong, Mr. Heslop discussed how Ukrainian deminers are adapting to these new threats, why clearing contaminated land is essential for rebuilding – and how innovation in Ukraine could transform humanitarian mine action worldwide.

Ukraine: ‘Another night of horror for families’, UNICEF says 02.07.2026 9Min.

A night of heavy strikes across Kyiv has left children and families facing widespread destruction, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine.At least 20 people are now reported to have been killed in the Kyiv attacks. UNICEF is also deeply saddened by reports of a seven-year-old girl killed in the Dnipro region on Thursday.Speaking to UN News’s Evgeniya Kleshcheva after visiting some of the affected sites, UNICEF Chief of Communications and Advocacy Toby Fricker described the severe damage he’d witnessed to residential buildings and a nearby kindergarten.

Synthetic street drugs ‘becoming more diverse but also more dangerous’ 29.06.2026 16Min.

As synthetic drugs spread into new markets and traffickers develop increasingly potent substances, the global drug landscape is becoming more complex, unpredictable and dangerous, the 2026 World Drug Report reveals.In an exclusive interview with UN News, Chloé Carpentier, lead researcher on the report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), warned that powerful new synthetic opioids, persistent gaps in access to treatment and the growing links between conflict and drug trafficking are reshaping the global drug crisis.Speaking to Jolina Dong, Ms. Carpentier explained why adolescents, women and people living in humanitarian settings face some of the greatest risks, and why stronger international cooperation is essential to keeping pace with a changing global drug market.

Venezuela: Humanitarian needs will continue long after rescue efforts, says OCHA 29.06.2026 6Min.

Five days after two deadly earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela, the UN says the emergency is far from over. With search-and-rescue operations continuing, Vanessa May, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the stricken South American nation, told UN News’s Victoria Fernandez that families who have lost their homes and loved ones will need sustained support, including psychosocial care alongside food, water and shelter. She stressed that recovery and reconstruction “will take time”, as the UN and its partners prepare for the next phase of the humanitarian response.

Venezuela: Beneath the rubble, the search continues 28.06.2026 3Min.

Following the earthquakes in Venezuela, teams from 27 countries continue searching for people trapped beneath the rubble. From La Guaira, the most affected region, families describe the agonizing wait, while the United Nations coordinates the response and expands assistance for those who have lost their homes.

Aid cuts leave women and girls increasingly vulnerable in Palestine 19.06.2026 15Min.

Women and girls in Gaza and the West Bank continue to face severe challenges due to conflict and displacement, while funding cuts have undermined access to healthcare and protection services.The UN agency responsible for maternal and reproductive healthcare, UNFPA, is warning that humanitarian needs remain immense, with services for mothers and babies under growing strain.Nestor Owomuhangi, the agency's Representative in Palestine, told Reem Abaza from UN News that the number of women in Gaza reporting suicidal tendencies through UNFPA-supported facilities has more than doubled in the past two years, highlighting the worsening psychological toll of the crisis.

HIV/AIDS: ‘The worst epidemic the world has ever seen’ 19.06.2026 12Min.

A new generation of HIV prevention tools could help reshape the global response to the virus which has led to the deaths of over 44 million worldwide – but without sustained funding, political commitment and community leadership, millions more risk being left behind.Ahead of next week’s High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of the Prosperity and Well-being Hub at the UN Development Programme (UNDP), told UN News the world’s reached a pivotal moment in the fight against HIV as Governments prepare to negotiate a new Political Declaration.Speaking to Jolina Dong, Ms. Dhaliwal outlined the development body’s new Power of Prevention initiative, which supports the community-led rollout of lenacapavir, a highly effective HIV prevention injection administered twice a year, in high-need countries.

Eat well, waste less: Practical steps for sustainable eating 18.06.2026 10Min.

Sustainability in the kitchen is increasingly seen not just as a trend, but as a necessity shaped by economic pressures and changing consumer expectations.Chef Jaume Biarnés, a former member of the world-renowned El Bulli restaurant team in Spain, and now Director of the Yondu Culinary Studio in New York, believes that sustainability is integral to modern cookingHe told Liudmila Blagonravova from UN News about the key role fermentation plays in reducing waste and boosting flavour – and how simple, practical steps can help both chefs and home cooks adopt more sustainable habits.

Tackling the ‘manosphere’ and its chilling effect on women and girls 17.06.2026 8Min.

Hate speech is an unavoidable menace today – particularly so for women and girls – on and offline. The abuse they face is increasingly fuelled by so-called “manosphere” online influencers.Their posts primarily target young men and boys to promote a warped view of masculinity, usually by promoting rigid gender roles and misogyny.To mark the International Day for Countering Hate Speech on 18 June, UN News’s Nathalie Minard sat down with Kalliopi Mingeirou from gender equality agency UN Women, where she's leading efforts to end gender-based violence.

Where does the UN80 initiative stand now - and what comes next? 17.06.2026 14Min.

Since its launch in March 2025, the UN80 initiative has moved into a decisive phase. Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, joins UN News's Laura Quinones to discuss what has changed, what results are already emerging, and how the United Nations is working to become more effective at a time of growing financial and political pressure.

‘Where is the justice?’, ask Lebanon’s children caught up in war 17.06.2026 6Min.

In Lebanon, UN teams and partners are dealing with a country in flames as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) appealed on Wednesday for a “sustained cessation of hostilities”.As thousands of families continue to be displaced and uprooted by the violence between Hezbollah fighters and the Israeli military since March, UN News’s Daniel Johnson discussed the impact on children with Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF representative in Lebanon.Our first question to him was to describe what families in Lebanon are going through.

Stronger global cooperation crucial as criminal networks evolve: UN anti-crime chief 16.06.2026 14Min.

Global cooperation is essential as criminal networks become more complex, sophisticated and interconnected, according to the new Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna, Monica Juma, who took office last month.Speaking to UN News’s Ezzat El-Ferri, the former Kenyan national security adviser said no single country, region or sector can tackle today’s security challenges alone. Ahead of the UN Crime Congress in Abu Dhabi this September, she highlighted the growing links between organized crime, corruption, trafficking, terrorism and emerging technologies, and stressed the need for stronger international cooperation to address these evolving threats.Ms. Juma began by reflecting on her first weeks in office before outlining her priorities.

Displaced women and girls in Lebanon face growing risks as conflict drags on 12.06.2026 14Min.

Four months of escalating violence and displacement in Lebanon are having a severe impact on women and girls.According to the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, more than 1.4 million people are now displaced across the country – over 20 per cent of the population – including an estimated 16,000 pregnant women. Meanwhile, damage to health facilities is limiting access to essential maternal and reproductive healthcare.UNFPA Representative in Lebanon, Anandita Philipose, told UN News's Abdelmonem Makki that overcrowded shelters and ongoing insecurity are leaving many women afraid to seek medical care.

Yemen: ‘It shouldn’t be controversial to save the life of a woman who could be your mother’ 12.06.2026 12Min.

Funding cuts to health programmes are directly affecting women and girls in Yemen, according to the country head of the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA).Francesco Galtieri has been visiting UN Headquarters in New York this week to plead the case for more funds, in a country where more than 60 per cent of health infrastructure has been destroyed during well over a decade of brutal war.Mr. Galtieri told Reem Abaza from UN News that Yemen has become a forgotten crisis, despite the overwhelming humanitarian needs.

Human rights: Global Alliance aims to amplify victims’ voices, drive change 11.06.2026 9Min.

Human rights are "part of our DNA," according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who is championing a new Global Alliance at a time of rising conflicts, growing inequalities and mounting climate pressures.The initiative aims to bring together governments, civil society, businesses, academics and communities to place human rights at the centre of decision-making ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2028.Speaking to UN News's Srdan Slavkovic in Geneva, the global hub for human rights diplomacy and advocacy, Mr. Türk explained how the Alliance aims to inspire action.

South Ukraine security adviser: ‘We see the tears, emotions and stress’ 09.06.2026 8Min.

Security personnel supporting UN operations in South Ukraine are navigating rapidly shifting frontlines and difficult choices to help humanitarians reach communities affected by the war – all while balancing operational risks with urgent needs on the ground.Olga Scripovscaia, Area Security Adviser with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) based in Odesa, told UN News in an exclusive interview that her team works around the clock to assess threats, map routes and support missions in some of the country’s highest-risk areas.Speaking to Jolina Dong, Ms. Scripovscaia reflected on intense working days, where she sometimes must scrape by on just a few hours’ sleep a night. 

Ebola response in DR Congo: It’s all about trust, and teamwork 05.06.2026 13Min.

Health workers responding to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are working closely with local communities, recognising that trust is as critical as testing and treatment, to stop the disease in its tracks.Dr Marie-Roseline Belizaire, Africa’s Emergencies Director for the World Health Organization (WHO) told UN News in an exclusive interview this week that response teams are engaging with women’s groups, youth leaders, motorcycle drivers and traditional healers to dispel misinformation and explain how people can protect themselves.She told Cristina Silveiro that, instead of dismissing widely held beliefs, health workers are seeking to “integrate science” so that sick people come forward for treatment.

We must ‘show up’ and take risks: Military gender advocate award winner 05.06.2026 9Min.

Major Abhilasha Barak, an Indian peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has been named this year’s Military Gender Advocate of the Year.She was recognised for her outstanding leadership in promoting gender-responsive peacekeeping and advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda during her deployment with the frontline mission since June 2025 – which has seen seven ‘blue helmets’ killed in the line of duty since hostilities erupted in March between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.Speaking to UN News's Pooja Yadav, Major Barak highlighted the importance of integrating gender perspectives and working closely with local communities. 

Children caught in the crossfire: UN envoy calls for end to war in Ukraine 03.06.2026 16Min.

Children in Ukraine have spent years living with air raid sirens, disrupted education and the daily uncertainty of war. Many are forced to learn online or in underground classrooms as communities adapt to the realities of a prolonged conflict.During recent visits to Ukraine and the Russian Federation, the UN’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, met children, families, and officials on both sides of the border. Ahead of the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, observed on 4 June, she spoke to UN News’s Evgeniya Kleshcheva about what she witnessed and why keeping children at the centre of all responses remains essential.