International meeting in Brussels to address human security, diplomacy, peaceful coexistence, climate justice, and the role of civil society in strengthening international cooperation
Brussels – International Congress SHIELD – Media and International Relations Department
Preparations are continuing for the Brussels International Forum 2026, organized by the International Congress SHIELD, with a focus on creating an institutional space for dialogue and the exchange of perspectives on issues that have become increasingly important in international discussions, particularly peace, justice, human rights, and human security.
The Forum is scheduled to open on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Radisson RED Brussels, Rue d’Idalie 35, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, with the official opening scheduled for 10:00 a.m. The program is designed to bring together institutional dialogue, expert exchange, and discussion of a number of pressing international challenges.
The Forum comes at a time of growing and interconnected international crises, making the pursuit of peace and stability increasingly linked to human rights, sustainable development, social justice, and dialogue among communities and cultures.
The program is expected to address a range of strategic issues, including the future of international diplomacy and prospects for conflict resolution, the impact of the “war economy” on human security and development, climate and environmental justice, peaceful coexistence, and efforts to counter hate speech and polarization.
These issues are not viewed as isolated challenges, but as interconnected elements of a broader international framework aimed at strengthening stability and respect for human dignity. Conflicts and crises have consequences that extend beyond the political and security spheres, affecting development, education, healthcare, the environment, social mobility, and the future of generations.
Against this backdrop, the Forum seeks to provide participants with an opportunity to exchange experiences and perspectives on strengthening international cooperation, enhancing the role of institutions and civil society in supporting peaceful solutions, reducing tensions, and developing more effective approaches to protecting fundamental rights and freedoms.
Particular attention will also be given to dialogue among cultures, religions, and communities, based on the principle that diversity should not become a source of division, but rather an opportunity for understanding and sustainable partnership when grounded in mutual respect, equality, non-discrimination, and rejection of hate speech.
Climate and environmental justice will also form part of the broader discussion, reflecting the growing recognition of their connection to human security, sustainable development, and the protection of communities that are particularly vulnerable to environmental and climate-related risks.
As part of these preparations, International Congress SHIELD has continued to establish communication channels with a broad range of European and international institutions, organizations, and individuals, with the aim of expanding dialogue and encouraging participation from different professional and institutional backgrounds.
Official invitations have been extended to organizations and institutions working in areas including human rights and fundamental freedoms, peacebuilding and interfaith and intercultural dialogue, civil society, the protection of journalists, humanitarian action, refugee and displacement issues, international justice and the rule of law, sustainable development, climate justice, as well as academic institutions, think tanks, youth organizations, and cultural bodies.
Contacts have also been established with a number of international and regional institutions and diplomatic representations in Brussels, alongside European and international organizations, civil society groups, cultural and religious institutions, media organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
The purpose of these efforts is not simply to expand the number of participants, but to foster a diverse and balanced dialogue bringing together public institutions, civil society, academia, media, legal professionals, humanitarian actors, and other stakeholders. The interconnected nature of current international challenges requires precisely such a multidimensional approach.
The Forum is also expected to focus on moving beyond theoretical discussion towards the development of practical ideas and areas for cooperation, capable of supporting institutional and civic dialogue, strengthening mutual understanding, and creating new channels of communication among different actors.
In this context, the International Congress SHIELD considers that the value of an international forum should not be measured solely by the number of participants but by its ability to generate meaningful dialogue, encourage cooperation, respect differences, and promote solutions grounded in law, human rights, and peaceful means.
The Brussels International Forum 2026 is therefore conceived as a space for dialogue and interaction, away from polarizing rhetoric and in line with the growing need to strengthen a culture of cooperation, mutual respect, and constructive engagement in addressing international challenges.
Through this process, International Congress SHIELD seeks to create a meeting point between institutional expertise, human rights perspectives, and civic initiatives, contributing to a more constructive international discussion that places human dignity at its center and encourages peaceful solutions and multilateral cooperation.
International Congress SHIELD
Media and International Relations Department
For information and media inquiries:
congress@icprfc-shield.org
