Key Speakers:

• Ambassador George Papadatos – EPLO Head of Delegation and Permanent Observer to the United Nations (Moderator).
• Dr. Fatima Khalifa Al Kaabi – President of the UAHR; Advisor on Developmental and Human Rights Affairs. International Expert in Human Rights.
• H.E. Abderaman Djasnabaille – Former Minister of Human Rights and Justice, a recognized expert on international affairs and governance challenges in Africa.
• Arnauld Akodjenou – Senior Advisor at the Kofi Annan International Foundation.
• Dr. Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga – Senior UN Correspondent, President of the Association of Correspondents Accredited at UN, Member of the Advisory Council of the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations.
• Dr. Lionel Fatton – Assistant Professor and Head of the BA Program in International Relations, Webster University – Geneva.

Content of the Symposium:

The symposium discussed the profound transformations of the international system and the declining effectiveness of multilateralism in addressing armed conflicts, along with the human rights challenges arising from the weakening of global protection mechanisms.

Main Themes:

• The impact of geopolitical crises on the global human rights protection system.
• The relationship between international humanitarian law and human rights law in armed conflict situations.
• The weaknesses of international mechanisms for human rights protection, especially given the veto power of some countries in the Security Council.
• The responsibility of the international community to ensure accountability and prevent impunity.
• The need to modernize multilateral institutions to reflect the reality of contemporary conflict.
• The role of regional organizations and preventive diplomacy in maintaining peace and security.
• The UAE’s humanitarian mediation experience and its contributions to relief and reconstruction in conflict zones.

Importance of the Symposium:

The symposium provided a distinguished intellectual platform for dialogue among legal experts, diplomats, and scholars on the future of the international human rights system amid accelerating geopolitical change. It emphasized the importance of preventive approaches and humanitarian diplomacy as tools for civilian protection, underscoring the need for maintaining neutrality and objectivity in UN institutions.

Attendance:

Participants included representatives of permanent missions, UN special rapporteurs, experts in international law and transitional justice, researchers from European universities, NGO representatives, university students, and journalists.

Key Recommendations:

• Calling for reform of UN mechanisms, including the Security Council, to enhance their crisis response capacity.
• Strengthening cooperation between international and regional organizations for civilian protection in armed conflict zones.
• Developing a global code of conduct to curb politicization of human rights and humanitarian work.
• Supporting UAE and international efforts in promoting preventive diplomacy and peace dialogue.
• Advocating for a global civil movement to abolish the veto power in the Security Council, in line with the UN Charter, which recognizes equality among countries.