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Source: United Nations (video statements)

António Guterres’ drive to serve those less fortunate saw him rise from a volunteer in the slums of Lisbon to the highest spheres of politics, eventually taking on the world’s most important diplomatic role. Now in his final months in office, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations shares what keeps him awake at night.

“First of all, [it’s] the enormous suffering because of all the conflicts and injustices that we have. Second, thinking about the future, the two existential threats that we are facing. One is climate change, and the other is artificial intelligence running away without control.”

Preventing wars, easing suffering, acting as the world’s moral compass, all these and more count among the formidable expectations placed on the UN Secretary-General. In this episode, António Guterres looks back on the milestones and setbacks of a long career, reflects on the personal tragedy of the loss of his first wife, and shares why his lasting hope is rooted in the promise of “We, the Peoples.”

[00:00] Introduction
[04:20] Peace and inequality
[10:15] Poverty and democracy
[13:31] Portugal’s Carnation revolution
[18:27] Prime Minister of Portugal
[21:45] Personal loss
[26:31] Refugees and UNHCR
[30:39] Faith and refugee protection
[35:53] United Nations leadership
[43:33] What keeps the Secretary-General awake at night?
[47:15] Closing remarks

Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt

#podcast #UnitedNations #AwakeAtNight #SG

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOdCTRbMfyQ

Source: United Nations (video statements)

@unitednations

António Guterres’ drive to serve those less fortunate saw him rise from a volunteer in the slums of Lisbon to the highest spheres of politics, eventually taking on the world’s most important diplomatic role. Now in his final months in office, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations shares what keeps him awake at night.

“First of all, [it’s] the enormous suffering because of all the conflicts and injustices that we have. Second, thinking about the future, the two existential threats that we are facing. One is climate change, and the other is artificial intelligence running away without control.”

Preventing wars, easing suffering, acting as the world’s moral compass, all these and more count among the formidable expectations placed on the UN Secretary-General. In this episode, António Guterres looks back on the milestones and setbacks of a long career, reflects on the personal tragedy of the loss of his first wife, and shares why his lasting hope is rooted in the promise of “We, the Peoples.”

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZO2RLquIf3I

Source: United Nations (video statements)

In Monrovia, Liberia, 30 victims of sexual exploitation and abuse participated in a textile arts initiative facilitated by the Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate.
Through creativity and shared expression, the initiative provided a supportive space to strengthen connection, confidence and hope while placing victims’ rights and dignity at the centre.

More info: https://www.un.org/preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/content/office-victims-rights-advocate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_5uCuoV9Ck

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Transformation is not only about new strategies, systems or structures — it also begins with how we, as individuals, show up to change. In this interactive two-part session, we explore practical ways staff can create the conditions for greater presence, adaptability, trust and meaningful connection in everyday work.

Drawing on insights from Our Common Agenda, the Pact for the Future, UN80 and the Transformative Spaces initiative, the conversation will connect system-level transformation with the individual: How can we work with uncertainty, shift mindsets, build resilience and make space for new possibilities? What small practices can help us navigate complexity and contribute differently to the teams and systems around us?

The session then moves from conversation into experience, as Rob Rea leads participants through breathwork and mindfulness, informed by psychological insights into stress, presence and self-regulation — offering a practical opportunity to experience the very capacities that support meaningful change.

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The Goals Lounge is an innovative platform at the UN Headquarters that brings together dialogue, partnerships and visibility to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Since its launch, it has enabled major announcements, mobilized significant financial commitments and supported high-impact initiatives across areas such as mental health, women’s leadership and digital transformation, while engaging diverse stakeholders and audiences worldwide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulZP9HQ_y7E

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Next week, world leaders will gather at UNHQ in New York for the 81st General Assembly session. Together, they will seek solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing humanity.

Learn about the high-level events set to take place: https://www.un.org/en/high-level-week-2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DPztP-Hfss

Source: United Nations (video statements)

A new report on remittances from the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Financing Facility (IFAD), shows that “approximately 220 million people, migrants and diaspora members, send money home supporting over 1.1 billion people.”

Presenting the Sending Money Home Report today (14 Sep) in New York, IFAD’s Remittances Manager Pedro De Vasconcelos, said the report “is about financial flows of extraordinary scale, but more importantly it is about families,” and added that “remittances are an expression of family responsibility, sacrifice, solidarity across borders.”

De Vasconcelos said, “migrants around the globe have sent 728 billion or 729 billion dollars in remittances to their families. And they’ve done that 300, 400 dollars at a time, 9 to 10 times a year.”

He said this was “definitely one of the world’s largest and most resilient source of household income,” and it “dwarfs many others like ODA and FDI many times combined.”

The IFAD official said, “savings, credit, Insurance, and investment “can turn remittances and family much more resilient,” and added that “the objective is to expand the choices available to families.”

The report calls for expanding financial access for migrants and their families and leveraging remittances as a driver of long-term economic opportunity rather than just a lifeline.

The report provides detailed data and analysis on remittances and migration trends over the past decade.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdB_6dvt6pI