Source: United Nations (video statements)
Outgoing Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation Corinne Momal-Vanian previously spent three decades serving with the United Nations. For her, the UN’s founding values have always been a north star, not just for her career, but also for her family and her whole life.
“It’s really putting the human dignity at the center. That every human being deserves to live a fulfilling life and life in dignity, that’s also at the heart of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and those are truly universal aspirations.”
From working against apartheid to stabilising post-genocide Cambodia, Corrine Momal-Vanian has deployed for the UN at compelling moments across the world. In this episode, she looks back on serving two Secretary-Generals during some of the darkest and dangerous moments in the organization’s history, and shares why the UN was always so much more than a job.
[00:00] Introduction
[00:36] Beginning a UN career in Baghdad and finding love
[04:16] Choosing the UN and a life of public service
[07:53] Cambodia, peacebuilding and Sergio Vieira de Mello
[13:00] Rwanda, Srebrenica and the lessons learned
[16:27] Travelling the world with Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali
[19:44] The power of determined leadership
[21:51] Working alongside Kofi Annan
[27:35] What keeps Corinne awake at night
[31:19] Why the UN still matters
[31:30] Carrying forward Kofi Annan’s legacy
[36:19] Why young people give her hope
[38:08] Closing remarks
Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
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About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.