The Institute of International Relations at PUC-Rio and the think tank BRICS Policy Center (PUC-Rio), in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), are hosting the lecture and debate “The Evolving Global Order: BRICS, the Global South, and Humanitarian Imperatives.”

The Institute of International Relations at PUC-Rio and the think tank BRICS Policy Center (PUC-Rio), in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), are hosting the lecture and debate “The Evolving Global Order: BRICS, the Global South, and Humanitarian Imperatives.” The event, taking place on April 27th at 2:30 PM, will bring together students, academics, policymakers, diplomats, and journalists to reflect on the intersection between geopolitics, humanitarian action, and the challenges of multilateralism.

During a visit to Brazil, the ICRC Director-General, Pierre Krähenbühl, will be the keynote speaker at the event. In his intervention, Krähenbühl will address questions about the future of humanitarian action and the role of International Humanitarian Law in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

The global landscape has seen an unprecedented rise in armed conflicts — currently more than 130 ongoing — as well as geopolitical tensions and humanitarian crises, which are reshaping international norms and raising critical questions about the future of humanitarian action. Emerging powers, including BRICS countries, are playing an increasingly relevant role in global governance and in responding to these challenges.

The event will also explore the role of BRICS countries and the perspectives of the Global South in responding to humanitarian crises and addressing the challenges posed by a rapidly changing global order. The initiative seeks to foster a debate on the future of humanitarian action in light of contemporary impasses. “The Director-General of the ICRC will explain how the organization has been working to minimize the impacts on civilian populations in such a challenging context,” noted the Head of the ICRC Regional Delegation for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, based in Brasília, Nicolas Olivier.

The program will be divided into two main moments: an opening remark from PUC-Rio and the lecture by Pierre Krähenbühl, who will present the ICRC’s mission and discuss global humanitarian challenges. This will be followed by a moderated dialogue led by an academic expert and a Q&A session with students and participants.