Webinar Report: “The Future of the Rules-Based World Order – Where Do We Go from Here?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UM7M5Sq8qg

18 June 2026. Host Organizations: Universal Peace Federation (UPF) & International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP)

1. About the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP)

The International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP) is an international network of current and former heads of state and government, functioning as a premier project of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF). Initiated by UPF co-founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon in February 2019, the ISCP serves as a collaborative platform where world leaders leverage their unique wisdom and experience to address critical global challenges. Grounded in the core principles of interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universal values, the ISCP provides strategic recommendations to national governments and international bodies, working across sectors to build a world of lasting peace.

2. Executive Summary

On June 18, 2026, the ISCP hosted a global webinar addressing the fracturing post-World War II international system. Moderated by Dr. Franco Famularo, ISCP Global Coordinator, the event convened four former heads of state/government and a global leadership expert, broadcasting to over 360 participants across more than 80 countries.

The panel provided a highly detailed analysis of the current "world disorder," emphasizing that the rules-based order requires urgent, courageous evolution rather than dismantling. The consensus demands democratizing global governance (specifically the UN Security Council), establishing an International Environmental Court with compulsory jurisdiction, managing the rapid rise of AI and alternative financial systems, and cultivating a moral leadership framework that prioritizes human dignity.

3. Panelist Insights and Policy Recommendations

Hon. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Former President of the Philippines, 2001-2010) President Arroyo provided a stark diagnostic of shifting global power dynamics. She detailed three profound challenges fracturing the current system:

• Geopolitical and Economic Shifts: The rise of the Global South and the BRICS nations is producing an emerging Eurasian-centered bloc. Driven by the weaponization of the global financial system via sanctions, developing nations are actively seeking alternative payment schemes and reserve arrangements.

• The AI Revolution: She warned of the existential risks of delegating sensitive decisions (employment, credit, war) to automated systems that fundamentally lack human compassion, noting that autonomous weapons make war more feasible.

• Policy Recommendations: Arroyo urged international bodies to manage rather than block these multipolar shifts. She called for the demilitarization of AI through democratic oversight, and advocated for an "Asian way of peace", a strategy prioritizing pragmatic economic integration and regional dialogue over balance-of-power military blocs.

Hon. Goodluck Jonathan (Former President of Nigeria, 2010-2015) President Jonathan focused intensely on the structural inequalities embedded within global institutions.

• UN Security Council Reform: He highlighted the glaring demographic imbalance of the UNSC. Africa, possessing 54 sovereign states and over 1.5 billion people, lacks any permanent representation. Reforming the Council is about restoring legitimacy and effectiveness to the United Nations.

• Policy Recommendations: He stressed that calls for reform from the developing world must not be viewed as attempts to dismantle the global order, but rather necessary contributions to make it inclusive and balanced.

Hon. Anthony Carmona (Former President of Trinidad and Tobago; Former ICC Judge) President Carmona delivered an impassioned defense of multilateralism and sovereign equality.

• Sovereign Equality: He argued that the rules-based order is only as strong as its defence of the weakest nations; the sovereignty of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) cannot be treated as secondary.

• An International Environmental Court (IEC): Carmona identified a catastrophic gap in global justice: the lack of a permanent mechanism to prosecute environmental destruction. The International Criminal Court lacks the resources and specific scientific expertise to handle crimes against the environment like ecocide.

• Policy Recommendations: He proposed a stand-alone IEC with compulsory jurisdiction to hold states and corporations legally accountable for climate negligence, utilizing both legal judges and environmental scientists.

Hon. José Manuel Barroso (Former Prime Minister of Portugal; Former European Commission President) Prime Minister Barroso noted that while the post-WWII system was heavily Western-inspired, its core tenets became universally adopted and facilitated the remarkable growth of the Global South.

• The Future Structure of Governance: Barroso predicted a messy rebalancing characterized by plurilateral, region-to-region agreements rather than universal multilateral consensus.

• Policy Recommendations: The Global North must actively abandon its arrogance, while the Global South must move past historical colonial resentment. Future diplomacy must focus on the fundamental dignity of the individual and cooperative frameworks for delivering global public goods.

