Hichem Khadhraoui, executive director of the Centre for Civilians in Conflict, at their new offices at the Maison de la Paix in Geneva. (Geneva Solutions/Michelle Langrand)

How an organisation is convincing militaries to put civilian lives first. Escalating wars and geopolitical shifts are fueling a rise in militarisation, with civilians often paying the price. An organisation working closely with militaries to reduce that cost has recently opened an office in Geneva. We speak to its executive director, Hichem Khadhraoui, about safeguarding civilian lives in a world rife with conflict.

🗣️Our aid workers were brutally killed and thrown into a mass grave in Gaza. This must never happen again. Jagan Chapagain, secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, makes a plea to states to uphold their legal responsibility to protect all civilians, including humanitarian aid workers.

🔄Reinventing multilateralism in the face of 21st century challenges. Geneva seems to be at a standstill compared to cities on the move like Dubai or Singapore. But it has the potential to reinvent itself, writes David Dror, president of Greycells, a network of former international experts.

🏛️The end of western values. Senior editor Patrick Gathara denounces the hypocrisy of western “moral posturing” and argues that a collapse of these so-called values is an opportunity to create a new framework for international engagement where ethics are led by principles – not power.

🧱Postwar Gaza plans cannot exclude Palestinians. A three-year, $27bn proposal by Egypt’s private sector and endorsed by the Palestinian Authority to rebuild Gaza while ensuring people remain in their homeland offers one way forward, according to senior UN adviser Mamoun Besaiso.

💸US aid cuts: what strategy to save International Geneva? International Geneva and the Swiss government have watched with consternation as the United States and several other nations reduce their financial contributions — and in some instances, even withdraw political support — from some of the 40 international organisations and 476 NGOs that call Geneva home. Organisations like the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency have already announced thousands of layoffs. Uncertainty abounds for some 36,000 foreign civil servants who work here and for agencies whose collective annual expenditures exceed CHF4 billion, crucially supporting the local economy.

What strategies are Geneva's local authorities and the Swiss federal government considering to reinforce the strength and resilience of international Geneva? Are they prepared to address the threats facing a multilateral system originally designed in the wake of World War Two to foster peace and diplomacy? What actions should local and federal leaders take to successfully navigate this evolving diplomatic and economic landscape?

🗓️12:15 pm, 10 April
📍Domaine de Penthes & online

🎙 Speakers include:
⭐ Béatrice Ferrari, director of international affairs, state of Geneva
⭐Carlo Sommaruga, Geneva state councillor
⭐Nicolas Walder, Swiss national councillor
⭐Fabrice Eggly, director of the Fondation pour Genève
⭐Nicolas Bideau, spokesperson of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (TBC)

Moderated by Luisa Ballin, UN-accredited journalist, and Kasmira Jefford, editor-in-chief of Geneva Solutions.

The discussion will be in French only.

🔗 Register now to attend in person or online.