Announcements
MIGS hosted the inaugural John Lemieux Human Rights Lecture with Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk. Matviichuk delivered a powerful speech on the ongoing struggle for justice amid Russia’s war on Ukraine. The event also featured a panel discussion moderated by La Presse journalist Laura-Julie Perreault and featuring the Honourable Chris Alexander, the Honourable Irwin Cotler, Globe and Mail journalist Mark MacKinnon. You can watch a recording of the event on our YouTube channel and view photos on Flickr. Following the event, Laura-Julie published an interview with Oleksandra Matviichuk in La Presse titled “Les larmes discrètes du canari ukrainien.” Finally, MIGS’ Youth Fellow Bogdan Lytvynenko wrote a summary of Matviichuk’s visit titled “War crimes and impunity: Is the Kremlin’s invasion above international law?”.
(photos by Julian Haber)
MIGS will host the second Montreal International Security Summit on 16-17 October. Focusing on China and the Indo-Pacific, confirmed speakers include Tomohiko Taniguchi (Fujitsu Future Studies Centre), Melissa Chan (The Global Reporting Centre), Guy St-Jacques (former Canadian Ambassador to Canada), Irwin Cotler (Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights), Sophie Richardson (The Hopkins-Nanjing Center), Reinhard Bütikofer (German MEP, The Greens), Robert Fife (The Globe and Mail), Anne Tsai Bennet (National Endowment for Democracy) Sarah Cook (Independent Researcher), Margaret McCuaig (University of Ottawa), Nadège Rolland (National Bureau of Asian Research), Vina Nadjibulla (Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada), Benjamin Tallis (German Council on Foreign Relations), Jakub Janda (European Values Center for Security Policy), Mercedes Stephenson (Global News), Guy St-Jacques (former Canadian Ambassador to Canada), and Evan Solomon (GZero Media).
MIGS Executive Director Kyle Matthews has joined the Association of Canadian Studies’ advisory committee of the Global Forum on Holocaust Memory and Learning in an Era of Disinformation, which addresses the need to combat Holocaust denial and false narratives.
Advocacy
June 4 Kyle Matthews and representatives from the New Lines Institute held a press conference in Ottawa to discuss the New Lines Institute’s report on the situation in Ethiopia's Tigray region. our groundbreaking report on the situation in Ethiopia's Tigray region. MIGS held an expert briefing for MPs titled “Genocide in Tigray: Roundtable Discussion” featuring Annika Weiss (New Lines Institute), Ali Ehsassi (Liberal MP), John Packer (University of Ottawa) and Makeda Leul (Security and Justice for Tigrayans Canada).
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Upcoming Events
December 3-5 MIGS fellow Ewelina Ochab will give a presentation titled “Sexual Violence - The Weapon of Choice Across Contemporary Genocides” at the 5th Congress Mukwege International Chair.
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Recent Events
May 21 MIGS Distinguished Fellow Roméo Dallaire gave a talk at the opening of the Chaire de leadership en enseignement Roméo Dallaire sur les conflits civils et la paix durable at the Université Laval. May 28-29 May 30 MIGS' Executive Director Kyle Matthews and Senior Fellow David Donat Cattin participated in a panel discussion titled “Counterterrorism, Human Rights and the Independence of Judges'' in New York City. The event was co-organized by NYU Center for Global Affairs, co-sponsored by the NYC Bar Association International Human Rights Committee, United Nations Committee, the NYCBA Independence of Lawyers, the Judges Task Force and the Student Association in Global Affairs. June 6 Kyle Matthews attended the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Canada foreign policy dinner "Canada and Germany in a World of Change and Instability" that was held in Ottawa for the foundation’s Canadian Partners.
June 7 Marie Lamensch moderated a panel discussion at a conference organized by the Chaire Raoul Dandurand titled “La donnée comme ressource stratégique dans les conflits contemporains”.
June 10 MIGS Fellow Joanna Cook co-edited a book titled “Holding ISIL Accountable: Prosecuting Crimes in Iraq and Syria”. June 11 Student Fellow Douglas Toledo-Beltrán attended the lecture “Trends Transforming Trade, Seizing The Opportunity For Global Economy’s Prosperity”, where the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay shared his views on global/regional integration and the relationship between Uruguay and Canada. June 12 MIGS Fellow Diego Osorio moderated the webinar titled “COP28 and beyond: Climate Relief and Recovery: Paths to Peace” organized by The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. June 14 Kyle Matthews participated in the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security (CCRS), a space to engage Canadians and the Government of Canada in a long-term dialogue on matters related to national security and public safety. June 17 MIGS staff participated in a roundtable on “The Protection of Civilians @25: Challenges and Opportunities” organized by the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University and the NGO Humanity and Inclusion. They also attended the unveiling of a new mural in tribute of civilians victims sponsored by Humanity and Inclusion.
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In the Media
May 23
MIGS Fellow Mark Kersten wrote an article for Aljazeera titled “The ICC is not in the business of peacemaking, but it can deliver justice”.
May 24
MIGS Fellow Fannie Lafontaine spoke to Radio-Canada’s Midi Info about the ICJ’s call for Israel to cease its military offensive on Rafah
May 27
Fannie Lafontaine was quoted in an article in Le Devoir titled “En frappant Rafah, Israël fait un nouvel affront au droit international”.
MIGS Fellow Phil Gurski hosted John Gilmour (instructor, University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute and Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs) on a Borealis podcast episode titled “Is terrorism becoming ‘socialised’ in Canada?”.
June 3
Phil Gurski hosted Peta Lowe, Principal Consultant at Phronesis Consulting and Training, in an episode of the Borealis podcast titled “The terrorism landscape in Australia – what gives?”.
Phil Gurski published an article in the Ottawa Citizen titled “Canada must rebuild trust with the countries who share intelligence with us”.
June 6
Ewelina Ochab published two articles for Forbes: “United Nations Takes A Step To Combat Srebrenica Genocide Denial” and “United Nations Warns of Genocide In Darfur”.
June 10
Phil Gurski spoke to the CBC about the new National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians report on foreign interference in Canada.
Fellow Andrei Serbin Pont participated in the podcast "Letra Chica" to discuss geopolitics, defense, and security in the Argentine context.
June 11
Phil Gurski hosted journalist and conflict analyst Alec Bertina on the Borealis podcast episode titled “Russia and the Taliban getting together, really?”
June 13
Ewelina Ochab published an article for Forbes titled “The Taliban’s Treatment Of Women Should Shock The Conscience Of Humanity”.
Phil Gurski is quoted in an article in the Financial Post titled “Opinion: Ignoring Chinese spying has made Canada the weak link among Western allies”.
June 14
Ewelina Ochab published an article for Forbes titled “The Siege Of Mariupol: Death, Starvation And Destruction”.
June 20
Joana Cook spoke to the German magazine Der Spiegel about the current situation for children from ISIS-affiliated families in camps in northeast Syria.