Bintou Keita knows instinctively that some moments call for a more human response than words alone can offer. Once, at a ceremony to mark the end of the devastating Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, she found herself hesitating to deliver her pre-prepared statement to a grief-stricken crowd.

“I have my statement, but I can't deliver [it] because there's something else I have to do before. And in that moment, what came to me was humming, so I did it. And at that moment, the tears - my own, the tears in the audience - came out. These people were grieving, were still mourning.”

Bintou has retired after 36 years with the UN, most recently the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and head of the peacekeeping mission there. In this episode, she reflects on times when peacekeepers saved thousands of lives, on how women can lead the way out of devastating conflicts, and shares why she has learned to never say never.

Photo: ©UN Photo/Ilyas Ahmed

The Model Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan empowers media institutions to develop comprehensive strategies that ensure operational continuity during emergencies and strengthen community resilience.

Radio is evolving thanks to artificial Intelligence (AI), enhancing its core mission of informing, educating, and entertaining. By automating tasks like scheduling and updates, stations can focus more on creativity. AI also provides deeper audience insights and personalized experiences, while maintaining trust through fact-checking and content quality. However, broadcasters must adopt a thoughtful strategy for responsible AI use, including ethical policies and privacy protection. World Radio Day 2026 (13 February) encourages stations to embrace AI for growth and innovation, while preserving the human touch that listeners value.

A photographer's account of the Ukraine war 

Loss and compassion in Ukraine: from the front lines to evacuation routes, Ximena Borrazás, a UN staff member with the Ukraine Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office (OCHA), has been documenting the human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine — and the quiet dignity of those who endure it.

“Leaving young people at the sidelines of how we find solutions is not the way. It's really bringing them [in], because on many of the things, the solutions will come from them.”

A medical doctor by training, Dr. Felipe Paullier is a passionate advocate for young people. Two years ago, aged just 32, his life took a new turn when he became the first-ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, the youngest senior appointment in the history of the United Nations.

“I've heard this from the Secretary General. You know, power, in essence, is not to be given, it's to be taken. ”

The UN Youth Office believes that positive change is rooted in empowering young people to meaningfully participate in decisions that impact their lives and futures. In this episode of Awake at Night, Felipe reflects on youth demands for peace and opportunity, on the stubborn barriers to change, and shares why he always prescribes reconnecting with nature as a cure for digital overwhelm.

Photo: ©YuWaah (GenU India)

After enlisting at 18, Cheryl Pearce battled rigid gender barriers to rise through the military ranks. Now the UN’s Acting Military Adviser for Peacekeeping Operations, the Australian-born Lieutenant General is the highest ranking woman in uniform within the United Nations.

“Peace for me, is seeing communities having food security, having water security, education, knowing, you know, as a mum myself, knowing that my children can grow up to feel like that. They can have a life and a future and fulfill their dreams and goals.”

Lieutenant General Pearce knows what it takes to serve in some of the most difficult places on earth, from East Timor to Afghanistan. In this episode, she reflects on the sources of her mental and physical resilience, on making a robust case for peacekeeping in an age of disinformation, and shares why her family wants her to show her chaotic side once in a while.

“I don't believe in a world without peacekeeping. I truly believe in what we do and that we do make a difference. There is so much good about who we are and what we do.”

Photo: ©CMDR Kylie Robson

Former German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock is a new face at the United Nations. Sworn in as President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2025, she brings experience and energy at a time of challenges and new beginnings – including the selection of the next Secretary-General.

“We need this place where countries, big and small, rich and poor, are coming together and have an equal say and an equal vote.”

Shaped by her nation’s turbulent past and successful reunification Annalena Baerbock entered politics at a young age. In this episode of Awake at Night, she reflects on the importance of female pioneers, the impact of online harassment and shares why the UN Charter can still move her to tears.

“It meant really a lot to me, personally to be sworn in on the original document of the charter. And if people could see, I was too afraid to touch the charter. So my hand was kind of one centimeter above it.”

Photo: ©UN Photo/Manuel Elías

As generative AI advances, women journalists face growing threats including deepfakes, harassment, surveillance, and gendered disinformation. UNESCO is leading a global campaign with major media to expose Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), which aims to silence and discredit women online and offline. Research shows 73% of women journalists have faced online threats, with many experiencing real-world violence as a result. AI has intensified these attacks, making abuse faster and harder to control. Marking the 2025 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, UNESCO calls for stronger protection, accountability, and action to defend women journalists and freedom of expression worldwide.

The 2022-2025 UNESCO report reveals a 10% global decline in freedom of expression since 2012, driven by self-censorship, journalist attacks, economic pressures, and threats to democracy.

“It's [a] trapeze without a net, in a sense, because you're representing ... the Secretary General, you're representing the UN as a whole. And you have to be prepared, and sometimes you don't have the answer.”

Every day at noon, Stéphane Dujarric steps on stage to field questions about the United Nations from international journalists. As spokesman for the Secretary-General, he must be ready to talk on all aspects of the organization’s work at a time of unprecedented financial and political strain.

“There is no way we can move forward in this world without multilateralism, without an organization like this one. It's like a plant, right? It needs to be watered. We can't let it wither away.”

An alumnus of the United Nations International School, Stéphane Dujarric was immersed in the world of international diplomacy from an early age. In this episode of Awake at Night, he shares why his own family owes everything to the actions of two courageous diplomats, and reflects on how being a procrastinator can be a superpower when faced with the challenge of the 24-hour news cycle.

Women in public-facing roles, especially journalism, face rising AI-driven threats like gendered disinformation, surveillance and harassment, an emerging issue known as technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). A UNESCO study revealed that 73% of women journalists face online threats, with many facing offline violence too. This year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (2 November) highlights online gendered violence under the theme "Chat GBV,” aiming to raise awareness through advocacy, dialogue and digital initiatives to protect women journalists.

Audiovisual archives are cultural mirrors that transcend time, capturing the voices, visions, and traditions of communities across the globe. They safeguard our shared memory, rich in diversity and meaning. To protect this treasure, UNESCO launched “Digitizing our shared UNESCO history”. Yet, 95% of UNESCO's archives remain untapped and inaccessible for researchers, scholars, and the public. The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (27 October) calls us to preserve these moving images. Want to witness history in the making? Explore audiovisual records from before the founding of the UN until today.

As artificial intelligence reshapes how we create, share, and engage with information, media and information literacy (MIL) is more essential than ever. In a world where AI influences news feeds, search engines, and even content itself, MIL empowers individuals to think critically, question sources, and understand the impact of algorithms. By prioritizing human judgment, ethics, and awareness, "Minds Over AI" calls for a future where people, not machines, guide the interpretation and use of digital information.

UNESCO and Press House-Palestine empowered 150 journalists in Gaza with skills in digital safety, storytelling, leadership, and mental health support amid ongoing conflict.

This year’s International Day for Universal Access to Information (28 September) emphasizes the urgent need for timely, comprehensive, and cross-border access to environmental data in the digital age. Sharing information on climate change, pollution, biodiversity, and disaster risks requires global collaboration and transparency, especially for communities most vulnerable to climate impacts. Universal access is essential for accountable governance and the public’s right to know. 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the observance, reflecting a decade of progress and ongoing challenges.