High Level Meeting

A moment of silence for children who have been killed in conflict and whose lives are being shattered by war.

Welcoming Remarks

16:00 – 16:05 Mrs. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, UNCHR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection

16:05 – 16:10 Rev. Keishi Miyamoto, President, Arigatou International (video message)

16:10 – 16:20 Keynote Address: Ms. Florence Raymonde Gaspar, Chief of Staff, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (online)

16:20 – 16:24 Voices of children and youth – Benjamin, DRC and Hiroto, Japan (via video)

Panel on Ethical Responses – each speaker has four minutes for initial remarks

16:26 – 16:30 Introduction by Moderator:  Ms. Şafak Pavey, Senior Advisor, UNHCR

16:30 – 16:48 Panel discussion

• • Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, General Secretary, World Council of Churches
  • Professor Benyam Dawit Mezmur, member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (online)
  • H.E. Mr. Gustavo Gallón, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations Office in Geneva
  • H.E. Mr. Tormod Cappelen Endresen, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

16:48 – 16:52 Video from children: Yara, Sudan (video), Maryam and Rakan, Palestine (video)

16:52 – 17:10 Panel discussion

• • Dr. Mohammad Al-Sammak, Secretary-General of the Islamic-Christian National Dialogue Committee in the Republic of Lebanon.
  • H.E. Ms. Anita Pipan, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.
  • H.E. Dr. Nasir A. Andisha, Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations Office
  • UNICEF Representative.
  • Mr. Charles-Antoine Hofmann, Chief, Accountability to Affected Populations, Office of Emergency Programmes, UNICEF. 

17:10 – 17:12 Video from children: Zaina, Jordan (video)

17:12 – 17:15– Rabbi David Rosen, KSG CBE, Special Advisor to the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi (video)

17:15 – 17:35. Comments and questions, and last remarks from speakers.

Amb. Michel Veuthey, Ambassador of the Order of Malta to Monitor and to Fight Against Human Trafficking (3 minutes)

Video from Amb. Antonio De Almeida, Acting Secretary General, KAICIID (3 minutes)

17:35 – 17:40 Conclusions:  Mr. Michael Wiener, Human Rights Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

17:40– 17:45 Call to Action:  Statement delivered jointly by Arigatou International and faith-based partners – Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director, Arigatou International Geneva, and Mr. Stefano Bosco, Director of Public and International Affairs of Latter-Day Saints Charities.

17:45 Reception