Working for peace in the DR Congo, with Vivian van de Perre | DSRSG in MONUSCO | Awake at Night | UN

Vivian van de Perre’s calling is to help nations transition from conflict to peace. Now the deputy head of peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she leads a life-saving operation in the rebel-held city of Goma. “It's tragic and it's unimaginable, but at the same time, people live their lives and they do the best they can, and they remain generous and warm, despite the circumstances that they live in. You go to these places and you see the worst and you see the best, and it's all in one package, and it is just something that really, really touches you. It's not like a regular job.” A recent peace accord has raised hopes of an end to the violence that has plagued eastern DRC for the past three decades. In this episode, recorded before the peace agreement, Vivian van de Perre reflects on the impact of funding cuts on active war zones, on peacekeeping as a delicate balancing act, and shares why she falls for every place she serves. [00:00] Introduction [00:59] Life in the Democratic Republic of Congo [04:12] Decades of suffering [07:17] The role of Peacekeepers [09:15] Protecting civilians amid conflict [13:49] Why MONUSCO’s presence still matters [18:54] Seeking refuge behind UN gates [22:04] Colleagues lost in the field [23:22] What keeps Vivian awake at night [26:21] Vivian’s personal life and journey [31:06] Finding beauty amid crisis [34:25] Balancing family and duty [38:54] Holding onto UN values [40:05] Coping with stress [41:17] Closing remarks Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt #podcast #unitednations #awakeatnight #MONUSCO #Peacekeeping 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.


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