Sybil Kessler
B'nai Brith International
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Sybil Kessler is B’nai B’rith International’s Director of United Nations Affairs, where she focuses on defining and promoting Jewish interests at the UN. Previously, she has been with the American Jewish Committee’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights and Hadassah. She worked in the Balkans in the 1990’s, has a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University, and a BA from Rutgers University. Sybil’s main interests lie in human rights, the role of Jewish NGOs at the UN, and Israel.
UN Measures for Genocide Prevention
The Case of Darfur and Beyond
Identity and Responsibility
Is the UN doing all it can to prevent genocide? What are the mechanisms that exist and how are they effecting change? This discussion will consider the situation in Darfur, including why it is sometimes called “slow motion genocide,” and consider the phrase ‘genocide’ itself in terms of its relevancy to preventing human rights violations. The discussion will also touch upon the new international concept of “responsibility to protect” and what that means to contemporary nation states and the UN.
Durban World Conference Against Racism—Again?
Durban Review: What To Do?
Israel
Since the 2001 Durban World Conference Against Racism, antisemitic acts in Europe and North America have risen, often in parallel with events in the Middle East. Jewish organizations have engaged with human rights and international organizations regarding anti-Zionism and antisemitism. However, more reflection and advocacy are needed, especially now that countries have decided to convene a “Durban review process” to reflect on changes since 2001 and the implementation of the UN’s plan of action.
UN and Regional Security: Israel, Lebanon, plus
Open discussion of UN issues
Identity and Responsibility,
Israel
What’s on your mind related to the UN, current events, and regional security in the Middle East? This discussion will touch on Israel’s status at the UN, UN Security Council resolution 1701 (the Lebanon ceasefire resolution), the Quartet, Iran, antisemitism, the widening gap between developed and developing countries, and related issues. It’s all that you wanted to know about the UN but were afraid to ask—well, not necessarily afraid, perhaps you simply wanted to discuss these topics.
