May 2026: Invited Talk by Mr Arsen Khanyan (International Development Law Organization)

21 May 2024 at 14.15, The talk given by Mr Arsen Khanyan from the International Development Law Organization is titled “Human Rights and Multilateral Diplomacy: A Practitioner’s Perspective”

Abstract What does it really mean to advance human rights through multilateral diplomacy? And how does it connect to our daily lives?
Arsen Khanyan will offer a practitioner’s perspective on the international human rights system and the rule of law frameworks that underpin it, and on why they matter in our lives. Drawing on his experience, he will illustrate how multilateral diplomacy and international frameworks actually work, and how country-level realities and Geneva-based normative debates feed into one another. The lecture will conclude with candid reflections on the practical realities of multilateral diplomacy, and on the skills and human qualities required to navigate its complexities. Arsen Khanyan will speak in his personal capacity.

Bio Arsen Khanyan is a diplomat whose career has been shaped by a commitment to peace and human rights. Since 2022, he has represented the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) at the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, advancing the rule of law. Arsen has previously worked with various international organizations, including the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the Council of Europe. His work has spanned multilateral diplomacy, policy and external relations, human rights, and programme management. He has also authored several policy papers and studies. He has an academic background in International Affairs and Diplomacy, with Master’s degrees from the University of Geneva and the European University of Armenia. Arsen believes that each of us has a responsibility to contribute to others and to our communities. He is actively engaged in many activities beyond his work, including organizing art exhibitions and classical music concerts. He is also a devoted reader, with a particular weakness for memoirs and life stories. He speaks English, French, Russian, and Armenian — and is still making peace with German.

The lecture will take place on Thursday, 21 May 2024 14.15-16.00 at Battelle A 404, and will NOT be streamed on zoom.