With the continuing rivalry between great powers, global instability, war, North-South distrust, and new transnational challenges, the state of peace in the world is fragile, making a peace forum very pertinent.
With an interesting change after the just-concluded US elections that has the world on its toes regarding the Middle East and Russia conflicts, the 2024 Paris Peace Forum urges collaboration and the urgent need for effective international government. Scheduled for November 11th and 12th, this global gathering focuses on the landmark election year and the impact of political tensions.
Themes and Objectives: In Search of A World Order That Works
This year’s overarching theme, « Wanted: A Functioning Global Order, » reflects the urgent need for effective international governance amid the escalating tensions between major powers and the tension that the election year brings. This year, the Paris Peace Forum will `focus on the historic election year and the impact of political tensions on multilateralism and the geopolitical context.
Underpinning the Paris Peace Forum’s mission are four major themes, each addressing a critical facet of today’s global challenges. These themes serve as a compass, guiding participants toward effective governance solutions:
- Make Up For The Lack Of Action On Health And Economic Recovery: Addressing gaps in policies and efforts for restoring public health and economic stability.
- Make Up For The Lack Of Ambition When It Comes To Global Common Goods: Nations must increase collaborative efforts and commitments to elevate and prioritise actions that safeguard resources shared across borders, such as the climate, oceans, biodiversity, and digital spaces.
- Bridging The North-South Divide: Working together to reduce the economic, political, and social disparities between more developed countries that result in unequal access to resources, opportunities, and influence on global issues, such as trade, climate action, health, and technology.
- Closing The Inclusion Gap: Creating opportunities and policies that address and reduce differences preventing certain groups from fully participating in society and the economy,
2024 Priorities: Addressing urgent conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East and Africa, and focusing on the governance of global public goods, such as agriculture, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
The Paris Peace Forum 2024 urgently hopes for responsible governance of global public goods in agriculture, where sustainable practices and fair distribution are essential to food security; cybersecurity to protect individual and national infrastructures and privacy; and artificial intelligence, which requires ethical frameworks to prevent misuse.
Partnerships and Collaborations: A Global Endeavor
This year’s forum will bring together diverse voices representing states, international organisations, businesses, development banks, foundations, and NGOs from across the globe. Collaborators include the International Energy Agency (IEA), the European Union (EU), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), among others. These partnerships underscore the global nature of the immediate challenges and emphasise the need for collective action.
Speakers: A Multi-Actor Event
The notable speakers at this year’s event are:
- Emmanuel Macron – President of the French Republic
- Audrey Azoulay – Director-General, UNESCO
- Gilbert Houngbo – Director-General, International Labour Organization
- Oleksandra Matviichuk – 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
- Rebeca Grynspan – Secretary-General of UNCTAD and former Vice-President of Costa Rica
- Angel Gurría – President of the Paris Peace Forum and former Secretary-General of the OECD
- Ibrahim Mayaki – Former Prime Minister of Niger and Special Envoy for Food Systems, African Union
- Arancha González – Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po, and former Foreign Minister of Spain
- Mo Ibrahim – Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation
- Prince Rahim Aga Khan – Board member of the Aga Khan Development Network And many other important dignitaries.
The event will heavily emphasizethe historic election year of 2024, as well as the influence of political tensions on the global context and multilateralism. The 7th Paris Peace Forum will be held less than a week after the US presidential election and just before the G20 in Rio and the COP in Baku, but it will also take place in a year that saw votes for the European Parliament, as well as national elections in India, Mexico, Indonesia, France, and the United Kingdom.
Shortly after the UN Summit of the Future, it will hold conversations with all relevant parties about how to address pressing violent conflicts, ranging from the war in Ukraine to the situation in the Middle East, Central Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
Furthermore, the Forum will continue to focus on international governance of global public goods such as agriculture, transition minerals, fair benefit-sharing in public health, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and other key issues that require greater coordination on a north-south and east-west basis and can lay the groundwork for long-term peace through dialogue.
The Projects: Showcasing Initiatives that Make a Difference
This year’s event will spotlight 10 outstanding projects selected at the 2023 Forum. Each initiative will present its achievements after a full year of tailored support through our Scale-up Program, underscoring their impact on local and international communities.
- Connecting the Global South with AST-GS1
Region: South America
Focus: Expanding collaboration and accessibility within the space sector for emerging economies.
2. An Inclusive Approach to the Space Economy
Region: South Asia
Focus: Ensuring equal opportunities and participation in the rapidly growing space economy.
3. Safeguarding Gene Synthesis
Region: International
Focus: Establishing secure practices in gene synthesis to protect biodiversity and public health.
4. Agriculture Collectives for Marginalized Farmers
Region: South Asia
Focus: Empowering smallholder farmers through cooperative farming and shared resources.
5. Knockout: Do Not Give Up
Region: International
Focus: Providing resilience training and support for communities affected by adversity.
6. DALIL
Region: International
Focus: Aiding disadvantaged populations with information access through digital literacy.
7. Using Open Data to Combat Corruption
Region: International
Focus: Promoting transparency and accountability in governance through open data.
8. Leveraging Data for Human-Centered Policies
Region: International
Focus: Utilizing data insights to design policies that prioritize human welfare.
9. Journalisme pour les droits humains
Region: International
Focus: Supporting human rights through ethical and fact-based journalism.
10. Justice for Victims in Ukraine
Region: Europe
Focus: Advocating for and providing legal aid to victims of conflict and war crimes in Ukraine.
This event will bring these initiatives to the forefront, offering insights into their successes and laying the groundwork for future collaboration and expansion.
Conclusion
The Palais Brongniart, located at 16 Pl. de la Bourse, 75002 Paris, France, is a symbol of Parisian elegance is located opposite the Eiffel Tower across the Seine and remains the host for the 2024 forum. Media accreditation information is available for those keen on covering this significant event.
Amid rising global tensions, the Paris Peace Forum 2024 offers hope for a collaborative future where world powers put aside their disparities and work toward a global future where agricultural, economic, and social threats are handled globally. As participants from various corners of the globe converge, the stage is set for a transformative event transcending political differences and ideological divides. Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage as the world unites to pursue a more harmonious and just future.
Written by Olivier Noudjalbaye Dedingar, USA/UN Correspondent.
