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Middle Eastern Perspectives on Taking Forward the UN75 Declaration: From Reflection to Innovation & Action

Event Summary

Synthesis of major insights and recommendations on Middle East and North Africa’s role in supporting progressive change and advancing the UN75 Declaration

By Banou Arjomand, Cristina Petcu, Richard Ponzio

Contributed by Stimson Center

Posted 17 June 2021

On 8 June 2021, the Doha Institute’s Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, the West Asia-North Africa Institute, the American University of Beirut, and the Stimson Center convened select experts from the Middle East and North Africa for a webinar discussion on the overarching question: "In marking 75 years of the United Nations, how can the results of last year’s intense reflection now be turned into action and contribute to innovation and strengthening of the world body?" The ideas shared at the event represent an independent, multi-stakeholder contribution to the consultations and substantive preparations for the UN Secretary-General’s forthcoming Our Common Agenda report for strengthening global collective action to realize the UN75 Declaration’s full potential.

   

The discussion was focused on the Greater Middle East’s role in supporting progressive change across borders and identified pathways and international actors chiefly responsible for taking forward the UN75 Declaration’s vision and individual commitments, detailing the region’s unique capabilities, ideas, and networks to advance the Declaration against the backdrop of COVID-19. Further, the webinar helped to spur and inform debate, as well as raise timely questions about the challenges and opportunities ahead for improved global governance, giving particular attention to the Greater Middle East’s unique perspectives and decades-long engagement in efforts to build more effective multilateral cooperation and a rules-based international order.

The lead-off speakers for the event included Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations and H.E. Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Republic of Singapore. The event panelists also included Mohamed Abdulfatah, Senior Research Fellow at the Doha Institute’s Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, Shereen Shaheen, Director of Program, West Asia-North Asia Institute, Karim Makdisi, Director of the Program in Public Policy and International Affairs, and Associate Professor, American University of Beirut, Mohammed Al-Jefairi, Chairman, Creativity Makers Center, and Richard Ponzio, Senior Fellow and Director, Global Governance, Justice & Security, The Stimson Center. The session was moderated by Maryam Nemazee, Newshour Anchor, Aljazeera.

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Middle Eastern Perspectives on Taking Forward the UN75 Declaration: From Reflection to Innovation & Action

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Geography
Global, Middle East and North Africa
topics
Democracy and Inclusive Governance, Global South, Human Rights, Peace & Security
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