On 15 March, Angelina Jolie, the world-leading actress and UNHCR Special Envoy, discussed the necessity of internationalism in a lecture at Palais des Nations. Her talk was organized by the Graduate Institute and the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation to honor the memory of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N. diplomat killed in Iraq in 2003.

Ms Jolie strongly underlined that “there is only one choice, demanded by reason as well as by conscience, which is the hard work of diplomacy and negotiation and reform of the UN”. Describing herself as “a proud American and an internationalist”, she explained that being an internationalist meant “seeing the world with a sense of fairness and humility, and recognizing our own humanity in the struggles of others”. She added that “a world in which we turn our back on our global responsibilities will be a world that produces greater insecurity, violence and danger for us and for our children.”

Ms Jolie also discussed the challenges of UN reform with Lyse Doucet, BBC International Correspondent and Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. 

The event also featured a piano recital by Elisso Bolkvadze, UNESCO Artist for Peace.