2019 Program

The Alliance for Multilateralism is a network of Foreign Ministers committed to promoting a law-based international order. The Alliance meeting on digital governance aims to foster the necessary dialogue between states, relevant international organizations, businesses, and civil society. The development of digital technology has a wide array of consequences in the economic and technological fields but also in the social and political fields. This meeting will highlight concrete initiatives.

The Climate & Security PeaceGames are bringing together policy experts, practitioners, and advocates from around the world to grapple with the cross-border security, governance and humanitarian challenges mounting from climate change. This exercise offers a chance to address the challenges of conflict resolution and peacebuilding with the same creativity and focus as has been traditionally devoted to war games. Taking on the roles of stakeholders, participants will be confronted with a series of climate and security events that will compel them to think quickly and creatively about how to manage the unfolding climate and security crisis.

After Geneva, New York, Vienna, Nairobi and The Hague, the International Gender Champions initiative is now expanding to Paris. To mark the launch of this new chapter, founding Champions of the Paris hub will gather for a short panel discussion, moderated by the Chair of the IGC Global Board, Ms. Arancha González.

This will serve as an opportunity for them to highlight their personal commitments, the importance of advancing gender equality in their spheres of influence and expertise areas, as well as to call on further leaders to join them in this endeavor.

Over the years, Global South countries have requested several reforms to the existing multilateral system, to no avail. South-South platforms have therefore developed and strengthened. However, our globalized world such as ours, Southern challenges are in fact global and shared. How can we build a more inclusive architecture and update and strengthen the North-South dialogue and partnership?

The 2018 Paris Peace Forum hosted 12 Heads of States and Governments to sustain the international Initiative on Information and Democracy, led by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This initiative led to the signature of the Partnership on Information and Democracy at the 2019 UN General Assembly. The 2019 Paris Peace Forum will echo this milestone in convening again all actors – NGOs, governments, medias and platforms – for the launch of a new multilateral and multi-stakeholder organization to further develop norms and standards to uphold democratic safeguards on information: the Forum on Information and Democracy.

“Multilateralism is under fire precisely when we need it most” – these are the words with which Secretary General Antonio Guterres has described the current international environment. Amid a shifting international order, the UN is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary next year. Under the theme “The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism”, various actors from across the UN system will take part in a one-day high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly. In the debate at the Paris Peace Forum, Heads of State will discuss what states gathered in the UN General Assembly can do to make our multilateral system ready to tackle the challenges that humanity is faced with.

Today, almost 800 million people around the world live in extreme poverty with less than $1.90 a day. Living in destitution is often made worse because many programs such as safety nets and social protection, along with access to public goods like clean water, adequate health care and primary education, do not reach the poorest. How do we, national governments, international institutions and non-profits, refocus our response to the SDGs and shift our approaches so that we can ensure that no one is left behind?

On 12 November 2018, the President of the French Republic launched the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace. For the first time, this initiative gathered actors of different sectors – states, companies, and civil society organizations – who pledged to work together to strengthen relevant international standards and ensure online individual rights are respected. How can we continue to promote a resolutely multi-stakeholder approach to cyberspace regulation?

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) was launched in February 2017 at the Munich Security Conference. It has been supported the governments of the Netherlands, France, and Singapore, as well as industry and civil society partners, and facilitated by The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and the EastWest Institute. Its mission has been to develop proposals for norms and policies to enhance international security and stability in cyberspace. As international negotiations on these issues resume, how can the final GCSC report, the product of a multistakeholder process, be used to encourage responsible state and non-state behavior in cyberspace?

Earlier this year, France and Mexico agreed to host the Generation Equality Forum in 2020. This Forum, convened by UN Women and organized in close partnership with civil society, aims to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action, and give new impetus to the women’s rights initiatives born from this conference. This session will take stock of the current situation, share examples of good practices that can be replicated or scaled-up as well as put forward further commitments, in preparation for this global women’s rights milestone.

The adoption of the Geneva Conventions 70 years ago is an example of effective multilateralism in times of adversity. While the ineluctability of war was not ignored, it was nevertheless a striking manifestation of the need to limit the consequences and practices of wars in order to preserve our shared humanity. The face of conflicts may be ever-changing, but the norms agreed then seem to be still as relevant today. What lessons were learned from the past? What will it take to uphold human dignity in current and future wars, including those no longer fought by humans?

