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international

Do you believe that International Geneva is “it’s hard to change structures,
losing its importance?
Not at all. Quite the opposite. We have never needed and it’s even harder to change
International Geneva more ! e United Nations is mindsets. but here in Geneva, i
just one facet of International Geneva. And even
the U.N. has two distinct dimensions: the political, think that the collaborative gene,
which faces challenges, and the operational, if i may so designate it, is flower-
which e ectively carries out its missions. I remain
optimistic about its contributions in both regards. ing, and has been for a while.”

Given the current turbulent times and the
transformation of international relations from
unipolar to predominantly multilateral, what is
your view – is a new world order in the making?
Multilateralism is indisputably in transition. quite apart from the understanding that we need
e framework post-World War II framework to nd better ways of working together, if we’re
has served us well for 80 years but is no longer going to make it, there’s a growing understanding
su cient to meet today’s challenges. that, unless we involve the other half of humanity,
women, in these processes, we’re not going
e new Multilateralism must become much to make it either. It is imperative that women
more collaborative, integrated, networked,de- become part of the search for solutions.
siloed and preventive. is is happening, but
slower than one would want given the speed with Another source of optimism is that youth across
which our existential problems are evolving. is the Globe are getting much more involved. e
is particularly so regarding new the technologies last two generations are increasingly ready
coming at us at great speed and their immense to be part of the much needed solutions. ey
impact on our lives, all of which will be very understand that they’re going to be le to manage
much part of whatever we come up with in terms a sick planet. I’m seeing a lot of readiness to have
of a new kind of multilateral living. It’s hard to intergenerational dialogues, to understand, to
change structures, and it’s even harder to change acquire tools, to be part of the conversation and
mindsets. But here in Geneva, I think that the to act!
collaborative gene, if I may so designate it, is
owering, and has been for a while. We’ve been through this kind of ups and downs
before,. It is cyclical, but I worry that this cycle
e arrival of the Sustainable Development is going to be a little longer that in the past. It
Goals (SDGs) fostered a greater realization is negative at present because of the con ation
that collaboration leads to better outcomes. of huge existential problems. e interesting
Increasingly, UN institutions, NGOs, the part here is our understanding of the need
business community, and academic institutions for interrelated solutions. We have to work
are coming together to nd solutions to complex together like we’ve never done before. And the
global issues. Some people who never knew responsibility for making that happen lies with
of each other’s existence before, are nding every single one of us. You can give whatever
partnerships to create solutions in order to face you have at whatever your level of knowledge
these massive problems that we have. and experience. And this is not just a matter
of political solutions but small and big day-to-
Whereas before, the states and governments were day life solutions that f.ex. have to do with the
the only ones sitting around the decision- and environment, with clean water, with access to
policy-setting tables, that is no longer the case. A food, with how we live our lives individually and
multitude of other actors are there, and many are how we all manage to live together .
still wanting to get to the table. ey need to be
legitimized, and that is happening now. Do you see a resurgence of solidarity as a guiding
principle?
e process is really quite an interesting one, Yes, it’s the only way. We’re not going to make
reinforced by a number of things. For example, it otherwise. Reality imposes itself on all of us

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