After the very interesting study trip to Vienna, the International Summer University continued at Kőszeg, on the fourth day focusing on the successes and failures of the international crisis management, particularly as executed by the United Nations. The morning panel started with the explanation of the possibilities and limitations of military intervention in crisis situations, the role the “blue helmets” could and did play and the controversies this involvement may and did include. Prof. emeritus Zoltán Szenes, former Chief of the General Staff of the Hungarian Armed Forces provided a very interesting “panorama” of the different types of peacekeeping operations, initiated, and headed by the UN, explaining its legal frames, its risks and benefits, its costs, and many other details of one of the most important missions of the UN.
Prof. Szenes’ presentation was followed by a very important contribution given by Prof. János Bogárdi, senior adviser to iASK, eminent hydrologist who had also an important career in different UN institutions, explaining the possible reasons of conflicts, the consequences that can be also armed clashes, resulting in a flow of refugees that may create another serious problem for the UN. His extremely thorough analysis focused on the differences of conflict avoidance and conflict management, highlighting the importance of preventing critical situations that could develop into conflict and crisis, and the need for change in the UN’s approach in these areas.
The next panelist was Ms. Lisbeth Pilegaard, executive director of Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy, who has an impressive record of conflict management “on the field” from Afghanistan to Serbrenica and from Latin America to Palestine. She emphasized the importance of participation of women in decision making, in avoiding and managing crisis, in politics and beyond, recalling her previous experiences in different parts of the world in different kind of conflict situations. She was referring to both the peacekeeping operations and to the problem of refugees, as seen also by the most vulnerable groups, women and children and questioned the monopoly or hegemony of male politicians and leaders to make decisions that affects all of us.
The afternoon session started with the very interesting lecture of Prof. Péter Krekó, Associate Professor at the ELTE Budapest University Institute of Psychology, describing and analyzing the ever-growing influence of fake news, conspiration theories, the role of the media and social media in this respect and the use of these as manipulative techniques of authoritarian regimes.
The sessions were followed by very lively discussions and several issues were raised, many of which answered other were waiting for being answered – maybe at the next International Summer University at Kőszeg, following up the lively debates of the 28th ISU.
Day 4 of 28th International Summer University: The Future of Human Rights in the Age of Uncertainty
Human Rights and International Aid Organisations
The first panel titled “Human Rights and International Aid Organisations: The UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF and The Red Cross” focused on the role of international organisations in protecting human rights. The panel was chaired by iASK research fellow Katalin Galambos and the speakers included Anett Matkó, an expert in international relations at UNICEF Hungary, Péter Juhász, professor at the Semmelweis University and research fellow at iASK, Ferenc Pongrácz, Regional Director of EIT Health InnoStars and Marianna Kármán, head of Migration Department at Hungarian Red Cross in Budapest.
Anett Matkó presented the work of UNICEF Hungary and explained how this international organisation contributes to the protection of the human rights of children across the globe. She emphasized the three Ps of children’s rights: protection, provision, and participation. “The main mission of UNICEF providing life-saving supplies and services worldwide”, she said. Commenting on the role of international conventions, she highlighted the importance of social support and the implementation of policies. “Conventions alone are not enough”, she stressed.
Péter Juhász emphasized criticisms of international conventions. He argued that provisions in the conventions are formulated in such a way that they can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the state. The second challenge is the questionable effectiveness of the monitoring mechanisms. Recommendations of the UN committee are not always easily implemented because the UN has no legislative power or means to enforce these recommendations.
Ferenc Pongrácz, Regional Director of EIT Health InnoStars, focused on the problem of the sustainability of the healthcare system in the European Union. He spoke about the activities of EIT Health and their objectives which include support in the implementation of the new services and products in healthcare to bring new solutions to the market and help startups. He talked about the challenges to the accessibility of healthcare services and the balance between data privacy and the benefits of the use of medical data for research purposes.
Marianna Kármán, head of the Migration Department at the Hungarian Red Cross talked about the contributions of the UN and the Red Cross to helping refugees from Ukraine. She explained the fundamental principles of Red Cross and elaborated on the complex structure of its committees. She highlighted Red Cross’s commitments to providing shelter, food, essential non-food items and access to health, education and other services to refugees to ensure their basic needs are satisfied. She discussed the future plans regarding refugees from Ukraine which includes a complex integration program. Our aim is to support them to start independent life in Hungary”, she said.
The War Machine Workshop
The War Machine workshop was held by Dalma Bíró and Illés Katona from the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. It started with a screening of the film “Immoral Code” and was followed by the an interactive game and discussion on the dehumanising effects of automation and the increasing role of AI in warfare. The focus of the discussion was on the dangers of autonomous weapons and killer robots, various forms of algorithmic violence, and other elements of cyber-warfare. Bíró and Illés highlighted the problems of digital dehumanisation and algorithmic bias that are relevant in both the autonomous weapon industry and other spheres where decision-making is aided by artificial intelligence. “AI makes critical decisions about our lives”, said Bíró and emphasised the importance of restoring human agency in the age of automation.
Stop Killer Robots campaign is a movement against digital dehumanisation established with the aim to promote peace, justice, human rights, equality and respect for the law. This movement is not aimed against the development of AI but advocates for the responsible use of advanced technologies to bring benefits to society. “Technology should be used to empower all people, not to reduce us – to stereotypes, labels, objects, or just a pattern of 1’s and 0’s. With growing digital dehumanisation, the Stop Killer Robots coalition works to ensure human control in the use of force. Our campaign calls for new international law on autonomy in weapons systems”, it is said on the campaign’s website.