Berlin Global Advisors was honored to host a fireside chat on geopolitics and human rights with Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, and attorney, civil rights activist and human rights advocate Kimberly Marteau Emerson, member of the international board of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Conceptually, the post-World War II world order represented a real breakthrough for humanity; practically, we see every day the extent to which its principles are under attack.

The challenge for the West is not only: how can we defend ourselves against various forms of pressure and aggression, but also: to what extent are we able to defend and promote human rights outside our borders? This question is crucial not only for policymakers and civil society, but increasingly for businesses as well: In a world of volatile politics, business relies on long-term investment.

Any human rights policy must start from reality. The diplomat: „From your list of 1-4, I can do 1 and 3, and maybe explore 2.“ The human rights advocate: „Leaders need to speak out. Transparency and public support enable oppressed people to act in a self-determined way.“

And any human rights policy needs a strategy. The success in getting more countries to support the second U.N. resolution condemning Russia’s war on Ukraine shows that the West needs to engage with the global South much more than in past decades. „Learning from China“ in this context means coalition-building not by coercion but by persuasion and common interest.

Long-term changes in global governance also offer hope: thanks to the international criminal law developed by Hersch Lauterpacht and Raphael Lemkin, the Koblenz trial could be successfully concluded. HRW was able to provide relevant forensic material for the trial of Syrian government officials Anwar R. and Eyad A., which began in 2022. It was the world’s first trial on state torture in Syria. HRW is also among those collecting such forensic evidence in Ukraine today in preparation for the trials that will take place tomorrow. In its „digital lab,“ HRW and its partners are developing 3D modeling technology to examine some of the most devastating cases, including the siege of Mariupol and the deadly missile attack on the Kramatorsk train station.

As co-sponsors of the evening, BGA is also are also very grateful for the additional financial support that the illuminating evening generated for the cause of human rights and the impressive work of Human Rights Watch! And a big thank you to Ambassador Christoph Heusgen for making the trip from Berlin to Frankfurt to join the conversation with Kimberly Emerson, and for being an impeccable guest throughout the evening!