MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs at a Global Webinar with Caritas International and the World Evangelical Alliance on:
Assessing the Humanitarian Impact of Sanctions on the People of the Middle East
This news is also available in Arabic.
In the context of the 48th Session of the Human Rights Council, Caritas International and the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) co-organized an international webinar entitled “Assessing the humanitarian impact of unilateral sanctions” on Tuesday, 28 September 2021.
MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs participated in the webinar as a speaker along with UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights Prof. Alena Douhan, Communication Officer at the Christian Solidarity International (CSI) Mr. Joel Veldkamp and Advocacy Officer at the World Evangelical Alliance Mr. Wissam Al Saliby.
Discussions were moderated by the Regional Coordinator of Caritas MONA Mr. Karam Abi Yazbeck, and the webinar started with an introduction and opening remarks by Prof. Alena Douhan.
MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs presented a detailed overview of the concept of imposing unilateral sanctions, its results and repercussions, especially on the humanitarian level, in the Middle East. He also provided examples and many questions that need to be raised. Dr. Abs rejected the sanctions and considered that it could not be a tool for political change.
Mr. Joel Veldkamp explained the work of the Christian Solidarity International (CSI) in Syria, and the impact of sanctions on the medical sector, especially in facing the Coronavirus; and the effects of the economic crises in light of the sanctions. Mr. Wissam Al Saliby highlighted the work of the World Evangelical Alliance and presented examples of the impact of sanctions and the need of support in this context.
The webinar ended with a session for discussion and questions, followed by a wrap-up and closing remarks by Prof. Alena Douhan.
Click here to check the presentation of Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs
