UN Interviews

The refugee emergency in Armenia is escalating as tens of thousands have poured into the country from the Karabakh region in less than a week.

UN refugee agency (UNHCR) representative in the country, Kavita Belani, has been on the ground since day one of the crisis. 

She told UN News’s Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer about the vulnerable people arriving in registration centres, massive accommodation and humanitarian needs, and how UN agencies and partners are working with the Armenian Government to ramp up support.

A lot of work is required now on the part of UN and other humanitarians to ease suffering in Ukraine during the on-going Russian invasion, but even more will be needed to help heal trauma once the fighting stops, said the Chair of the UN Human Rights Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry on Monday.

 Erik Møse said in an interview with UN News, a victim-centred approach was crucial and psychosocial support should be prioritized.

The independent investigator was speaking just hours after briefing the Council in Geneva on the continuing alleged war crimes being committed by Russian forces in areas where his team can gain access.

He told Nana Karikari that accountability for potential war crimes would be best served if there is better coordination and efficiency between the different human rights investigations taking place on the local and international level.

Global business is rethinking the world of work and by 2030 well over half of the jobs we do, will have undergone fundamental change.

That’s according to Sarah Steinberg, the Head of Global Public Policy Partnerships at social media platform LinkedIn, who was here at UN Headquarters this week to talk about trends in the job market and gender disparities in science and technology.

She told UN News’s Maoqi Li that while change in the workplace has major implications for us all, it doesn't represent ‘a runway train’ beyond our control

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday that Iran is “restricting” cooperation with his inspection teams over its nuclear programme as a way of retaliating to criticism.

Director-General Mariano Grossi spoke to UN News’s Cristina Silveiro about the “complex logic” behind the move to bar multiple inspectors there, the safety of nuclear power plants in Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, and the latest on the Fukushima nuclear wastewater issue.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday that Iran is “restricting” cooperation with his inspection teams over its nuclear programme as a way of retaliating to criticism.

Director-General Mariano Grossi spoke to UN News’s Cristina Silveiro about the “complex logic” behind the move to bar multiple inspectors there, the safety of nuclear power plants in Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, and the latest on the Fukushima nuclear wastewater issue.

As Executive Director of UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, Dr. Natalia Kanem oversees its life-saving policy, development, and humanitarian work in over 120 countries. 

Speaking as High Level Week got underway, she told UN News’s Pauline Batista that ending gender-based violence means having “full respect for women” which will improve the lives of all.

Acclaimed UN Goodwill Ambassador with reproductive health agency UNFPA, the writer and actor Ashley Judd, is fiercely committed to social justice. She believes that the sexual and reproductive health of girls and women needs to be at the heart of poverty eradication and sustainable development.

Just ahead of High Level Week, she told UN News’s Pauline Batista that amidst so much suffering around the world, young people must find their voice, access it, and use it. 

UNICEF’s top official in Libya said on Thursday the aid distributed so far following the flood disaster is just a ‘drop in the ocean’ compared to what will be needed in the weeks ahead.

Michele Servadei, Libya Representative for the UN Children’s Fund, told UN News’s Khaled Mohamed that the damage caused by that “terrible night” which has left thousands dead and missing, means psychosocial support will be needed as much as other lifesaving supplies.

The UN has launched a flash appeal for $71 million to aid 250,000 Libyans affected by Sunday’s deadly deluge.

The situation for ordinary Syrians is as bad as it’s ever been in the 12-plus years since war erupted there, top UN-appointed human rights investigators have said.A new report from the UN Commission of Inquiry for Syria has highlighted some of the causes: escalating violence along multiple front lines, severe economic woes and persistent human rights violations and abuse.

With more, here’s Commissioner Lynn Welchman, talking to UN News’s Daniel Johnson in Geneva.

As global health systems rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic, more must be done to ensure access to adequate and equitable healthcare for all.

That’s the message from Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) HIV and Health Group, highlighting the central role that health policy will play at the upcoming UN General Assembly High Level Week. 

In an interview with UN News’s Jordan Larrabee, she discussed the need to hold international partners accountable, to learn the lessons of the pandemic, and get to grips with the impact of the climate crisis on global health.