Citizens need to be informed, organize and express their opinions to engage meaningfully with their governments in the design of policies and services that meet their needs. However, civic freedoms are under under serious threat in 111 countries, according to Civicus. The OECD launches an Observatory of Civic Space to support countries to promote and protect civic space. It will collect data on the most effective legal, policies and implementation frameworks, act as a knowledge-sharing platform among practitioners, and develop international standards and encourage governments to align their policies to them.
This launching event will feature key actors in this field to discuss the state of civic space in the world and how to enhance it.

What is the best way to promote culture and its accessibility? Culture carries with it a distinct set of ideas, behaviors or intellectual portrayals of the very spirit which imbues its people’s arts and humanities. As an embodiment of the people, culture possesses the unique ability to transcend the challenges which often foster aggression and create division, particularly following times of conflict, where striving towards a historically-faithful restoration of culture contributes to the process of peace and healing.

The cultural dimensions of social cohesion encompass common values; social networks; place attachment; identity. Cities and metropolis are the environment where contradictions (socio-cultural/religious/economic) develop in a more complex manner. Public spaces’ design, management and animation hence becomes crucial towards social cohesion.

Since the launch of the Paris Call on 12 November 2018, this multistakeholder initiative’s community of supporters has worked to translate the Call’s commitment to a more secure and stable cyberspace into concrete actions. Many achievements have already been implemented, at the initiative of states, companies or members of civil society. The Paris Peace Forum is an opportunity to highlight some of these accomplishments and exchange good practices.

One of the ills of our era is the overconsumption that threatens our ecosystem. Plastic pollution in particular, reflects a widespread tendency to disregard our environment, so much so that by 2050, the oceans could contain more plastic than fish, as per the Ellen MacArthur Foundation/WEF report. This reminds us of the need to consider the fragility of our limited resources, but also our duty – especially towards younger generations – to act immediately through an ecological consensus, and increased awareness. What can be done to reduce or more effectively prevent the degradation of our planet?

Culture and the arts are powerful agents of peace. The dialogue between cultural institutions, including private ones, is built on fostering personal relationships that transcend traditional diplomacy. As such, it is crucial to international understanding and cooperation. Museums, art collectors and cultural representatives can help further understanding and prosperity through art, overcoming age-old suspicions and the unstable nature of international relations. This panel explores the intersection of art and diplomacy.

Today, over 40 million of persons around the world are victims of modern slavery, and 152 million children are still in child labour, 70% of them in agriculture, or sometimes to produce goods that are then exported. Many work in hazardous types or conditions of work or do not go to school. Alliance 8.7 gathers all actors, including governments, international organizations, NGOs, unions and businesses to put an end to child labour, forced labour and human trafficking. What are the concrete solutions that this multilateral coalition can bring to restore the dignity of victims and ensure respect for their fundamental rights?

The Climate & Security PeaceGames are bringing together policy experts, practitioners, and advocates from around the world to grapple with the cross-border security, governance and humanitarian challenges mounting from climate change. This exercise offers a chance to address the challenges of conflict resolution and peacebuilding with the same creativity and focus as has been traditionally devoted to war games. Taking on the roles of stakeholders, participants will be confronted with a series of climate and security events that will compel them to think quickly and creatively about how to manage the unfolding climate and security crisis.

In Paris, G7 members committed to defining a framework to better align private finance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On the occasion of the Paris Peace Forum, UNDP, OECD, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and their partners will announce the launch of a campaign and joint work on the alignment of finance with the SDGs. The protection of investors, savers and consumers against misleading SDG labels is at stake, with the objective of redirecting available financing capacities towards sustainable development

Healthy oceans, seas, lakes and rivers are crucial for our human societies and the future of our planet. They are the source of all life on Earth and our planet’s life-support system. However, the health of our oceans is under severe threat and they are not getting the attention they deserve, nor are their essential functions part of the public consciousness. How can a mission-driven approach contribute to solve one of the major challenges of our times through Research & Innovation and other EU programs and policies? In this interactive session, the Mission Board Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters – a high-level advisory group to the European Commission chaired by Pascal Lamy – will pitch and discuss the scope of the future Innovation Mission under Horizon Europe with Forum participants.

Tensions in the Middle East have risen to new heights. The region is wracked by devastating civil conflicts, proxy wars and inter-state tensions. The risk of an accidental outbreak of a broader conflict is particularly ominous. Any effort to prevent it will require opposing sides to open channels of communication and engage in dialogue on the issues that divide them. This panel will look at concrete ways to bring principal actors together in an inclusive process aimed at reducing tensions, and the potential longer-term security arrangements that can stabilize the region.

