Global challenges discussed with heads of UN agencies
Ljubljana, 22 October - The world would be a perfect place if every UN country respected the UN Charter, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told the 2nd Slovenian Humanitarian Forum, an event wrapping up the 12th Slovenian Development Days on Tuesday. Termed For a World without Hunger, it is held under President Nataša Pirc Musar's auspices and features two UN officials.
Ljubljana
Journalist Ervin Hladnik Milharčič, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, Carl Skau from the WFP and Caritas Malawi coordinator Chimwemwe Nyambose Ndhlovu at one of the panels at the 2nd Slovenian Humanitarian Forum, held at Rog Center.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Ljubljana
President Nataša Pirc Musar addressing the 2nd Slovenian Humanitarian Forum, which is held under her auspices.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Ljubljana
Caritas Malawi coordinator Chimwemwe Nyambose Ndhlovu at the 2nd Slovenian Humanitarian Forum, held at Rog Center.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Ljubljana
Journalist Ervin Hladnik Milharčič, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon and Carl Skau from the WFP at one of the panels at the 2nd Slovenian Humanitarian Forum, held at Rog Center.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Ljubljana
Journalist Ervin Hladnik Milharčič, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, Carl Skau from the WFP and Caritas Malawi coordinator Chimwemwe Nyambose Ndhlovu at one of the panels at the 2nd Slovenian Development Forum, held at Rog Center.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Ljubljana
Journalist Ervin Hladnik Milharčič, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, Carl Skau from the WFP and Caritas Malawi coordinator Chimwemwe Nyambose Ndhlovu at one of the panels at the 2nd Slovenian Development Forum, held at Rog Center.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Ljubljana
The 2nd Slovenian Humanitarian Forum, held at Rog Center.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Ljubljana
Journalist Ervin Hladnik Milharčič, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, Carl Skau from the WFP and Caritas Malawi coordinator Chimwemwe Nyambose Ndhlovu at one of the panels at the 2nd Slovenian Development Forum, held at Rog Center.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Ljubljana
Journalist Ervin Hladnik Milharčič, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, Carl Skau from the WFP and Caritas Malawi coordinator Chimwemwe Nyambose Ndhlovu at one of the panels at the 2nd Slovenian Humanitarian Forum, held at Rog Center.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Ljubljana
Journalist Ervin Hladnik Milharčič, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, Carl Skau from the WFP and Caritas Malawi coordinator Chimwemwe Nyambose Ndhlovu at one of the panels at the 2nd Slovenian Humanitarian Forum, held at Rog Center.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Fajon took part in the panel on the vicious circle of armed conflicts and food crises alongside the two UN officials and Caritas Malawi coordinator Chimwemwe Nyambose Ndhlovu.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), largely focussed on the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza, where more than 200 UNRWA staff have been killed over the past year.
He said that Israel's accusing UNRWA of bias is largely motivated by the country's desire to erase the refugee status of displaced Palestinians. This can be seen from the fact that the incumbent Israeli government and parliament reject a two-state solution, he said.
More than a year into the war in Gaza, many countries have condemned Israel while they are unwilling to act against Israel, said Lazzarini, noting that the EU continues to trade with Israel.
Highlighting the conflict spreading to Lebanon as a particular challenge, Carl Skau, World Food Programme (WFP) chief operating officer, outlined the challenges of Lebanese civilians, some of whom have fled to Syria.
He described the situation in Lebanon as a crisis within a crisis, with civil war still ongoing in Syria and the WFP struggling to provide assistance to people there.
The situation is even worse in Sudan, where the WFP has noted the extent of food shortages and hunger that has not been seen in decades.
Ndhlovu meanwhile presented the situation and challenges in Malawi, where the population faces deprivation despite peace, while many people in other parts of Africa also depend on external aid.
In such a world, Slovenia wants to be a voice of reason, said Fajon. Through its action in the UN Security Council, it wants to show that multilateralism can play a role in ensuring security.
"If every UN member state respected the UN Charter, the world would be a perfect place," she said while pointing to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
As a small country, Slovenia wants to uphold international law, and in the face of ongoing global crises, Fajon believes Slovenia is on the right side of history.
Before the panel started, President Pirc Musar addressed the Humanitarian Forum by stressing the role of peace for children's well-being.
She also said that research shows the global community could eradicate famine if allocated for this purpose but a fraction of the funds it spends on arms.
"To say that famine is a cancer of contemporary society is no exaggeration," she said as she pointed to a large number of children suffering undernourishment.
She thus highlighted the role of peaceful conflict resolution and elimination of inequality as well as all the other causes of conflicts.
A report on Slovenia's development cooperation and humanitarian aid will also be presented at the forum while food security and sustainable food systems are discussed at another panel.