Hello, this is Michelle. Conflicts breed violence – increasingly of a sexual nature. That is the sobering conclusion that renowned gynaecologist Denis Mukwege has come to after five years of working with victims of such atrocities across regions with the Global Survivors Fund.
The organisation was set up in Geneva to help victims of rape and sexual violence in conflict settings to obtain some form of reparation, even if justice remains far from reach. However, without the latter, he fears there is nothing to discourage perpetrators from weaponising it.
And looking ahead to Monday, when Donald Trump will take his oath of office for a second time, what will that mean for multilateralism at large? International affairs consultant Patrick Wall looks at the far-reaching implications of an administration whose America First approach will leave little room for concessions to advance the common good. |
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Dr Denis Mukwege, co-founder of the Global Survivors Fund, in Geneva on 14 January 2025. (Geneva Solutions/Michelle Langrand)
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Here's what else is happening
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⛰️Davos, Trump and WEF piggy-backers.
As the World Economic Forum kicks off next week, on the same day as Trump’s inauguration, the new US administration is guaranteed to be the talk of the town, with Trump himself confirmed to be speaking virtually. Here’s a run-down of what else is dominating discussions, including controversial new rules to reign in the unofficial event scene.
Politico (EN)
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🙋🏻♀️Perspectives on feminist health policies.
What is feminist health diplomacy and what should it be? Increasing challenges in the politics and practice around sexual and reproductive health in many countries in the world, including the United States, has made this question even more critical, writes journalist Priti Patnaik.
Geneva Health Files 🔐 (EN)
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🏃🏿UN migration agency says gang violence in Haiti leads to tripling of internally displaced people.
The International Organization for Migration on Tuesday said internal displacement in Haiti, largely caused by gang violence, has tripled over the last year and now surpasses 1 million people – a record in the Caribbean nation.
AP News (EN)
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🦌Geneva hosted the first European conference on commons. Here’s what it was about.
🦌Geneva hosted the first European conference on commons. Here’s what it was about. From the irrigation channels in Switzerland’s Valais canton to the herds of reindeer in the Arctic, commons – resources shared and managed by local communities – could play a key role in preserving biodiversity. A conference in December brought together different actors involved for the first time.
Swissinfo (EN)
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Multilateralism under Trump 2.0? Not unless there’s something to be gained for the US.
Just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration, international Geneva is pondering what his return to the White House will mean for multilateralism and international cooperation. Will he burn the system to the ground, treat it with indifference, or use it to his own advantage?
The best answer seems to be that he will do whatever he feels will, in the moment, best advance his “America First” agenda. This will pose new and elevated challenges to the multilateral order, writes Patrick Wall, lawyer and co-founder of international affairs consultancy, the Global Strategic Initiatives Group.
Geneva Solutions
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