Media are considered the Fourth Estate of political systems. With their vast social influence, newspapers, blogs, radio stations and other outlets also serve as transmission belts between citizens and their governments. In this session, we want to look more closely at the media’s capacity to improve dialogue between different social groups and governing institutions. Join leaders from around the world who will share their experiences with the media, especially regarding their role in accessing reliable information and achieving social inclusion.

Half of the world’s infrastructure that will exist in 2050 is yet to be built. This presents us with unique challenges and unprecedented opportunities. The key challenge is that during their long lifecycle, all infrastructure systems will be exposed to a range of disasters including more frequent, severe and unpredictable extreme weather and climate events. The opportunity is that given the scale of investment, if we get it right, we can lock-in resilience for the long term. India, in collaboration with partner countries and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, is launching a Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). The Paris Peace Forum will be a unique platform to advance dialogue under the CDRI and engage a range of stakeholders with a view to identify specific areas where international cooperation and mutual exchange can promote disaster and climate resilient infrastructure.
The message is clear: let’s invest in resilience!

Just one year away from the COP 15 in Kunming, one million species are threatened, with humans at the root of the vast majority of damage to lands and marine ecosystems. In 2020, China will host the next major international forum on biodiversity conservation, an event that requires active preparation of the agreement to be signed. The Paris Peace Forum must serve as a preparatory platform to lay this foundation for the adoption of a new global framework for post-2020 biodiversity governance. To succeed, a paradigm of change in biodiversity governance is essential. Could multilateralism make a difference in Kunming?

With the creation of the WTO, the 1990s saw decisive progress in the development of world trade rules, helping consolidate economic globalization. Since then, geopolitical power shifts and the 2008 crisis have inflamed tensions between countries. So much so, that some of these rules are now being challenged and the very existence of the WTO is threatened. This high-level panel will attempt to determine whether a new consensus can be found to save the existing trade order.

It is undeniable that culture has a major role to play in the sustainable development of countries and communities. First because engaging in cultural activities encourages the development of human skills and openness to the world. But more concretely because cultural activities can become a driver of economic growth, while furthering the preservation, diffusion and renewal of cultural heritage. What can we learn from existing initiatives around the world? Join us to find out!

Culture is a key element of identity, as well as of mutual knowledge and understanding. While most of African cultural heritage remains outside the continent following colonization, the present moment represents a key opportunity to build new relationships, while repairing some of the damaged caused during the period. However, the restitution of cultural heritage raises political, legal, practical and ethical questions, and its implementation hinges on consensus. How can we work collaboratively towards new relational ethics? How can a restitution system which ensures the rightful/original owners keep control of their cultural artifacts and assets be designed? What should an effective process of repatriation of African works of art look like?

The private sector is often criticized for its excessive exploitation of natural resources – inescapably leading to their degradation – as well as generating negative externalities for the sake of profit. It is therefore difficult to minimize the role it can play in biodiversity conservation. Although there are several examples where the private sector is actively involved in biodiversity & environmental actions, today’s companies must be made more aware of the catastrophic consequences of biodiversity loss, and responsible for the conservation and economic use of biodiversity and natural resources. How can we make businesses major players in the preservation of ecosystems worldwide?

An estimated $1 trillion in illicit cash and capital leaves developing countries each year, fueling widespread discontent and conflicts rooted in poverty. Furthermore, huge inflows of illicit cash are also corroding the rule of law in established democracies. This panel showcases international efforts to curtail this flow of corrupt funds and return assets stolen from the societies that need them most.

UNESCO is pleased to introduce the Futures of Education initiative which is catalysing a global debate to reimagine how knowledge and learning can shape desirable futures for humanity and the planet in a world of increasing complexity, uncertainty, and precarity. Highly complementary, the Open Alliance for the Future of Learning, co-led with the CRI (cri-paris.org), will inspire & empower students, educators and citizens across the world via events, online solutions and a growing network of local chapters to effectively shape together a thriving Learning Planet.

