IPI Co-organizes Seminar for Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary-General

IPI co-organized the Fourth Seminar for Special and Personal Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary-General with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) from October 16th-18th at Le Mirador Kempinski Hotel in Mont Pèlerin, Switzerland. All current full-time representatives were invited to participate, along with the most senior staff in the relevant UN departments and agencies.

The biennial seminar provides a unique venue for SRSGs, PRSGs, RSGs, and Envoys to interact with each other and senior UN staff to discuss issues of importance to the implementation of peace operations in the hope of refining UN practice.

Former president of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo, delivered the keynote address on “The Evolving Strategic Environment.” He was introduced by IPI President Terje Rød-Larsen who participated in the seminar as Special Envoy for the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559. IPI Vice President and Director of Studies Ed Luck also participated in the seminar in his capacity as Special Advisor to the Secretary-General for the Responsibility to Protect (Designate). The seminar concluded on the 18th with a dinner in honor of the Special and Personal Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary-General, hosted by Switzerland’s State Secretary, Mr. Michael Ambühl.

As in the past, the seminar was funded by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, and the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom.