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“It's a very complicated job, but it is meeting people and finding out their stories. It's giving voices to victims. That's what motivates me.”

Matilda Bogner’s job is to bear witness to unspeakable crimes. As head of the, she and her team record accounts of horrific abuses and rights violations in a bid to bring the perpetrators to justice and ease the victims’ suffering.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has devastated millions of lives. Civilians have been subjected to summary executions, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and mass rape. In this episode, Matilda Bogner reflects on the scale of these horrors, the mental health impact of documenting them, and on her urgent quest to raise the alarm with the rest of the world.

“I still find it difficult to understand that people can treat each other in these ways. It never makes sense to me.”

The cost of internet services has inched downward across the globe in 2022, according to the annual report on the state of digital connectivity from . The Internet has become more affordable in all regions of the world and among all income groups. Cost, however, remains a major obstacle to internet access, especially in low-income economies. The high inflation and current global economic situation – with high inflation, rising interest rates, and deep uncertainty – could add to the challenge of extending Internet reach in lower-income areas.

The (IGF), under the theme resilient internet for a shared sustainable and common future, takes place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 28 November to 2 December. The program is guided by drawn from the Global Digital Compact, a future agreement proposed in the �山����Secretary-General's Our Common Agenda report for an open, free, and secure digital future for all. While there is no negotiated outcome, the IGF informs policymakers and facilitates a common understanding of how to maximize internet opportunities and address risks and challenges that arise.

Television continues to be the single largest source of video consumption. Though people create, post, stream and consume content on different platforms, the number of television sets around the world continues to rise. Both emerging and traditional forms of broadcast continue to raise awareness about the important issues facing our communities and our planet. On this World Television Day (21 November) explore the many �山����multimedia products and services: such as  for live streaming of meetings and events, for features and interviews, and for breaking news footage.

How is the life of a young child in Kenya interlinked with the life of a Swedish man who'd lost his son in a road accident? And also linked to the life of a woman who had lost her parents in the Holocaust, though she herself survived? In this episode of Awake at Night, we hear from Chris Mburu, �山����Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Congo, as he reflects on his path out of poverty, the transformational power of development, and the ripple effect of small acts of kindness.

From a barefoot child barely affording school, to a young graduate of Harvard Law, Chris, now a human rights lawyer, did not forget the act of kindness that set him on his path. He is working on giving back.

Chris Mburu speaks about the story of his life, the role that key figures such as his mother, Hilde Back and Sven Magnusson played in his journey, and the surprising revelation that Hollywood uncovered for him by way of the 2010 acclaimed Emmy-winning documentary "A Small Act".

Between 2006 and 2020, over 1,200 journalists have been killed around the world, with close to 9 out of 10 cases remaining judicially unresolved, according to the . In recognition of the climate of fear created by threats against journalists, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists aims to counter the present culture of impunity. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the , a milestone to Reaffirm, Recommit and Reposition efforts to advance the �山����Plan.

An essential part of the work on development and the SDGs consists of ensuring public access to information and the protection of fundamental freedoms. The role of the United Nations has been to assist the various national information media, by supplying accurate information from which these media may draw both substance and inspiration for their work. World Development Information Day (24 October) aims to draw the attention of the world to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them.

Audiovisual archives tell us stories about people’s lives and cultures. They represent a priceless heritage of our collective memory and a valuable source of knowledge. The  will be celebrated in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the . On this Day, let us remember that the world's documentary heritage belongs to all, should be fully preserved, and protected for all. Visit the , made up of a selection of videos digitized to make our history available to a worldwide community of users.

In Our Common Agenda report, �山����Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres highlighted the values of trust and solidarity as being the glue for social cohesion for the common good. Along the same line, Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2022 (24-31 October) focuses on trust and solidarity as it relates to people, media, digital platforms, governments, private sector, and non-governmental organizations. It highlights some promising actions and how media and information literacy help with nurturing trust and countering mistrust. Visit .

Trusted news sources have seen a surge in demand during the COVID-19 crisis. But in many ways, they face many challenges and an uncertain future. Quality journalism costs money to produce and the financial impact of COVID-19 has led to what some have called an “extinction” of countless jobs in journalism, even leading to the closure of whole titles around the world.

Independent journalism—the kind that favours public interest over political or commercial agendas—relies on media viability. Without it, media pluralism and independence are at risk and trusted news becomes extinct. Discover why media viability matters to all of us. Learn more about how to ensure that information remains a public good.

“I found it fascinating as a leader […] to be in an environment of collective fear […] people naturally go to a place of great horror […] yet you're trying to buffer it yourself, because you've got to function […] The second point is the ego of leadership […] you've got to be very careful that you're not letting the ego [... drive] you past the point of really solid judgement and solid reflection.”

knows how to keep a cool head in a crisis. In August 2021, when the Taliban seized power, in her former role as Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (), Deborah was responsible for ensuring the safety of staff across the country, among them many women. Since returning to power, the Taliban have severely curtailed women’s rights. Millions of women and girls are now excluded from work and school, contrary to initial assurances from Afghanistan’s new leaders. In this episode, Deborah Lyons reflects on the tragedy facing Afghan women, the trauma of the Taliban takeover, and what it takes to lead in turbulent times.

To counter the denial and distortion of the Holocaust, and the United Nations sought to objectively on social networks.

The best defence against conspiracy theories is knowledge. Teachers can play a central role in building the resilience, knowledge and analytical skills needed to spot and debunk conspiracy theory narratives.

“We don't have to be naive, but we have to believe in change, because change has happened. And we can make it happen again.”

Despite monitoring multiple global crises, Rebeca Grynspan has never lost her faith in the power of change. As Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), she is assessing the impact of the war in Ukraine on cash-strapped countries still reeling from the pandemic. A trio of crises – climate change, COVID-19, and the war in Ukraine – are setting global development by decades, with vulnerable countries worst affected by global food and energy shortages. In this episode, Rebeca Grynspan reflects on these setbacks, their disproportionate impact on women, and why the world can never give up on the promise of development.

Photo: ©UNCTAD/Violaine Martin