Climate change, new technologies, migration, global inequalities – many of the current global challenges require collective responses. At the same time, the multilateral order is under fire. Great power politics and nationalism are on the rise while support for international organizations is shrinking. In this session we will search for fresh ideas on how to reinvigorate multilateral action. Among other things, we will ask what is needed to overcome geopolitical deadlocks between states? What should the future multilateral system look like? And can ‘multistakeholderism’ be the answer?
(Hosted by Körber-Stiftung)

Teaching history is tantamount to building collective consciousness. With rampant manipulation of history and the reemergence of hate speech in public debate throughout Europe, teaching history can foster reconciliation between peoples. It is in this spirit that France and its partners suggest creating an Observatory on History Teaching in Europe. How can teaching history contribute to peace on the European continent and elsewhere?

Most refugees worldwide are stuck in protracted situations, oftentimes as unsuitable for emergency relief as for longer term solutions. Enabling refugees to work in their host country is a way to address both the development needs of host communities and countries as well as the humanitarian needs of refugees. Long-term solutions aimed at providing adequate access to employment and education enhance independence, allowing refugees to better provide for themselves and their families, preserve dignity, and build a meaningful future. The panel will explore such mutually beneficial opportunities for economic growth.

Competition, privacy and security concerns are challenging how governments, NGOs and entrepreneurs harness data and AI for good. Initiatives like Global Data Commons and others aims to address these challenges by lowering barriers to data collection, sharing and use through legal, operational and ethical frameworks. Specifically, the data commons can help deliver on the SDGs, and the discussion will start from a concrete question: how can NGOs share nature conservation data among themselves and beyond?

Public trust in governments is near historic lows, as confidence plummets and belief in institutions’ basic fairness and functions erodes each day, according to global studies. Three quarters of all governments are mistrusted by their citizens. How can we restore trust? Or should we not? Should we move trust to new social initiatives and technologies instead of the old formal bodies of government?

The first Hub session (November 2018) was dedicated to building innovative projects based on the priorities presented by Youth at the AU-EU Abidjan Summit. The second Hub session (November 2019) kick-started project implementation, enabling the 42 youth from the Hub to engage with 7 selected Civil Society Organizations leading the pilot projects. During this session, the AU-EU Youth Hub will report on the year of support from the Scale-Up Committee and present concrete roadmaps for each pilot project.

Every day we can read about new cyberattacks and escalations of hybrid conflict. Too often no one is held accountable, and perpetrators do not face any consequences. The CyberPeace Institute wishes to change this by protecting vulnerable communities, de-escalting conflict in cyberspace and fostering responsible behavior. This will be done through collective analysis of cyberattacks, a focus on stability in cyberspace and eliminating the possibility for malicious actors to act freely against cyber peace. Panelists will discuss existing challenges and global initiatives to closing the accountability gap in the cyberspace.

In the wake of the yellow vests movement in France, the need for global policies – in particular on climate change – that are socially acceptable to all has become urgent. This debate has been cast as the tension between ‘end of the world’ and ‘end of the month’. Tending to the first preoccupation is vital to the future of mankind, while tending to the second is vital to the first. If we want to ensure the social sustainability of climate efforts, the two political objectives will have to be reconciled, and the two constituencies – sometimes overlapping – will have to agree on new policies. Beyond climate, the Gilets Jaunes and the community of global governance activists share many concerns, like fiscal justice, that offer a platform for political discussion.

With a competitive market and the emergence of new technologies, such as big data and AI, the demand for skilled talent has increased significantly worldwide. The current combination of human capital flow and the shortage of talent have led to a global race for experts that could affect international relations. Global talent governance is of the utmost importance if we are to meet current and future needs. Therefore, how can we establish a mechanism to improve the conversation, coordination and cooperation around global talent? How can we explore the global governance innovation for the talent mobility in the future world?

Women’s economic empowerment is a key condition to achieving sustainable development. Despite efforts to change perspectives such as the SDGs, women continue to be underrepresented in all economic areas. They are underprivileged when it comes to owning land or controlling production assets. In many developing countries in particular, women have little or no access to the labor market. How do we change this situation? Join this session alongside several top female decision-makers to discuss how to strengthen the role of women in the global economy.

The session will explore the leading efforts taken by governments around the world to address digital threats to democracy in the age of digital platforms and surveillance commerce. Building on the work the Paris Peace Forum has done supporting the Digital Democracy Charter, this discussion will focus attention on a public policy agenda that includes data privacy, competition, content moderation, election security and more. The panel will feature the perspectives of pioneering leaders in the public sector.

