Geneva School Of Diplomacy

13/10/2026

Who is responsible when power is exercised beyond the State?

At the London Conference on International Law, GSD Professor of International Law and Senior Academic Programme Coordinator Dr Jelena Aparac contributed to the panel “Non-State Actors and International Law: Accounting for Plural Power.”

Her intervention focused on the growing influence of private military and security companies and the accountability challenges created when security functions are outsourced across conflict, migration, border management and other areas.

As power becomes increasingly dispersed among States, corporations and private actors, legal responsibility must remain clear. Effective monitoring, accountability mechanisms and access to remedy are essential to ensuring that outsourcing does not lead to a dilution of responsibility.

Read the full recap:
https://genevadiplomacy.ch/jelena-aparac-non-state-power-accountability-london-conference-international-law/

12/10/2026

The Geneva School of Diplomacy is pleased to announce the establishment of the India Centre, a joint initiative developed with Rajdharam Foundation.

Based in Geneva, the Centre will support sustained India-EU-Swiss engagement across diplomacy, global governance, trade and investment, emerging technologies, education, research and public policy.

The initiative will connect policymakers, diplomats, academics, industry leaders and young professionals through policy dialogues, conferences, research, executive education and leadership exchanges.

The Centre looks forward to contributing to the wider ecosystem of India-Europe cooperation alongside the diplomatic and institutional community, including Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and India at UN (Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, Geneva).

Further details regarding its inaugural programmes and activities will be announced in due course.

08/10/2026

Global health systems depend on the people who sustain them.

The Geneva School of Diplomacy recently welcomed Howard Catton, Chief Executive Officer of the ICN - International Council of Nurses, for a discussion on nursing leadership and global health governance.

Moderated by Assist. Prof. Nikica Darabos, M.D., Ph.D., the session explored nursing shortages, ethical international recruitment, safe staffing, fair working conditions and the role of nurses in crisis response and universal health coverage.

Our students examined how decisions concerning the health workforce directly affect the resilience, security and sustainability of health systems. The discussion also considered how technology can support healthcare professionals without replacing the essential human expertise at the centre of care.

We thank Howard Catton for sharing his insights and Professor Darabos for moderating this important exchange.

05/10/2026

How has the international system changed since September 2001?

Twenty-five years later, the consequences of the September 11 attacks remain visible in global security policy, relations between Western and Islamic societies, and the continuing tension between dialogue and division.

GSD faculty member Amb. Dr Walid Mahmoud Abdelnasser argues that this legacy must also be understood against a wider transformation: the movement from an apparently unipolar world towards a more complex and contested multipolar order.

His latest analysis invites reflection on what meaningful international cooperation now requires. In a period marked by geopolitical competition, economic uncertainty and ideological fragmentation, the pursuit of justice, peace and human dignity remains essential.

We are proud to highlight the continuing contribution of our faculty to international policy discussions.

02/10/2026

When the facts of war are disputed, establishing the truth can become part of protecting lives.

At the UN Human Rights Council side event “Facts Matter: Truth, Trust and Upholding International Humanitarian Law,” GSD Professor and Senior Academic Programme Coordinator Dr Jelena Aparac brought a prevention-focused perspective to the discussion.

Her contribution explored how credible fact-finding can move beyond documenting violations to strengthen compliance, support engagement and help reduce further harm.

We are proud to see GSD expertise contributing to important discussions on international law, accountability and the protection of people affected by armed conflict.

Our thanks to the Permanent Missions of Croatia and Canada for convening the event.

01/10/2026

GSD students recently visited the United Nations Library at the Palais des Nations.

Welcomed by Amanda Howland and the UN Library team, students explored the Library’s research resources, catalogue, Archives and historical collections. They also visited one of its repositories, gaining insight into how the documentary history of the United Nations is preserved.

Our sincere thanks to Amanda Howland and the UN Library team for welcoming our students.

30/09/2026

Power in international law is no longer exercised by States alone.

