In 2025, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, which was established on October 24, 1945. On this occasion, the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Warsaw is organizing a series of special events dedicated to the role and significance of the UN in today’s world.

In the podcast series Concise and to the Point: On International Relations – Conversations with Practitioners, we talk about the United Nations with representatives of public administration, international institutions, and the academic community. Expert insights, presented in a clear and accessible way, allow listeners to better understand the inner workings of the Organization and its related structures.

The podcast asks questions on the role of UNHCR in protection of refugees today and the evolution of its mandate since the date of the agency creation in 1950. These are contextualized in times of growing skepticism about migration, its politicization and securitization. We also discuss the significance of the UNHCR in Poland considering the consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the situation at the Polish-Belarusian  border.