With her background in human rights law, Georgette Gagnon was once said to represent the conscience of war. Currently serving as the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, she has been devastated by the sweeping loss of rights for women and girls there.
“You used to see across the country hundreds of girls going to school […] Now, of course, you don’t see that, and it’s heartbreaking. It’s such a huge loss for the entire society.”
Afghanistan faces the second biggest humanitarian crisis in the world today, while drastic cuts to humanitarian assistance will leave millions of vulnerable people without access to critical medical care.
In this episode, Georgette Gagnon shares her hopes and fears for a country close to her heart, and reflects on a career serving in some of the world’s toughest places, from Syria to Sudan and Libya.
[00:00] Introduction
[01:09] Returning to Afghanistan
[02:45] Halted humanitarian funding and its’ impact
[05:19] What keeps Georgette awake at night
[07:26] Girls’ determination to learn
[11:20] Navigating complexities
[13:22]The economic argument for women’s rights
[15:18] What brought Georgette back
[17:02] Working and living under restrictions
[17:48] A harrowing encounter in Syria
[19:46] Cautious hope for Syria
[21:10] The importance of accountability
[22:29] Bearing witness in conflict zones
[23:29] Georgette’s journey to the UN
[26:43] Family support and sacrifice
[30:04] What keeps Georgette going
[30:36] Closing remarks
Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
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.
For more info, please visit: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
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Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Sudan
Yemen
Myanmar
Colombia
Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change
UN General Assembly High-Level Week 2025
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that starvation and malnutrition are at the highest levels in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that five people died over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition and starvation, bringing the total number of malnutrition-related deaths to 227 people, including 103 children. And again, those numbers are since October 2023.
Against this backdrop, humanitarian supplies entering Gaza remain far below the minimum required to meet people’s immense needs.
The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to do everything possible to bring assistance into Gaza. However, humanitarian movements still face significant delays and other impediments that prevent the UN from delivering aid at the scale that is needed.
Yesterday, the UN has requested to coordinate with the Israeli authorities 16 missions, including the collection of food, medical supplies and fuel – from the two operational crossings, Kerem Shalom and Zikim. Other missions involved moving goods and personnel within Gaza, from south to north and within the southern part of Gaza.
Out of the 16 missions, four were facilitated and three were denied; another four were impeded but eventually were fully accomplished.
Of the remaining five missions, two were cancelled by the respective organizations; another two missions that involved collection of food and health supplies from Kerem Shalom were impeded and unable to be completed, while another one was impeded but is still ongoing.
Efforts to coordinate humanitarian movements often drag on for hours due to unpredictable clearances by the Israeli authorities, wasting precious time.
In the West Bank, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that yesterday, another Palestinian Bedouin community was displaced due to violence by Israeli forces and settlers.
Israeli forces raided the community of Ein Ayoub in Ramallah governorate and ordered the immediate eviction of its approximately 100 Palestinian residents. OCHA reports that a lot of the evacuated residents have no alternative shelter.
SUDAN
The UN is deeply alarmed by reports of a large-scale attack yesterday on the El Fasher area, the besieged capital of North Darfur State. That also affected the adjoining Abu Shouk displacement camp.
The attack has been attributed by local sources to fighters from the Rapid Support Forces. According to them at least 40 civilians have been killed within Abu Shouk, and another 19 injured.
under siege and cutting them off from safety and aid. The situation remains tense and highly fluid, with insecurity displacing at least 500 people from Abu Shouk to other locations in North Darfur. That’s according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The Acting Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan said that the immediate provision of safe and unhindered passage for people seeking to flee El Fasher and other areas of active hostilities is critical. He also reiterated the Secretary-General’s repeated calls for a humanitarian pause in and around the city to allow for the delivery of food, delivery of water, delivery of medicine and other life-saving supplies that are so desperately needed. Those that are trapped in those areas are facing acute hunger and starvation.
Meanwhile, the UN also remains concerned about the situation and the violence in the Kordofan region. In South Kordofan State, the International Organization for Migration estimates that more than 3,000 people fled Kadugli town between August 6th and August 10th due to intensified insecurity. Humanitarian access to the town remains extremely limited, with virtually no road access. The primary supply route from Al Obeid in North Kordofan State is inaccessible due to active hostilities. This has worsened the already dire economic conditions and is leading to even more shortages of vital goods.
OCHA reminds all those engaged in the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law.
They must not direct attacks against civilians or civilian objects and must take constant care to spare them in all circumstances. They must also facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access to everyone in need of assistance.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight
Statement by Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the Security Council Media Stakeout.
The European Commission proposes investing €9 billion in the new AgoraEU programme. It will boost cultural creation, media freedom and European values. This is not just funding, it is about fostering creativity and creating new and better opportunities.
Learning new skills is key to helping prisoners successfully reintegrate into society after serving their sentence, and it’s one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of reoffending.
The UN Mission in the Central African Republic is working with the Ngaragba Prison Administration to offer vocational training programs in sewing, carpentry, mechanics, and more. These programs give young detainees the tools they need to build a future, find employment, and support their families once they’re released.
This initiative is part of the UN’s broader efforts to strengthen rule of law and promote lasting peace.
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
The latest series of the Committee Corridor podcast has landed on YouTube. Listen to all of the episodes covering a wide range of topics with hosts Dame Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Liaison Committee for the first two episodes and Toby Perkins MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee who takes over for the rest of the series.
This series on Committee Corridor:
Episode 1 – Women in the armed forces: What difference did select committees make?
Episode 2 – The work of the Liaison Committee.
Episode 3 – Aviation, economic growth and the climate crisis.
Episode 4 – Tackling twin crises: Delivering new homes while meeting climate goals?
Episode 5 – Why is our water system broken?
Episode 6 – The UK’s role in protecting ocean life.
Episode 7 – Clean power by 2030.
