Cover image: Kofi Annan meets with high-school students in Kabul, Afghanistan, in January 2002. Copyright © Chien-min Chung/Getty Photos
Conference Agenda
Day One: Monday 3 June 2019
09:30–10:30 Registration and coffee
10:30–10:45 Welcome
Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, Patron, UNA-UK; UN Deputy Secretary-General (2006)
Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House
10:45–12:15 Panel One | ‘The Arc of Intervention’
From Bosnia to the Brahimi Report and from Rwanda to the ‘responsibility to protect’ (R2P), Kofi Annan played a significant role in many critical moments that shaped approaches to peacekeeping and the protection of civilians. What has been the impact? Have UN peace operations evolved sufficiently to reflect the changing nature of conflict? How are mechanisms of prevention, protection and accountability such as R2P, Human Rights Up Front and the International Criminal Court currently faring, and what can be done to strengthen them?
Panel
Lakhdar Brahimi, The Elders; Chair, Panel on United Nations Peace Operations (2000)
Comfort Ero, Africa Program Director, International Crisis Group
Ian Martin, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in East Timor (1999), Nepal (2007–09) and Libya (2011–12)
Chair
Michael Keating, Executive Director, European Institute of Peace
12:15–13:30 Lunch
13:30–15:00 Panel Two | ‘In Larger Freedom’
How did Annan see the UN’s role in promoting and protecting human rights? What impact can UN mechanisms and initiatives have in an increasingly challenging political environment for human rights and the rule of law? And with the rise in populist politics, what can we learn from Annan’s work on democratic reform and resilience, including his legacy of the Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age?
Panel
Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (2006–12); UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women (1994–2003)
Patrick Gaspard, President, Open Society Foundations
Raila Odinga, High Representative for Infrastructure Development, African Union; Prime Minister of Kenya (2008–13)
Stephen Stedman, Deputy Director, Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law
Chair
Annika Savill, Executive Head, United Nations Democracy Fund
15:00–15:30 Coffee break
15:30–16:30 Conversation | ‘Cool and Reasoned Judgment’
This conversation will provide an opportunity to reflect on how Annan’s personality and values influenced his approach to managing crises, and on the role of the UN secretary-general in crisis management generally. The conversation will also discuss Annan as a mentor.
Participants
Kathy Calvin, President and CEO, United Nations Foundation
Nader Mousavizadeh, Co-founder, Macro Advisory Partners
Chair
Alec Russell, Editor, FT Weekend
18:00–20:00 ‘Kofi Annan: His Life and Legacy’, Central Hall Westminster
This public event, hosted by UNA-UK, will commemorate Kofi Annan’s life and legacy. Doors will open at 17:00 for a 18:00 start.
Speakers
Nane Annan
Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, Patron, UNA-UK; UN Deputy Secretary-General (2006)
Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders; UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997–2002)
Natalie Samarasinghe, Executive Director, UNA-UK
Sherrie Westin, President of Global Impact and Philanthropy, Sesame Workshop
Kami, HIV-positive Muppet, Takalani Sesame in South Africa
Citizens of the World Choir
Day Two: Tuesday 4 June 2019
09:00–09:30 Registration and coffee
09:30–11:00 Panel Three | ‘Global Market, Global Values’
Annan saw development as fundamental to human dignity and freedom. What is the legacy of the Millennium Development Goals? What should be the priorities in ensuring maximum impact from the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in relation to poverty alleviation and food security? How are innovative partnerships between the UN and other actors such as the private sector and local communities helping to drive impact?
Opening remarks
Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
Panel
Strive Masiyiwa, Board Chair, AGRA; CEO, Econet Wireless
Claire Melamed, CEO, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data
Mark Suzman, Chief Strategy Officer and President of Global Policy and Advocacy, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Chair
Sam Daws, Director, UN Reform Project, University of Oxford
11:00–12:00 Panel Four | Governance, Youth and Leadership
Rapid demographic and technological changes have reinvigorated youth demands for meaningful participation in addressing local and global challenges. From climate change to economic inequality, democracy-building to women’s rights, young people are seeking a voice in setting the agenda and delivering solutions. Yet they lack significant representation in governance structures. What are the barriers to youth engagement? Which global issues most demand youth participation and where has such participation had impact?
This session will begin with a short video featuring Kofi Annan speaking on youth engagement.
Panel
Alvin Carpio, Chief Executive, The Fourth Group; Founder, United Citizens
Natasha Kimani, Head of Programmes, Well Told Story; Mo Ibrahim Academy Fellow, Chatham House (2018)
Hajer Sharief, Co-founder, Together We Build It; Young Leader, Extremely Together (a Kofi Annan Foundation initiative)
Enyseh Teimory, Communications Assistant, UNA-UK
Chair
Zeinab Badawi, Presenter, BBC Global Questions and HardTalk
12:00–13:00 Lunch
13:00–14:30 Panel Five | ‘The Fork in the Road’
With the UN approaching its 75th anniversary at a moment of great geopolitical uncertainty, will Annan’s reforms provide a bedrock for ensuring the organization’s continued legitimacy and effectiveness? Are current reform proposals sufficiently bold given the rise in global actors, shifting power and calls for the democratization of the UN?
Panel
Michèle Griffin, Senior Policy Advisor to the UN Secretary-General
David Hannay, Chair, UN All-Party Parliamentary Group; Member, UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change (2003–04)
Patricia Lewis, Research Director, International Security Department, Chatham House
Danny Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive, Oxfam
Chair
Richard Gowan, UN Director, International Crisis Group
14:30–15:15 Conversation | ‘We the Peoples’
This conversation will explore Annan’s efforts to make the UN and global governance more inclusive, including partnerships he forged with business actors and civil society. How should the goal of inclusivity be taken forward?
Participants
Edward Mortimer, Distinguished Fellow, All Souls College, University of Oxford; Director of Communications, Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General (1998–2006)
Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General, Amnesty International
Chair
Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy CEO, United Nations Foundation
15:15–15:45 Looking Forward
Natalie Samarasinghe, Executive Director, UNA-UK
Alan Doss, President, Kofi Annan Foundation