While the war on drugs has been going on for decades, the supply and use of drugs have still not declined. Meanwhile, the destructive impact of drug use and trafficking is growing in key areas such as the economy, development, security, environment, public health, and human rights. Finding durable solutions requires transnational and cross-sectoral cooperation to lift taboos surrounding drugs and strengthen the capacity of local actors to implement concrete action. What are the better alternatives?

As part of the Paris Peace Forum, the Institut français des relations internationals (Ifri) is organizing a debate on the lessons to be learned from the fall of the Berlin Wall in both Europe and Asia. What were the hopes and promises when the wall fell? Has it led to a new world order or a new world disorder? Thirty years later, how has the international system evolved? And what are the prospects for European security, and transatlantic and Euro-Asian relations?

It is essential to rethink the way peace processes are designed and structured. Additionally, it is time to move from peace processes guided by short-term milestones, mechanically leading to negative peace, to long-term solutions that can generate positive peace. Only better ownership of peace processes by civilians in conflict zones and increased diplomatic force from all stakeholders can yield tangible results. How can better funding and the use of new technologies make peace processes more sustainable and effective?

It is the combination of structural vulnerability and lack of population preparedness that causes major disasters, not natural hazards themselves. As a result, climate change increases the vulnerability of local communities more exposed to climate risks, ecosystem degradation, reduced water and food availability, and livelihood changes. How can we ensure that communities, countries and regions have the prevention, mitigation, adaptation and response mechanisms in place to reduce the intensity of impacts and preserve livelihoods and development?

People’s right to have a say – Is it a virtue or a curse? It might be a curse if the information required to make a reasoned argument is not available! The right to information bridges the information gap between the state and citizens. It amplifies citizens’ voice and pushes the State’s unmute button. Facilitated by digital means, it increases outreach and legitimacy. This panel discusses how SDG 16.10.2 facilitates constructive state-citizen dialogue and expands both sides’ scope of action.

The Climate & Security PeaceGames are bringing together policy experts, practitioners, and advocates from around the world to grapple with the cross-border security, governance and humanitarian challenges mounting from climate change. This exercise offers a chance to address the challenges of conflict resolution and peacebuilding with the same creativity and focus as has been traditionally devoted to war games. Taking on the roles of stakeholders, participants will be confronted with a series of climate and security events that will compel them to think quickly and creatively about how to manage the unfolding climate and security crisis.

Through its scale-up initiative, the Paris Peace Forum aims to advance the most promising governance projects. This noteworthy session will reflect on the first year of operation of the Scale-up Committee (SCUP). SCUP members and project representatives will be invited to assess the progress made by projects, as well as the impact of the SCUP in enabling such progress. Areas for improvement will also be explored, prior to selecting the new class of supported projects.

After the fall of the Iron Curtain, the world has seen unprecedented levels of interconnectedness. Globalization and transnational flows of people, goods, capital, and information were expected to render borders less and less important. 30 years later, the opposite seems to have happened: Around the world, borders are heavily protected, contested, or even unilaterally redrawn. In this session we will explore the (renewed) role of borders in a seemingly borderless world. How should states and international organizations deal with the conflicting demands of open and secure borders? In what ways do we have to change our approach to borders in times of accelerating globalization?

(Hosted by Körber-Stiftung)

The way AI technologies, systems and platforms are designed, deployed and used is reshaping the social dynamics of our human society, opening a wide range of ethical and political questions. Citizens and civil society groups have alerted on its dangers and asked for regulation. Initiatives have flourished from around the world – from agencies, countries and multilateral bodies. This panel will try to foster the convergence of these initiatives so as to move to the next step of governance in the coming years.

Education plays a vital role in rebuilding conflict-affected communities and preparing citizens for a peaceful future. This panel brings together key global leaders in international philanthropy, EAA, EXTERNAL and QFFD to highlight innovative practices to effectively support education for peace development through assessing the needs of educational institutions in areas with conflict and collaborating with the local community, governments and the private sector to develop sustainable strategies that provide access to high quality education in safe learning environments 100 countries.

Countless organizations around the globe bring together thousands of ‘young potentials’ in their leadership networks. Their main objectives are to create bonds across nations and sectors, and to equip these young leaders with the skills required to make positive change in their respective communities (and their career). But young leader networks are also criticized for being elitist, exclusive, and for suffering from the Matthew effect. Join this session to discuss how such programs should be designed, how selection processes can be fair and transparent, and how these networks can benefit people beyond their membership.