Following the symposium “Music and International Humanitarian Law: Two Utopias in Times of War ?“ held in Bayonne on October 5, 2024, during the Hazebegi Festival, a unique conference took place on November 28, 2024, at Sciences Po Paris. This event marked the celebration of the 160th anniversary of the French Red Cross and the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions.
Titled “Music and International Humanitarian Law: Exploring Connections, Inspiring Resonances,” the conference was organized by Sciences Po’s Maison des Arts & de la Création and the French Red Cross Foundation, in collaboration with the CERI (Centre for International Studies), Sciences Po’s Engagement Directorate, the Haizebegi Festival, and the French Red Cross.
This event delved into the connections between music and humanitarian action in a global context shaped by escalating humanitarian crises and recurrent violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Musicians, humanitarian workers, and researchers came together to discuss the role music can play in raising awareness of humanitarian issues and supporting the implementation of IHL. The conference explored music’s capacity to transcend conflicts and serve as a vehicle for peace while highlighting its potential role in accompanying humanitarian effort
The speakers included:
- Kudsi Erguner, ney player and UNESCO Artist for Peace, who also gave a mesmerizing performance with his instrument
- Elise Petit, musicologist at the Université Grenoble Alpes
- Paul-Henri Arni, former United Nations diplomat and initiator of the project When Music Defies War
- Elisa Rusca, Director of Exhibitions at the International Red Cross Museum
- Luis Velasco-Pufleau, musician and Associate Professor at the University of Montreal
The discussions, moderated by Frédéric Ramel (Sciences Po) and Virginie Troit (French Red Cross Foundation), were interspersed with moving musical performances and the presentation of the exhibition Tuning In – Acoustics of Emotion, dedicated to the sound archives of the Red Cross.
“The Ambassadors’ Moment” gave Sciences Po students the opportunity to actively engage in the discussion by directly addressing questions to the speakers.
The day concluded with a musical performance by Sciences Polyphonies and remarks from Caroline Brandao (French Red Cross) and Julia Grignon (IRSEM). They emphasized the importance of promoting International Humanitarian Law (IHL) through innovative initiatives such as those explored during this roundtable.
