Geir O. Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria
In conversation with Paolo Magri, Director, ISPI
Ten years after the Arab Spring, North Africa is living an incredibly delicate phase in its political, social, and economic life. The international community, policymakers and other relevant actors have failed to address the political and socio-economic demands which fueled demonstrations in most North African countries in 2011. In addition, challenges such as intra-regional rivalries, the lack of regional integration and unresolved conflicts remain unaddressed, intersecting with hybrid and transnational security threats such as cross-border crime, illicit trafficking and terrorism.
2020 marked the 20th Anniversary of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC). The Protocol strongly condemns the targeting of children in situations of armed conflict, and direct attacks on schools. Further, as a practical tool, 112 States have now endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration- an inter-governmental political commitment to protect students, teachers, schools, and universities from the worst effects of armed conflict.
In conversation with
Paolo Magri, Executive Vice President, ISPI
Julien Barnes-Dacey, Director, Middle East and North Africa programme, ECFR
Join us at the Think20 (T20) Summit on October 4 – 6, where policy makers and experts will discuss multilateral challenges for the G20 and other multilateral fora: international finance, climate and growth, trade and investments, vaccines and health, digitalization, poverty and inequalities.
Cultural heritage in the Mena region has been negatively affected by dramatic events such as conflicts, deliberate destruction, and systematic spoliation of historical sites by clandestine diggers. Yet, heritage can help heal wounds among communities, by uniting societies with diverse cultures and backgrounds. How to protect cultural heritage during wars, and Covid-19? How to relaunch tourism industries after the pandemic? How to unlock the potential of culture and creativity for sustainable development? How to strengthen international cooperation on cultural heritage?
Mr. Wennesland serves as the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, as well as the Envoy of the Secretary-General to the Quartet.
In partnership with
