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“I got such a feeling of outrage, healthy outrage, proactive outrage, which I still feel now.”

Staffan de Mistura has dedicated his life to making a difference. Now the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, he spent a large part of his 48-year career at the �山����striving for an end to some of the most intractable conflicts of modern times.  

“I have no regrets. I would have never chosen another type of job. I think you can [make a difference] even in the worst-case scenario - always.”

From Syria and Afghanistan to Sudan and Iraq, the seasoned diplomat is known for bringing creative thinking to the negotiating table even when others have lost hope. In this episode of Awake at Night with Melissa Fleming, Staffan de Mistura reflects on harnessing constructive outrage as a driving force, on his determination in the face of despair, and why at 75, he isn’t ready to retire just yet.

A recent  shows how the Black Sea Grain Initiative, effected to resume exports of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea amid the ongoing war, has offered hope and shown the power of trade in times of crisis. The report underlines why it’s critical to renew the initiative next month. Thanks to the initiative, port activity in Ukraine is picking up and large shipments of grain are reaching world markets. The total tonnage of grain and other foodstuffs exported through the initiative had reached almost 8 million metric tons.

report on how Syrian women have been instrumental in mediating various conflicts by leveraging relationships and through their knowledge on the conflict and its parties.

Just as no one is immune to war and conflict, no one can solve it alone. To achieve peace, we must invest in peace. And to make peace sustainable, we must invest in development, recognizing the central role that institutions play in ensuring that solutions are nationally-owned, long-term and effective. Overall, as outlined in Our Common Agenda, we need to re-envision multilateralism to overcome the challenges we face as humanity. looks forward to ensuring that our engagement on conflict and fragility, and our support in conflict settings is effective, inclusive and sustainable.

Armed conflict constitutes one of the most devastating barriers to education. Schools and universities are attacked to spread fear and indoctrinate new recruits. During such chaos, children, students and teachers are denied their right to access quality education.  The is a political commitment to better protect students, teachers, schools and universities from attack, to support the continuation of education during war, and to put in place concrete measures to deter the military use of schools. Visit to view the 111 States that have endorsed the Declaration.

From Action for  to the Sustainable Development Goals, from peacekeeping to preventing conflict and sustaining peace, the  are a vital tool and key enabler for realizing the peace and security, development and humanitarian objectives of the entire Organization. From 31 August to 1 September,  (UNCOPS) focuses on engaging and strengthening international peace, security, and development for all, through the unifying power and enabling role of national and United Nations policing.

is held on 22-26 August in Geneva, Switzerland. The landmark ATT, regulating the international trade in conventional arms – from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships – is an international treaty that regulates the international trade and seeks to prevent and eradicate illicit trade and diversion of conventional arms by establishing international standard. At this stage the Treaty has a total of 111 States Parties and 30 States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty.

is a game that introduces players to behavioral science tactics and techniques that are relevant to peace and security questions. It encourages using behavioral science to strengthen resilience against disinformation and political manipulation. Sweet Victory was developed by the .

Sexual violence in conflict settings remains widespread and systematic, a  by the United Nations Secretary-General found, fuelled by “rising inequality, increased militarization, reduced civic space and the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons, among other factors.” Conflict-related sexual violence – which includes assault, rape, forced marriage, trafficking, sexual slavery, forced sterilization, forced abortion other forms of sexual coercion – is used to instill fear, pain, suffering and censorship in its targets.

“It’s difficult because you’re wondering why others have died and you’re alive. And for those who did not survive […] I felt like having a responsibility somehow to do something that would make them proud of me.” Monique Sokhan survived the Cambodian genocide, having fled the Khmer Rouge terror when she was just a small child. Now, working as Senior Protection Coordinator, at UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, she is still searching for answers about the atrocities that killed many of her family members.

Dedicating her life to humanitarian work, Monique soon found herself face to face with the very people who were responsible for killing her own family and friends. In this special bitesize episode, she reflects on her quest to understand the perpetrators of genocide, on reserving judgement, and on the unanswered questions that continue to haunt her.

Photo: ©UNHCR/Susan Hopper

“What is keeping me awake at night is the horror of knowing that it hasn't ended yet and that there are more people alive today that are very likely to be dead tomorrow.”

Osnat Lubrani knows first-hand the horrors of war. As �山����Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, she has witnessed the dramatic changes since the Russian invasion and rapidly mounting needs as the war tears lives apart across the country. At least 15.7 million Ukrainians are now in urgent need of humanitarian aid, with the �山����working to expand existing programs and establish new life-saving operations. Yet access to some of the most vulnerable is proving extremely problematic. In this episode, Osnat Lubrani reflects on the frustrating battle to reach them, what it feels like to receive distressing cries for help, and what gives her hope when all seems lost.

Photo: ©Osnat Lubrani

“Sometimes it can be very overwhelming, you really feel for the people and the suffering that they're going through.”

Unaisi Vuniwaqa has witnessed terrible suffering. As the Assistant Secretary-General for Safety and Security, she has worked as a �山����peacekeeper in some of the world’s most dangerous places.

What does it take to stay calm in the crossfire? Peacekeepers have one of the toughest roles in the United Nations. Serving in brutal conflicts, such as that in South Sudan, can mean drawing on all their reserves of courage and ingenuity. In this episode, Unaisi Vuniwaqa reflects on what it takes to keep a cool head while in mortal danger and on maintaining the safety of �山����staff and peacekeepers around the world.

Photo: ©�山����Photo/Evan Schneider

It is a sad reality that in situations where armed conflict breaks out, it is the most vulnerable members of societies – namely children, who are most affected by the consequences of war. During armed conflict, children may be forced to flee their homes, some torn from their families and exposed to exploitation and abuse along the way. They may be recruited by armed forces. Especially for girls and women, the threat of gender-based violence soars. On the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression the United Nations affirms its commitment to protect the rights of children.

Peacekeeping has helped save lives and bring peace and stability to many countries over the decades. But �山����peacekeeping cannot succeed on its own to end conflict and secure lasting political solutions. Partnerships are fundamental to bringing tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary people. The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (29 May) offers a chance to pay tribute to uniformed and civilian personnel. On this day, we also honour the serving under the �山����flag since 1948, including 135 last year.

On the divided island of Cyprus, Hande and Flora may not have met if it wasn't for a weaving project facilitated by the , which brought together the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. Here’s the story of how they went from strangers to friends. has been working towards a political settlement in Cyprus since 1964. UNFICYP continues to supervise ceasefire lines, to maintain a buffer zone, to undertake humanitarian activities and to support the good offices mission of the Secretary-General.