On Friday, GSD faculty member Dr Jelena Aparac will speak at the London Conference on International Law 2026 as part of the panel “Non-State Actors and International Law: Accounting for Plural Power.”

Her contribution will focus on Private Military and Security Companies, examining their growing influence and the urgent questions surrounding their rights, obligations and accountability.

Dr Aparac will join Ahila Sornarajah, Andrew Cannon, Mustafa Qadri and Dr Klara Polackova Van der Ploeg for a wider discussion on how international law should respond as corporations, armed groups, NGOs, Indigenous communities and other non-State actors exercise increasing power across global affairs.

📅 Friday, 2 October 2026
🕑 14:15–15:45
📍 QEII Centre, Westminster, London
💻 In person and online

The full programme and registration information are available through the London Conference on International Law website.

28/09/2026

Africa’s place in the global trading system is not only a question of market access. It is also a question of who shapes the rules.

As part of GSD’s Emerging Issues and Persistent Challenges series, we recently welcomed H.E. Ambassador Kadra Ahmed Hassan for a discussion on “Africa in the Global Trading System: Challenges and Opportunities.”

Ambassador Hassan is Djibouti’s Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, the World Trade Organization - WTO and other international organisations.

Drawing on her extensive multilateral experience, she engaged GSD students in a timely discussion on Africa’s participation in international trade, the particular challenges facing developing and least-developed countries, and the importance of stronger representation within global decision-making.

The conversation considered how regional integration, institutional capacity and more effective participation in multilateral negotiations can help African economies move from adapting to externally defined rules towards playing a greater role in shaping them.

For our students, the session offered a valuable opportunity to connect questions of trade and development with the realities of diplomatic negotiation, competing national interests and institutional reform.

We sincerely thank Ambassador Hassan for sharing her experience and engaging so openly with the GSD community.

25/09/2026

What can multilateral institutions do when international law and diplomatic commitments fail to translate into protection on the ground?

Last week, students from the Geneva School of Diplomacy participated in the Youth Policy Lab, “International Justice and Conflict Prevention: The Tortoise and the Hare,” hosted by the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue.

Representing both our Master of International Relations and Bachelor programmes, Kayla, Camille and Lea examined the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through its historical, legal and diplomatic dimensions.

Working collaboratively, participants identified obstacles to effective multilateral action, considered possible ways through the current deadlock and developed practical recommendations as part of a common youth position. Their discussions explored the roles and limitations of international courts, United Nations bodies and diplomatic mediation in advancing accountability, conflict prevention and protection on the ground.

The session also benefited from the expertise of GSD faculty members Dr Joseph Marques and Amb. Dr Walid Abdelnasser, alongside Dr Ibrahim Saïd, Dr Fabrice Crégut and the Geneva Centre team.

We are proud to see our students engaging seriously with complex international challenges, questioning established approaches and contributing new perspectives to discussions on justice, diplomacy and peace.

Our sincere thanks to the Geneva Centre for creating such a thoughtful and collaborative space for emerging voices.

24/09/2026

Today in Geneva, the Geneva School of Diplomacy welcomes H.E. Ambassador Kadra Ahmed Hassan for a timely discussion on Africa in the Global Trading System: Challenges and Opportunities.

The session will examine the barriers facing African economies, opportunities for stronger trade cooperation, and how African priorities can gain greater representation and influence within global economic governance.

📅 Today, 24 September 2026
🕒 15:00–17:00
📍 The Octagon, Salle Diablerets, Geneva
🎟️ In-person event only. Registration required.

Event information and registration:
https://genevadiplomacy.ch/news-events/events/africa-global-trading-system-challenges-opportunities-kadra-ahmed-hassan/

The Geneva School of Diplomacy is pleased to welcome H.E. Ambassador Kadra Ahmed Hassan for the Fall Semester 2026 Emerging Issues and Persistent Challenges seminar series. This session, titled “Africa in the Global Trading System: Challenges and Opportunities,” will examine Africa’s position ...