Contemporary Challenges to Humanitarian Action

The McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, the McGill Human Rights Working Group, and Avocats sans frontières welcome Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, to speak on Contemporary Challenges to Humanitarian Action.

About the speaker

Peter Maurer Is president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He studied history and international law in Bern, where he was awarded a doctorate. In 1987 he entered the Swiss diplomatic service. In 2000 he was appointed ambassador and head of the human security division in the political directorate of the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs. In 2004 Mr Maurer was appointed ambassador and permanent representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York. In June 2009, the UN General Assembly elected Mr Maurer chairman of the Burundi configuration of the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

In January 2010 Maurer was appointed secretary of State for foreign affairs in Bern. He succeeded Jakob Kellenberger as ICRC president in 2012. Under his leadership, the ICRC carries out humanitarian work in over 80 countries. Maurer's priorities for his presidency include strengthening humanitarian diplomacy, engaging States and other actors for the respect of international humanitarian law, and improving the humanitarian response through innovation and new partnerships. For more information: www.icrc.org/en/president-icrc-peter-maurer