War is like a horrible human disease, but as with disease, you can prevent it - or at least reduce the pain.

Sudan, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq and more recently Syria. They are all areas in which Staffan de Mistura operated in the field of negotiating ceasefires, humanitarian convoys and truces.

In this lecture, De Mistura will present a series of real-life examples, anecdotes and lessons to illustrate how the UN can make a difference to many people in war zones and conflict areas - even when peace is evasive or cannot be reached. He will also show some of the “unusual creative” techniques used when you have no armies, but simply good will and determination.