This lecture is hosted by the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, an Oxford Martin School Institute

Speaker: Martin Griffiths, former Deputy Head of the UN Supervisory Mission in Syria, UNSMIS

Respondents:

• Professor Jennifer Welsh, Co-director, Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict and Professor of International Relations, University of Oxford
• Dr Marwa Daoudy, Departmental Lecturer in Politics and International Relations of the Middle East, University of Oxford

Biography of Speaker: Martin Griffiths was recently Deputy Head of the UN Supervisory Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) where he was the lead civilian and responsible for political affairs, human rights and civil affairs, working with Kofi Annan.

One of the world’s most senior international mediators in armed conflict, from 1991-2010, he was the Founding Director of Geneva based Hd Centre where he specialised in developing dialogue between governments and insurgents, and helped lay the foundations for peace in a range of countries across Asia, Africa and Europe. He is currently the co-founder and Strategic Advisor to Inter Mediate, led by Jonathan Powell.

In a distinguished humanitarian career, Martin has worked with UNICEF in Asia, in the British Diplomatic Service, Save the Children, and as Chief Executive of ActionAid. He rejoined the United Nations (UN) in 1994 as Director of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs (which became OCHA) in Geneva and became the Deputy to the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator in New York in 1998. He has also served as UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Great Lakes and UN Regional Coordinator in the Balkans with the rank of UN Assistant Secretary-General.

This event is open to all.