Interviews

Every day, judges make decisions that change lives forever. They do so while reckoning with some of the worst of human nature, overwhelming workloads and constant public scrutiny - pressures that can ultimately affect the quality of justice they deliver.The Honorable Rangajeeva Wimalasena, Judge of the National and Supreme Courts of Papua New Guinea, told UN News that judicial well-being is not simply about providing support for the profession, it's also about safeguarding the integrity of courts and ensuring fair, impartial justice for all.He spoke to Jolina Dong – who last year saw the law in action up close after interning at the US Supreme Court – just ahead of the International Day of Judicial Well-being on 25 July.

Operating in some of the world's worst humanitarian hotspots, the World Food Programme's (WFP) aviation service is the backbone of emergency relief efforts and a lifeline for isolated communities.From war-torn Sudan to Ebola-affected eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond, millions of civilians rely on aid to survive.  In turn, more than 680 humanitarian organizations worldwide count on the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) to reach populations cut off by conflict, disease or natural disaster.Hedley Tah, UNHAS Head of External Relations, spoke to UN News's Nathalie Minard about the critical role the service plays. 

Little progress has been made for the future management of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which an estimated 20 per cent of the world's oils and gas supplies pass and which is now effectively closed as Iran and the United States continue to ratchet up strikes and counterstrikes.That's according to the head of the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, who told UN News that some 6,000 seafarers are still trapped on around 500 ships, in the Persian Gulf behind the strait.IMO is advising shipping not to attempt the passage until the conflict has been resolved.Daniel Dickinson spoke to Mr. Dominguez about what options are available to reopen the waterway but began by asking him for an update on the current situation in the gulf.

For Elisha Acheampong Darko, the climate crisis is personal.Since losing his friend to a flood in Ghana, which he attributes partially to climate change, Mr. Darko has worked to empower young people to fight for climate justice.As an undergraduate student at the University of Education, Winneba, in Ghana, Mr. Darko founded Join Me Today, a youth-led organization dedicated to protecting the environment from pollution and climate-related hazards.UN News' Isaiah Steinberg asked him how a degree from the UN University fits into his journey in climate research and civil society.

As demand continues to grow for the critical minerals that power our mobile phones, electric cars and more, who's looking out for the mainly indigenous peoples whose territories contain the vast majority of these natural riches?Tackling the issue from a human rights angle is UN Human Rights Council-appointed independent rights expert on climate change, Eliza Morgera, who's been talking to UN News's Daniel Johnson on the same day as the Security Council meets to discuss how to ensure that critical minerals extraction promotes peace and development, rather than conflict. 

Too often, children are casualties of war. Sometimes, they're even forced to fight. That's the case in South Sudan, where UNICEF – the UN Children's Fund, together with the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – work with the Government to support the release and reintegration of underage fighters.Daniel Johnson spoke to the agency's South Sudan Chief of Child Protection, Brendan Ross, from the capital Juba.

On the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar, the Government and local businesses faced a challenge: they relied on surveys conducted only once per year, making it difficult to quickly respond to travelers' needs.Following conversations with the Tanzanian government on how to advance development and grow the tourism industry, the UN Development Programme, or UNDP, created a platform called Jozani AI – named after a national forest in Zanzibar – to empower the local government and local businesses to make more informed decisions.That's just one example of how, even as the UN works to create a global governance framework for artificial intelligence, it is also using the technology to address global challenges and improve people's lives.The UNDP's Deputy Resident Representative in Tanzania is John Rutere.UN News' Isaiah Steinberg asked him how Jozani AI is helping people in Tanzania.

An upsurge in violence in Haiti could be in anticipation of more “assertive operations” by the recently formed UN-backed Gang Suppression Force as rival gangs in the beleaguered Caribbean Island nation fight for control of territory and resources.Gangs control the vast majority of the capital Port-au-Prince, and terrorize the population with murder, rape and kidnapping for ransom.Some 1.5 million Haitians have been driven from their homes by the gangs.The UN Designated Expert on Human Rights in Haiti, William O'Neill, is a frequent visitor to the country.UN News's Daniel Dickinson asked him what is driving the increase in violence. 

