International Mediation: Bologna hosts the symposium “Advancing Mediation in a Multipolar World”

The symposium "Advancing Mediation in a Multipolar World" took place today, 8 May 2026, at the Auditorium Filla in Montagnola Park, Bologna. The event was promoted by the Italian Network for International Mediation (RIMI), with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The initiative brought together institutional representatives, experts, academics and practitioners to explore the role of mediation as a strategic tool for conflict prevention and resolution. In an international context marked by shifting global balances and an intensification of conflicts, international mediation continues to represent an essential instrument for the promotion of peace and security.

The aim of the symposium was to strengthen political commitment to mediation, foster greater operational coherence among the actors involved, and promote innovative solutions capable of supporting peace initiatives in present and future conflicts.

Opening remarks were delivered by Anna Lisa Boni, Councillor of the Municipality of Bologna, Anna Cervi, RIMI Strategy Lead and co-founder of 3IM and Cecilia Piccioni, Deputy Secretary General and Director General for Political Affairs and International Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Throughout the day, keynote speeches and panel discussions addressed the revitalisation of international mediation, the role of local actors and cultural heritage in peace processes, as well as the opportunities offered by innovation and digital technologies for human security and humanitarian diplomacy.

Speakers and moderators included, among others, Luca Fratini, Coordinator for the Women, Youth, Peace and Security Agendas within the United Nations and for mediation training policies and Deputy Director for the United Nations and Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emanuele Sommario, Associate Professor of International Law at the Dirpolis Institute of the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Giulia Ferraro and Bernardo Venturi of the Agency for Peacebuilding, Loredana Teodorescu, co-founder of the WIIS Italy mentoring programme "Global Women Leaders", Gabriella Arcadu, Simone Ceresa, Giovanni Scotto, together with numerous international experts from organisations, academic institutions and European and Mediterranean mediation networks.

The symposium provided an important opportunity for dialogue to consolidate the role of international mediation as an effective and inclusive tool capable of addressing the challenges of an increasingly multipolar and complex world.