Geneva Centre’s Executive Director Dr Umesh Palwankar Highlights Key Issues at Webster’s 28th International Humanitarian Conference
22 November 2023 – Geneva. Webster University successfully hosted its 28th Annual International Humanitarian and Security Conference (IHSC) on the 21st and 22nd of November, 2023, at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG). This year’s conference, on the theme “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Seventy-Five Years On: Achievements and Current Challenges,” featured two keynote addresses by distinguished guests: Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The event was marked by several introductory speeches and six insightful panel discussions spread over the two days.
The Geneva Centre was honoured to have been invited as panellist in the conference for the second consecutive year. Dr Umesh Palwankar, the Centre’s Executive Director, delivered an engaging presentation, highly appreciated by the audience, in the session entitled “International Justice and Addressing Gross Human Rights Violations” on the first day of the conference. In his presentation, he highlighted the salient differences between international humanitarian and human rights law and between their respective gross violations. He explained the means available to address these and concluded by citing the latest developments at the international and national levels to ensure respect of the recently recognized right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
The partnership between the Geneva Centre and Webster University extends beyond the collaboration in the Annual International Humanitarian and Security Conference. This collaboration encompasses various initiatives, including the annual summer joint training course on “Human Rights and Global Governance” and a joint internship program. These collaborative efforts underscore a shared commitment to advancing human rights education and fostering a deeper understanding of global governance issues.
