Istanbul - Human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman delivered a stark warning about the “erosion and dismantling” of the global order, while urging collective international action to rebuild a more just system, during a high-level forum session in Istanbul.
In a one-on-one session moderated by Kilic Bugra Kanat, Karman framed the current geopolitical moment as both a profound crisis and a rare opportunity for transformation. Addressing the theme of moral leadership amid conflict, she argued that the post-World War II system-long anchored in international law, multilateral institutions, and human rights-has failed to deliver justice for much of the world, particularly in the Global South.
Despite her critique, Karman emphasized that the solution lies not in abandoning the international system but in fundamentally reforming it. She called for restructuring key global institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, whose veto system she described as a persistent source of inequality and political paralysis.
Karman also highlighted systemic limitations within financial and judicial bodies, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and International Criminal Court, arguing that political constraints have hindered their ability to deliver accountability and equitable development.
Karman underscored the growing role of digital platforms in shaping global awareness, noting that younger generations are increasingly mobilizing through social media. However, she warned that these platforms also enable surveillance, disinformation, and narrative manipulation by both governments and large technology companies.
She called for balanced regulation that protects freedom of expression while addressing algorithmic bias and content suppression.
