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International media seminar on peace in the Middle East

The 2022 United Nations International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East is organized by the United Nations Department for Global Communications, as part of its special information programme on the question of Palestine.

This annual event aims to raise awareness of the question of Palestine and promote a peaceful settlement to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

It also aims to bring together journalists, media experts, think tanks, diplomats and members of academia from Israel, Palestine, the wider Middle East, Europe, the United States and other parts of the world to discuss media-related dynamics and trends connected to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

How to take part

To attend this event in person, please register here: Indico

The event will also be webcast live.


PROGRAMME

Thursday, 3 November 2022

Opening session
9:30 a.m.: Registration
10:30 a.m.: Opening session

Welcome remarks

  • Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations at Geneva

Opening statements

  • Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, United Nations
  • Ambassador Wolfgang Amadeus Brülhart, Swiss Envoy for the Middle East and North Africa

Messages

  • H.E. Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
  • H.E. Mr. Cheikh Niang, Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

Panel I - Honouring the legacy of Shireen Abu Akleh: Protecting journalists covering the conflict (10:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.)             

Moderator: Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, United Nations

Panelists:

  • Mr. Gideon Levy, Columnist and member of the editorial board, Haaretz
  • H.E. Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations
  • Mr. Denis Masmejan, Secretary-General, Reporters Without Borders (Switzerland) 
  • Ms. Ana Luiza Massot Thompson-Flores, Director, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Office (UNESCO), Geneva

Panel II – Forgotten stories in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; how political news eclipses coverage of economic challenges (3 – 5 p.m.)                                        

Moderator: Ms. Nanette Braun, Officer-in-Charge, Campaigns and Country Operations Division, UN Department of Global Communications

Panelists: 

  • Professor Edmund Gharib, Professor, American University
  • Ms. Dalia Hatuqa, Multimedia journalist specializing in Israeli/Palestinian affairs
  • Mr. David Rosenberg, Business editor, Haaretz

Friday, 4 November 2022

Panel III – Young journalists: opportunities and challenges (10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

Moderator: Ms. Alessandra Vellucci, Director, United Nations Information Service in Geneva

Panelists:

  • Mr. Ali Ghaith, Communications Analyst, United Nations Development Programme, Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People
  • Mr. Montaser Marai, Manager, Media Initiatives, Media Initiatives Department Aljazeera Media Institute
  • Ms. Pnina Pfeuffer, Journalist, +972

Closing (12:30 – 12:45 p.m.)  
Statement by Ms. Nanette Braun, Chief, Communication Campaigns Service, Campaigns and Country Operations Division, UN Department of Global Communications