The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Luigi Maria Vignali, and the Permanent Representative of Italy to the Conference on Disarmament, Ambassador Leonardo Bencini, met today at the headquarters of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) with an international group of students from the Association Rondine – Cittadella della Pace, coming from contexts of armed conflict and post-conflict situations. The meeting took place within the framework of the dialogue and training activities promoted by the organization, which in 2021 obtained Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
During the meeting, the role of Italy within the multilateral framework of the United Nations and other international organizations based in Geneva was illustrated, ranging from human rights to migration and humanitarian action, from technological and scientific innovation to international trade, as well as global health issues. Particular emphasis was placed on Italy’s mandate as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term, together with the main challenges shaping the current international agenda.
With specific reference to the Conference on Disarmament, an overview was provided of its mandate, competencies, and working methods, as well as of the issues currently under discussion in the fields of disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation.
The meeting and the many reflections offered by the Ambassadors encouraged the active participation of the students and a lively direct exchange on the topics addressed, highlighting the importance of the perspective of younger generations in the current effort to rethink a pragmatic and concrete multilateralism. In particular, the students of Rondine shared their commitment to the Leaders for Peace campaign, first presented at the United Nations in 2018, which continues to bring the voice of young people to the attention of governments regarding the need to invest in youth education for peace leadership and in a sustained commitment to reducing armed conflicts worldwide.
