On March 10th, IPI together with the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN, and the French Ministry of the Armed Forces cohosted an open policy forum entitled “Human Rights and Protection by UN Peace Operations.”

The session provided an opportunity to discuss the role of UN peacekeeping operations in protecting human rights, including during peacekeeping transitions, and the applicability of international human rights law (IHRL) to peacekeeping operations.

The policy forum gathered representatives of the UN, member states, and civil society organizations to reflect on the applicability of IHRL in peacekeeping operations. The event also addressed recent initiatives to strengthen the tools available to missions’ human rights sections to protect and promote human rights and the challenges they are likely to face during peacekeeping transitions.

Opening Remarks:
H.E. Ambassador Yoka Brandt, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN
Diarra Dime-Labille, Legal Advisor, Permanent Mission of France to the UN

Speakers:
Mona Ali Khalil, Affiliate, Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict (HLS PILAC)
Regina Fitzpatrick, Protection of Civilians Team Leader, Policy, Evaluation and Training Division, UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO)
Oscar Solera, Peace Mission Support Section, Strategic Planning Team Leader, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Conor Foley, Professor, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro

Moderator:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, IPI President