Guarding Democracy: My journey as a UN Volunteer in The Gambia

United Nations Volunteers
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I am Emi Leung from Japan and I am a UN Volunteer Governance Officer with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in The Gambia. My volunteer assignment is funded by the Government of Japan since March 2025. My work centers on one mission: supporting the electoral processes and helping Gambians shape their democracy. After more than 20 years of authoritarian rule, the peaceful transition in 2017 was a historic turning point. But progress remains fragile. Reforms have stalled, politics are deeply polarized, and misinformation is spreading fast. In this landscape, every effort to strengthen electoral processes and civic participation matters.

Working closely with the Independent Electoral Commission, I focus on the next electoral cycle (2026–2027). One of the most rewarding parts of my work has been joining a nationwide training mission across all ten regions of the country. 

My 6,000 days with United Nations Volunteers

Waseem Ashraf, UNV Country Coordinator, Pakistan
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What brings me to work every day and what keeps me here as I complete my 6,000 days in office. That's what I want to share with you—a journey that continues to inspire me. It started 16 years ago and counting...

As I complete my 6,000 days with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), I find myself reflecting on a journey that has been nothing short of extraordinary. It has been filled with people, purpose and the countless moments that have shaped who I am today—professionally and personally.  

Let us truly value volunteers in 2026

Louise Chamberlain, UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator
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In a time marked by climate shocks, conflict, economic uncertainty, and widening inequality, it is easy to overlook one of the world’s most powerful sources of resilience: volunteers. The designation of 2026 as the International Volunteer Year by the United Nations is more than symbolic; it is a call to action for governments, organizations, and communities to fill this gap and recognize and invest in the power of volunteering.

Globally, over 2.1 billion people volunteer every month; that’s one in three working-age adults. These individuals are not just filling gaps; they are driving progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, bridging humanitarian and development divides, and strengthening social cohesion. They care for neighbours, protect forests, mentor young people, and respond to crises long before institutional help arrives. 

What's cooking in Georgia’s AccLab?

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At the United Nations Development Programme in Georgia’s Accelerator Lab, Nita Gegeshidze, Head of Exploration, and Mariam Dangadze, Head of Solutions Mapping, show how bold ideas and volunteer-driven energy deliver results. For Nita, real change happens when people use their skills to solve challenges in their own communities. For Mariam, volunteering matters because it turns intention into action—making a direct difference where it’s needed most.

“In the world of innovation and development, no one has all the answers. Becoming a UN Volunteer means stepping forward because you care enough to find solutions together,” shares Mariam. 

Unmasking digital violence: Legal shields in the virtual world

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Digital violence is often invisible—but its harm is very real. UN Volunteer Communication and Advocacy Assistant and lawyer, Aslı Akbay Alagöz, breaks down victims’ rights under Turkish law and how to seek help. She is currently supporting the 16 Days of Activism campaign in her volunteer role with UN Women. 

Aslı highlights Digital violence is real 'Dijital şiddet gerçektir' in her interview, originally published in Milliyet, a Turkish newspaper and Media Compact partner of UN Women Türkiye.

Aslı Akbay Alagöz explains the legal rights available to victims and stresses that women must be protected in digital spaces just as they are in the physical world. As the digital environment becomes central to daily life, the forms of violence have also evolved. Today, threats, harassment, stalking, the disclosure of intimate images, deepfakes, and AI-based manipulations are among the most common examples of digital violence. Aslı answers questions on the legal framework of digital violence and the rights of victims.

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