2025 CGS Summit Keynote Panel 1: New Solutions to Uphold the Rule of Law and Human Rights Amid Global Threats

The opening keynote panel of the 2025 CGS National Summit brought together leading voices from partner organizations to highlight innovative approaches to upholding the rule of law and human rights amid escalating global threats. This high-level, live-streamed public panel explored both the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities in global governance.

About This Conversation

CGS partners showcased their efforts in driving action during turbulent times, sharing how their collaboration with CGS strengthened these initiatives. The panel offered insights into the evolving landscape of global governance, examining how civil society organizations and multilateral institutions can work together to defend international legal norms and human rights protections in an era of rising authoritarianism and geopolitical conflict.

Speakers

• Alyn Ware (Moderator), Program Director, WFM-IGP; Co-Founder, Legal Alternatives to War (LAW not War)
• Yasmina Gourchane, Advocacy Officer, Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC)
• Tess Graham, Legal Advisor, Global Justice Center
• Saul Kenny, Communication Advisor, UN Charter Reform Coalition
• Alexandre MacIsaac, Executive Director, WFM-Canada
• Dan Perell, Representative to the United Nations, Baha’i International Community
• Karam Singh, Deputy Director, Integrity Initiatives International (III)

Key Themes

• Strengthening the International Criminal Court and defending it against political pressure
• Advancing UN Charter reform through multilateral advocacy
• Promoting the jurisdiction and effectiveness of the International Court of Justice
• Building civil society coalitions capable of meeting contemporary global governance challenges