Professor Serigne Gueye, a Senegalese urologist and world expert on obstetric fistula, has spent decades helping women recover from one of the most devastating – yet preventable – childbirth injuries. Honoured with this year's UN Population Award, he has treated patients across Africa, trained surgeons from more than 45 countries and championed access to quality maternal services.In an interview with UN News's Ana Carmo, Professor Gueye said eliminating obstetric fistula depends on stronger maternal health systems and universal access to emergency obstetric care.

As governments, industry leaders and researchers gather in Geneva on Monday for the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the AI for Good Summit, a UN expert says managing artificial intelligence responsibly will require action from everyone, not just policymakers.Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of the UN University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health, told UN News's Nathalie Minard that governments, technology companies and users all have a role to play in reducing AI's growing environmental footprint – and ensuring the benefits outweigh costs.

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, Senior Mine Action Adviser for the UN Mine Action Service 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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. 

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.

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 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.

Each year, 52 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean, contributing to an estimated 24 trillion microplastic particles, which have a devastating impact on the marine environment.They do not fully biodegrade, lingering indefinitely while causing deadly wildlife entanglement, toxic ingestion, and habitat destruction. Plastics also release harmful chemicals into the water, introducing dangerous pollutants into the global food chain. They are now known to affect more than 4,000 marine species. Dr Ian Butler, a scientist at the University of Queensland and an editor of the latest World Ocean Assessment, spoke to UN News about the ecological impacts of ocean plastics, the limits of biodegradable alternatives, and why many scientists argue that the world must reduce plastic production rather than rely only on recycling and waste management.UN News's Edouard de Bray asked Dr Butler about some of the most significant yet overlooked ecological impacts on organisms of plastics.

Science Forward, the podcast of the UN Secretary-General's Scientific Advisory Board, features world-leading scientists, and explores today's challenges, from AI and biotechnology to climate and health.In the very first episode of Science Forward, Board member Yoshua Bengio and AI policy expert Charlotte Stix unpack the growing risks of deceptive AI with hosts Julia Bhattacharjee and Adam Day, to answer the question: What happens when AI learns to lie?

Over the weekend, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.As of Saturday, 16 May, health authorities had recorded eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri province in eastern DRC.Uganda also confirmed two Ebola cases – including one death reported in capital Kampala – among travellers arriving from the DRC.“Ebola is a very serious disease, but it's one that we know how to control,” said Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.Speaking to UN News' Flora Nducha, he explained the measures WHO is taking to contain the spread of the virus and called on the media to share accurate information to avoid a “fear outbreak”.

It's hard to come up with new ways to describe the massive humanitarian emergency that is still unfolding in Sudan because of the war.A staggering 33 million people need help and later today, UN-backed food insecurity experts are expected to warn once again that hunger is on the rise again and famine is a real risk in 14 areas of the devastated country.Although it is extremely difficult and dangerous to access and report from Sudan's east, photographer Giles Clarke has managed to do so, with the help of the UN aid coordination office, OCHA. The result is a memorable, harrowing photo-essay that features the stories of five civilians impacted by the conflict. It's called Darfur's Survivors. 

Eighty years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, artist Sandy Walker believes art still has the power to transform people's perceptions. Speaking to UN News at United Nations Headquarters, Mr. Walker reflected on the influence of Hiroshima survivor and writer Tamiki Hara, whose final work, My Deepest Desire, inspired a series of ink drawings that now accompany a new edition of the text.Mr. Walker explains why he believes art can shape collective memory by first reaching individuals one by one.“When asked what Hiroshima's message to the world today might be,” he told UN News' Ana Carmo, “the answer is one word: stop.”

The United Nations Victims' Rights Advocate, Najla Nassif Palma, has urged survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel to “come forward”, while calling for stronger action across the UN system and for Member States to put victims' rights first.Her office works to ensure victims “have a voice, assistance and justice”. The mandate was established by Secretary-General António Guterres in 2017 as part of the UN's strategy to combat sexual exploitation and abuse.Speaking to UN News's Ana Carmo following the release of a new report, Ms. Nassif Palma highlighted progress in expanding access to medical, psychosocial and legal support, as well as education and livelihood assistance for children born as a result of exploitation. However, she warns that significant gaps remain.

