3 questions to Fabienne Hara, Deputy Director General of the Paris Peace Forum

3 questions to Fabienne Hara, Deputy Director General of the Paris Peace Forum

Focus 2030  : Since 2018, the Paris Peace Forum has brought together various stakeholders, including international organizations, civil society, and the private sector, to "reinvent diplomacy in a changing world" by identifying gaps in global governance and addressing new global challenges. The ongoing crisis in multilateralism is considered by many to be the most severe since the end of the Cold War. This crisis is characterized by the questioning of long-standing rules by some countries in the Global South and the United States’ shift towards isolationism. What are its most significant effects in your view, and to what extent can these divisions be overcome ?

Fabienne Hara : The international system that has existed since 1945 is undergoing radical change, perhaps even disappearing to some extent. In recent years, we have witnessed the erosion of rules and norms, as well as the legitimacy and credibility of international institutions. There has also been an increase in conflict, with some experts speaking of a "deregulation of the use of force." Since invading Ukraine in 2022, Russia has defied the UN Charter and its responsibilities as a permanent Security Council member. Russia is seeking to align itself with China and draw emerging countries and the "Global South" into a movement that contests the 1945 liberal international order. However, the most significant development in 2025 was the election of Donald Trump, who decided that the existing order and global economy, which the United States had architected and safeguarded, no longer served their interests — and actually served those of their rivals. They have withdrawn from several multilateral organizations, cut development aid, and openly relaunched trade wars. They no longer want to play the role of the world’s policeman, even challenging the fundamental principle of state sovereignty by attempting to annex Canada or Greenland !

Many countries that have benefited from the post-1945 world order — whether through significant economic growth via globalization (emerging economies) or protection via solidarity mechanisms (least developed countries) — recognize that they have much to lose from upheavals in the international order.

Many countries are prepared to continue working together to uphold the standards and rules that govern international matters but also to address new challenges. In particular, combatting climate change, preserving common goods and spaces, regulating new technologies, preventing pandemics, and protecting global public goods.

The next edition of the Paris Peace Forum taking place on October 29–30 is entitled "New Coalitions for Peace, People and the Planet." It aims to bring together individuals who wish to continue engaging in dialogue and cooperation, and who want to live in a safer and more stable world that is not solely at the mercy of the powerful. Join us !

Focus 2030  : The Secretary-General of the United Nations is about to present a major reform proposal aimed at adapting the UN and its specialized agencies to a context of growing geopolitical tensions and severe budgetary constraints at the international level. What will the main strategic orientations of this reform be ? What specific impacts could it have on the lives of populations and countries that rely on multilateral cooperation on a daily basis — whether in health, education, climate, or the protection of human rights ?

Fabienne Hara :  Understanding the vision behind the "UN80" reform is difficult at the moment because it is being carried out under enormous political and financial pressure and during an unprecedented crisis for the UN. Some permanent members of the Security Council want to weaken the UN, as mentioned above. On the other hand, the organization is facing budget cuts that could result in a reduction of 20% or more of its staff, due to unpaid arrears and a significant decline in voluntary contributions from Member States. We must asked ourselves : Who wins and who loses in this crisis ?

There is widespread agreement that reform and revision of mandates are necessary. This includes revisiting the functioning and composition of the Security Council, streamlining the redundant mandates of certain UN agencies, and rethinking the development models underpinning its programs. However, I believe it would be dangerous to call everything into question. First, the UN continues to take action on the ground by managing peacekeeping and stabilization operations in conflict and humanitarian disaster zones, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sudan. The organization assists vulnerable populations and promotes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and human rights.

If Member States lose confidence in the organization under the weight of criticism, its impact will be drastically reduced, and vulnerable populations will be neglected even more than they already are.

Second, the majority of emerging powers and Member States find the norms valuable, and we must include them in discussions about the future of the UN, alongside countries from the "Global North", "Global South", and those in between. We must identify the essential functions of the UN : maintaining and consolidating peace in fragile and difficult contexts — who else has the experience to do this ? — as well as setting governance norms and practices. The UN’s sustainable development pillar must also be reformed, as its results are no longer satisfactory to donors or developing countries.

Ultimately, we lack a substitute multilateral system, and this period of transformation between eras and power reorganizations is hardly the occasion to devise a stable and completely new international system.

Focus 2030  : In the context of escalating conflict in the Middle East, France and other countries are preparing to announce the recognition of the State of Palestine during the UN General Assembly. France would be the first Security Council member to take this step. How do you think this new approach could impact the situation on the ground and, more broadly, the international stage ?

Fabienne Hara : Seventeen countries, including European and Commonwealth countries, will recognize Palestine on September 22 at the UNGA, in a diplomatic movement initiated by France in July 2025. This decision is highly significant, symbolically and practically, in the context of extremely violent Israeli military operations aimed at massive displacement and denying Palestinians the right to live in Gaza or the West Bank. It represents a powerful movement to reinforce consensus around the existence of a Palestinian state and isolate those who oppose it. However, recognition alone will not stop the violence or ensure acceptance of a two-state solution by all parties, much less make it a reality. The conflicting parties must be persuaded to accept a ceasefire, a regional security agreement, the establishment of viable and peaceful Palestinian institutions, the demilitarization of extremist movements like Hamas (which bears significant responsibility for this situation), and, of course, the deployment of a UN-mandated international stabilization mission. This is a case in which the UN could be useful ! We are still very far from that point. Above all, the challenge will be to foster trust and coexistence among deeply traumatized and, in some cases, radicalized populations who are still held hostage or under bombardment.

NB : The opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the ideas of Focus 2030.