Jusoor International symposium in Geneva discusses UN efforts to achieve peace and development in the Middle East and North Africa

Jusoor International symposium in Geneva discusses UN efforts to achieve peace and development in the Middle East and North Africa
Jusoor International symposium in Geneva - Jusoor Post

The Jusoor International Center for Media and Development held an international symposium in Geneva, during which it discussed the issues of war and peace in some Arab countries despite the continued efforts of the United Nations to achieve security and peace for more than a decade. The symposium, which was held at the Geneva Press Club in Switzerland, dealt with the UN’s efforts in Syria, Libya and Yemen, where the continuation of war and armed conflict in these countries worsens the human rights situation and the continued loss of security, peace and stability despite the efforts of many UN agencies.


The symposium opened with a speech by Jusoor International President Mohammed Al-Hammadi, who stressed the need to address the efforts and achievements of the UN in achieving international peace and security, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.Jusoor International symposium in Geneva

Jusoor International symposium in Geneva


Referring to the special situations of Syria, Libya and Yemen with regard to human rights, Hammadi also spoke about international moral responsibility and the need for concerted efforts by the international community in the region.


Hammadi stressed the need for UN resolutions to reflect the interests of all countries, and that its decisions always stem from the Security Council, which in turn reflects the General Assembly. He noted that the aim of the entity, which was established nearly 75 years ago, is to spread peace and security in the world, for people to be able to protect themselves, and to prevent wars from breaking out and tragedies from recurring, as happened in the last century.


He explained that the great challenge facing the world since that time is how the UN can achieve its goals, stressing that the UN, upon which people pin great hopes, is still insufficient and has not reached the level needed around the world.


“We have all noticed the attempt to engineer the global system and the UN to be more effective. But two decades after the beginning of this century, wars are still going on, which poses a real challenge for the UN,” Hammadi said, pointing out that the failure of the League of Nations beforehand was due to World War II. He also pondered how long the UN will last in light of all the other wars around the world.


He noted that the UN is facing great challenges today, especially the Ukraine war, which, according to observers, will drag on, leaving the entire world to pay for it, not just Russia, Ukraine and Europe.


Hammadi explained that the Middle East and North Africa region suffers from the danger of constant wars and terrorism, hence the dependence of the peoples of this region on the UN to achieve peace. However, the efforts of the international system have continued to fail to meet the aspirations of these peoples.


He pointed out that the UN mechanisms are one of the main obstacles in achieving their goals, in addition to the funding crisis for UN missions in conflict areas, or the investigation of some issues around the world in general, and in the MENA region in particular.


The Jusoor International president also explained that the Middle East region looks negatively at the efforts of the UN in confronting real dangers, such as the threat of terrorism, sectarianism, violent conflicts, environmental and climatic challenges, and human rights, as the UN is always the last to arrive and the last to interact after situations develop dramatically and get out of control.


“We all agree on the importance of an international institution such as the UN. Great philosophers such as Voltaire, Kant, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau spoke for a long time about the importance of having global organizations that manage and work to spread world peace. But this organization must be effective and capable of taking decisions, and to break out of its current stalemate, where one member can block a decision agreed upon by the world. The problem of the veto in the Security Council has obstructed many of the efforts of the UN and has led astray the way to resolving many issues,” Hammadi said.


The challenges are not limited to wars and conflicts, as there are also challenges related to the climate and our existence as human beings, he explained, stressing that the Middle East suffers from drought, desertification, and lack of water.


“When we talk about the role of the UN, we must include its role in these issues. There are countries that encroach on the rights of other countries in water resources without the UN having an active role, and perhaps it will come at a very late stage when armed confrontation has become an option,” he said.


Regarding the role of the UN in the main issue in the Middle East, namely the issue of peace and the Arab-Israeli conflict, which is as old as the global body, Hammadi stressed that many UN resolutions are not activated or implemented.


Hammadi concluded his speech by emphasizing that all of this prompts us to speak out loudly and to address the need for the UN to develop its tools and change its mechanisms so that it can be effectively present and capable of influencing, changing, and restoring people's trust.


During the symposium, Thierry Valle, president of the Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience, reviewed the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen and the violations and war crimes that civilians are exposed to there, which has affected their lives and safety. He stressed the role and mission of the UN in achieving the main goals for which it was established, foremost of which is the maintenance of international peace and security.


Valle stressed the importance of the role of the UN agencies, especially the Human Rights Council, and he reviewed the resolutions issued by the Council on Yemen, which failed to achieve its purpose.


He pointed out that despite the many agreements in Yemen, adherence to them is threatened and unsustainable, stressing the importance of focusing on the suffering of civilians in Yemen and the need to unify efforts to achieve security and peace by understanding the challenges and difficulties faced by the UN in the country.


Dr. Mehmet Sukru, founder and president of the Center for Peace and Reconciliation Studies, noted the importance of starting an effective peace and reconciliation process in Syria, as well as addressing the reasons for the failure of the UN efforts to achieve security, peace and human rights protection, stressing that the failure of the UN is the failure of all countries of the world.Dr. Mehmet Sukru, founder and president of the Center for Peace and Reconciliation Studies

Dr. Mehmet Sukru, founder and president of the Center for Peace and Reconciliation Studies


The international community does not give enough attention to the issue of peace and reconciliation in Syria, and the issue of Syria is not among the priorities of the international system and the UN, Sukru pointed out, explaining that one of the most important reasons preventing peace and stability in Syria is the conflict of political interests that prevent civilians from enjoying their right to freedom, peace, stability and safety, in addition to the failure to adopt a unified international methodology concerned with implementing peace.


Sukru stressed the importance of uniting efforts for the peaceful transition of the state of institutions and law, the need for a true partnership with all UN agencies, mechanisms and bodies, and giving consideration to the aspirations and fears of the Syrian people, without which peace cannot be achieved. He also warned of the open peace process that allows the continuation of the suffering of civilians and further involvement in conflicts and wars.


For her part, researcher and human rights advocate Aye Kari Soe reviewed the situation in Libya. She emphasized that Libya differs from other countries suffering from wars and armed conflicts, as it has many resources and capabilities that make it one of the most developed countries.

 researcher and human rights advocate Aye Kari Soe

 researcher and human rights advocate Aye Kari Soe
 

She explained that the UN does not have effective and strong mechanisms to confront the parties and regimes that practice violations and commit crimes against civilians and nations, and that it is sometimes forced to overlook some conflicts due to the positions and interests of major countries, which deepens these conflicts and complicates their resolution. Libya, unfortunately, is an example of this problem, she added.


Kari indicated that achieving peace in Libya requires permanent work with the various parties, striving first to protect the human lives, keenness to build a better future for them, partnership with the UN to help those affected by the protracted armed conflict, and not accepting the current situation. She also called for dialogue to reach consensus between the various Libyan parties involved in the conflict, provided that all of this is under the umbrella of the UN to ensure confirmation of their responsibilities for implementing the decisions and agreements that are reached.