Dr. Tageldin Hamad (President of UPF International) Dr. Hamad focused on the internal, moral architecture required to sustain external international law.

• The Core Philosophy of Peace: He promoted the civilizational principle of humanity as one family, highlighting that no nation can secure its future by treating others as expendable. Without universal values, international rules become empty technical procedures.

• Policy Recommendations: Hamad advocated for "leadership with a parental heart" that pursues reconciliation and healing. He also suggested creating an Interfaith Council within the UN framework to bring vital ethical and spiritual wisdom into international deliberations.

4. Key Issues Addressed in the Q&A Session

Following the presentations, the moderator facilitated a dynamic Q&A session where panelists translated their theoretical frameworks into actionable directives:

Q: How can the international rules-based order practically be made more inclusive?

• Hon. Goodluck Jonathan: The fundamental barrier to practical progress is the current structure of the UN Security Council, specifically the P5 veto power. Permitting a single nation to block global consensus breeds deep instability and invites marginalized nations to revolt against the system. He warned that as emerging technologies develop, monopolized power will lead to greater global threats. Practical reform requires restructuring the Council's control to equally accommodate the interests of every global region so no single country can obstruct collective progress.

Q: How would the proposed International Environmental Court function in practice?

• Hon. Anthony Carmona: Driven by the apathy of major powers toward the environmental crises destroying coastal regions and Small Island Developing States, the IEC would be specialized. It would not just consist of legal judges, but also environmental scientists and experts in spatial law to accurately determine the source of pollution. Operating under the "law of complementarity," it would first trigger local jurisdictions to create domestic environmental courts. However, it would step in with restorative justice, deterrence, and sanctions when local systems face corporate complicity or fail to act to save regions like Panama, the Seychelles, and vulnerable coastlines.

Q: How can education systems be redesigned to counteract the breakdown of peace and widespread self-interest?

• Dr. Tageldin Hamad: Education must pivot from a strictly technical focus (educating the mind) to "educating the heart" to foster global compassion and understanding. Crucially, addressing this leadership deficit requires intentionally placing women into active leadership roles. Dr. Hamad strongly criticized the historical exclusion of women from top global roles, noting the UN has never had a female Secretary-General, and emphasized that women bring a vital wisdom and "parental heart" that the world is currently missing. He also stressed the importance of young people acting as present-day leaders, not just future observers.

5. VIP Representation and Consensus from Global Delegates

The webinar attracted a highly credentialed audience, including former ambassadors, international scholars, and peace advocates from over 80 countries. Notable VIPs included H.E. Parmananda Jha and H.E. Mohan Krishna Shrestha (Nepal), and H.E. Dr. Khy Sovanratana (Cambodia).

The active policy dialogue among attendees strongly validated the panelists' assessments:

• Funding and Enforcement: Delegates warned that the UN’s financial dependence on major powers limits its autonomy, expressing frustration that the rule of law is frequently ignored by powerful nations acting with impunity.

• Environmental Action: There was unanimous support for President Carmona's IEC proposal, with delegates agreeing that the severe realities of global warming demand a binding, international agency.

• Moral Restitution and Inclusion: Participants robustly supported the mandate to elevate women and youth from passive observers to active, participatory leaders, echoing Dr. Hamad's call that the world is in a severe value crisis requiring a shift in consciousness.

6. Conclusion and Strategic Directives

The ISCP webinar concluded that preserving global stability requires moving beyond the rigid structures of 1945. To transition successfully into a multipolar reality, global governance bodies must execute three major directives:

1. Democratize Power: Undertake structural reform of the UN Security Council to dismantle monopolistic veto powers and ensure equitable representation.

2. Enforce Environmental Law: Establish an International Environmental Court with compulsory jurisdiction and deep scientific expertise to hold entities legally liable for ecological destruction.

3. Reform Leadership Models: Institutionalize female and youth leadership at the highest levels of global diplomacy, and embed ethical frameworks into international deliberation to ensure rules serve justice, healing, and universal human dignity.