On 17 July, the first session of the Global Collaboration Institute in collaboration with the Youth Diplomacy Forum and Youth Parliament Bangladesh set out a platform for multi-national dialogue, with participants from around the globe coming together to deliberate on strengthening resilience in the face of adversity, fostering peace, and the role of border regions in shaping a more collaborative future. The discussion topic was “Reimagining Resilience; Insights from the NATO Summit” to discuss the implications of this summit on European region and the world.
The conversation unfolded against the backdrop of the recent NATO summit, bringing to light the need for resilience within the multilateral world.
- Opening and welcome Ms. Julie Guegan, CEO Global Collaboration Institute, provides a welcome and introduction to the event’s objectives, and introduces her perspective on the subject matter.
Keynote Speeches Each speaker delivers a 7-minute speech on their perspective and insights from the NATO Summit. - Mr. Musawar Hameed Tanoli “The Power of Collaboration: NATO as a model for multilateralism, particular focus on NATO Summit 2023″.
- Ms. Bushra Saqib Kiani “My Dreams for a More Connected World: Insights from a Social Media Strategist”
- Ms. Nina Wolff “Lessons from WWII, Why We Repeat the Same Mistakes – Empowerment When We Do Not Have a Voice.”
Panel Discussion:
A moderated discussion amongst the speakers, addressing key points from their speeches, and answering pre-submitted questions. Several key topics were raised, among them, the necessity of global partnerships and the potential for geographical location to bestow greater power amidst rising threats.
Eminent speakers, as well as youth leaders and policy researchers from various regions such as Bangladesh, Egypt, USA, Canada, Belgium, Namibia, Pakistan, Somalia, Burkina Faso, France and Angola… discussed the ways in which national and international policies intertwine.
They pointed out that no matter what international conventions a nation signs, their effectiveness ultimately rests upon the strength of national law and the government’s stance on these conventions. Thus, integrating international policies into national strategies is of utmost importance.
Dialogue on the summit:
As the dialogue unfolded, a recurring theme was the significance of the hybrid world we now inhabit. Notably, participants observed that while this world brings with it unprecedented challenges, it is simultaneously a hotbed of opportunity.
The digital landscape, now more than ever, acts as a nexus for cultural exchange and knowledge sharing, allowing for real-time engagement across continents.
The very nature of this gathering is a testament to the potent advantages that our interconnected world offers.
The discussions held at the forum mirrored the complexity and interdependence of our global society, demonstrating the need for collective action and cross-border collaboration.
Yet, technical difficulties in global communication were highlighted as a significant hindrance to global collaboration.
This setback was palpably demonstrated through connection issues experienced during the session, underlining the urgency to ensure stable network connectivity for seamless global cooperation.
An intriguing aspect of the discussion emerged in response to a question about Turkey’s recent approval of Sweden’s NATO membership. Despite previous objections due to concerns over terror organizations operating in Sweden, Turkey’s endorsement hinted at a change in its stance.
Participants speculated that this might be tied to Turkey’s own ambitions to join the European Union and its desire for Sweden to take action against PKK and its affiliates.
A transformative idea presented in the session was the notion of ‘Model United Nations’ within education systems.
This idea underscores the belief that fostering global understanding from a young age can help avoid conflicts in the future.
Training young minds to have community and global conversations is thus viewed as a crucial preventive measure.
This Article is written by M.s Julie Guegan who is the CEO of the Global Collaboration Institute. She is focused on bringing peace and prosperity via global collaboration. She is based in Brussels, Belgium.
