Dr. Kamel Mohanna, President of Amel Association International, departed Beirut for Geneva, Switzerland, on a visit taking place from 12 to 19 June. During his stay, he will participate in a series of lectures, meetings with journalists, and international seminars hosted by various institutions and human rights and policy forums. The visit forms part of his ongoing efforts to bring the voice of Lebanon and its people to the international community and to advocate for the rights of civilians affected by war and the continuing violations targeting people, land, and heritage in Lebanon.
This participation comes at a critical moment as Lebanon faces one of the most severe crises in its modern history. Dr. Mohanna seeks to convey the suffering of the Lebanese people directly to international public opinion, decision-makers, and United Nations bodies, drawing on decades of humanitarian and social engagement and on the role played by Amel Association International in supporting local communities and safeguarding their dignity during times of crisis.
Dr. Mohanna is scheduled to take part in the international conference entitled “Beyond the G7: Towards Building a Multilateralism of Peoples” in Geneva, where he will address the need for a more just global order founded on solidarity among peoples rather than the dominance of major powers, and highlight the role of social movements and civil society in shaping more equitable and humane alternatives.
He will also deliver a lecture entitled “Lebanon Amid the Security and Humanitarian Storm” at the Arab Olive Tree Library in Geneva. The lecture will examine the impact of war on Lebanese society, the humanitarian and social challenges facing the population, and the experience of Amel as a transformative social movement rooted in people’s needs and aspirations, working to promote citizenship, social justice, and the right to dignity.
The visit will also include meetings with a number of international organizations and civil society actors to discuss ways of building fairer partnerships among communities and to exchange experiences on what is known as “multilateralism from below” — a form of multilateralism driven by peoples and social movements rather than governments alone.
In a key engagement during the visit, Dr. Mohanna will speak at the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva during sessions dedicated to the right to health. He will present the impact of war and ongoing violations on the right of people in Lebanon to access healthcare services and to live in dignity. He will also meet with the team of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health at Palais Wilson, the headquarters of the United Nations human rights mechanisms.
Before his departure, Dr. Mohanna stressed that “the struggle today is not only to stop the war, but also to protect humanity from a global system that allows the destruction of societies and permits perpetrators to evade accountability.” He emphasized that the systematic destruction, displacement of residents, and prevention of their return to their villages in Lebanon, particularly in southern Lebanon, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and the principles of human justice.
He added: “It is our duty to carry the voice of people subjected to oppression and marginalization to every possible international platform and to defend their right to life, dignity, and return to their land.” He further affirmed that the Amel experience has demonstrated that communities are capable of resistance and resilience when given the opportunity to become partners in shaping their own future rather than mere recipients of aid.
This visit continues Dr. Kamel Mohanna’s longstanding presence in international forums as one of the leading advocates for social justice and the rights of peoples, and as the founder of a humanitarian and social movement that has placed human dignity at the heart of action and change, transforming solidarity from a theoretical concept into a daily practice alongside the most vulnerable communities in Lebanon and the wider region.
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