Multilateralism in the time of COVID-19
Virtual event | April 24, 2020
On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, the United Nations of Geneva (UNOG) organise a virtual conversation with the youth on the quick evolution of COVID-19 pandemic and its implications on multilateralism. This conversation will take place on April 24, 2020, from 10.30 am to 12.30pm.
This panel discussion will be composed of leaders from different international organisations based in Geneva and student’s representatives from the UNIGE, the Graduate Institute and Foraus. Together, they will question the consequences of the pandemic since its apparition in December 2019: did the pandemic cause more multilateral cooperation? How did the states answer this crisis? Did the multilateral cooperation suffer or benefit from this exceptional situation? Finally, the panel will determine which lessons we must take from this crisis for a new multilateralism. After this presentation, students will interact with the experts. Some time will also be taken for the audience’s questions.
Speakers will include Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Fabrizio Hochschild, Under Secretary-General and Special Advisor on Preparations for the Seventy-Fifth United Nations Anniversary, Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Interparliamentary Union, Fabiola Gianotti, Director-General of CERN, Guy Ryder, Director-General of the ILO and Hualin Zhao, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union.
In this context, students from the Global Studies Institute (GSI) and the continuing education of the University of Geneva are working on different topics as the question of multilateralism in the time of COVID-19 crisis to elaborate policy papers dedicated to UNOG. COVID-19 pandemic concerns as much international politics as everyone’s behaviour. The shock created by this pandemic needed fast decisions followed by immediate behaviour changes, which require a great reactivity from the population. Considering this incredible adaptation capacity, students from the GSI wish to elaborate a “Youth Chart” fixing frame and objectives for a new citizenship contract that will enhance current multilateralism governance. They also wish to call out to a Youth Assembly in April 2021 in order to establish an overview of the situation.
MULTILATERALISM IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Panel discussion organised by the UNOG
Friday April 24, 2020 | from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm
Online event. Link to the event
Panel discussion will be in French and English
9 Apr 2020