World Press Freedom Day, officially observed on Sunday, arrives this year under the theme Shaping a Future at Peace, a message that feels especially urgent as the number of journalists killed in conflict zones continues to rise.According to the UN education and culture organization, UNESCO, which monitors press freedom, 93 journalists were killed in 2025 alone – 60 of them in conflict zones.So, what does a call for peace mean in today's turbulent global landscape? UN News's Nancy Sarkis spoke to Sylvie Coudray, Director of UNESCO's Division for Freedom of Expression, Media Development, and Media and Information Literacy.

NASA aerospace engineer Alinda Mashiku was born in New York then moved to Tanzania as a young girl, where she dreamed of becoming an astronaut – but reaching for the stars seemed almost an impossibility. Today, as a Program Manager with the US space agency, she helps ensure that satellites avoid collisions in orbit, contributing to the safety and sustainability of pioneering space missions such as the record-breaking Artemis II mission around the moon earlier this month.According to UN data, women make up only 35 per cent of science, tech, engineering and maths graduates (STEM) – figure that has not changed in the past decade.In an interview with UN News's Anold Kayanda from our Swahili team, Ms. Mashiku explains why girls should place no limits on their ambitions to break the STEM glass ceiling, into the stratosphere. 

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock highlights a striking gap in its leadership: the continued absence of a woman Secretary-General.For an institution founded on principles of equality, human rights, and inclusion, this omission is becoming harder to defend. Ms. Baerbock argues that the issue is not merely symbolic, but central to the UN's mission, with women's rights inseparable from peace, security, and sustainable development.In an interview with UN News's Anshu Sharma during her official visit to India, Ms. Baerbock also reflected on the broader challenges facing multilateralism, the need for reform, and the importance of standing together to uphold the values of the UN Charter.

Afghanistan is seeing a sharp rise in refugees heading home, with more than 2.8 million people coming back from Iran and Pakistan in 2025 alone, according to UN estimates.That brings the total number of returnees since September 2023 to over three million. The surge has seen the population rise by more than 10 per cent, adding pressure to already limited infrastructure and fragile public services.UN News's Nancy Sarkis spoke to Stephanie Loose, Country Programme Manager at UN-Habitat Afghanistan, about why sustainable reintegration depends on better access to housing and essential services.

Tuvalu, a low-lying Pacific island nation, is on the frontline of the climate crisis, with rising sea levels threatening to submerge much of its territory by the end of the century.Many of its citizens are already planning for an uncertain future. In 2025, more than 90 per cent applied for a visa pathway offering residency in Australia. Earlier, in 2022, the government launched a “digital nation” initiative in the metaverse to help preserve Tuvalu's statehood, identity and culture if its land is lost.Backed by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and partners, Tuvalu's government is trying to protect its most heavily populated islands by creating raised land banks.UN News's Edouard de Bray asked Tuya Altangerel, a senior UNDP official in the Pacific region,  how rising sea levels are already affecting communities. 

Unless a solution can be found immediately to allow fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz in time for planting season, there's going to be a “very significant and severe” food crisis which will hit the poorest countries and their citizens hardest.That's according to Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which provides infrastructure, procurement and project management services around the world.He told Reem Abaza of UN News that the UN task force he is leading will be able to get its “one stop platform” up and running in just seven days, if combatants blocking the strait allow fertilizers and other raw material through, to benefit the world's most vulnerable.

Since the outbreak of the Middle East war on 28 February, sites of major cultural importance across Israel, Iran and Lebanon have come under threat.At the request of the Lebanese Government, the UN education and cultural agency, UNESCO, has placed 39 World Heritage sites under so-called “enhanced protection”- a special status aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage during times of conflict.To explain what this means in practice, UN News's Nancy Sarkis spoke to Krista Pikkat, who leads UNESCO's Culture and Emergencies Unit.