How will the next UN Secretary General navigate a world in which the rules and institutions created to protect civilians and uphold humanitarian norms are under unprecedented threat? The commitments to preserve peace and uphold international law are at the core of the UN Charter. But as states are abandoning their commitments to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and avoiding accountability for attacks on aid workers and hospitals, the UN's credibility is collapsing before our eyes. The UN, founded as an institution "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war," has been unable to overcome widespread dysfunction and deep division – it is failing to deliver on its fundamental purpose to improve the world for humankind. As the UN grapples with its raison d'etre, the next Secretary-General will take the reins in 2027. Will the UN's new leader have the courage to lead with moral clarity and consistency to defend humanitarian law and restore faith in global cooperation at this critical moment? In this live episode of Forced from Home, recorded on the margins of UNGA 2026 in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania's Perry World House, we hear from Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, Perry World House Professor of the Practice of Law and Human Rights at the University of Pennsylvania, President and CEO of the International Peace Institute and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Tirana Hassan, CEO of Doctors Without Borders – USA and a Thakore Visiting Fellow at Perry World House; and Rita French, Director of Policy and Diplomatic Engagement at Article 109. They share their perspectives on the collapse of IHL, the need for institutional reform across the UN, and the role the next UN Secretary-General must play to tackle the scale and urgency of present and future humanitarian challenges. Timed Takeaways: [04:12] What it looks like when IHL collapses: a field perspective from Doctors Without Borders [08:03] Understanding the consequences of double standards on the UN's credibility and moral authority [15:59] The reverberating effects of U.S. aid cuts across humanitarian responses [21:05] Healing a flawed system: reforming the UN Security Council [27:14] Examining Secretary-General Guterres' legacy [31:27] A new SG and a new era: addressing transactional politics and leading with a moral compass in the face of IHL violations [41:42] Identifying the skills needed to be an effective Secretary-General If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and consider a donation to support our work at <a href="https://give.refugeesinternational.org/a/forcedfromhome"> https://give.refugeesinternational.org/a/forcedfromhome</a> For more show episodes, visit https://refugeesinternational.org/forced-from-home-podcast Thoughts or suggestions? Get in touch with our team at <a href="mailto:ri@refugeesinternational.org">ri@refugeesinternatio

Live from UNGA: Can the Next UN Secretary-General Save International Humanitarian Law?

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