Issue Brief on “International Organization for Mediation (IOMed): Promoting Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of...

The current world order, built on international law and post-WWII multilateral institutions, is under strain due to increasing divergences in geo-politics, geo-economics, and the gradual erosion of the existing international legal framework. The peaceful rise of China, re-surgence of Russia, and emergence of new actors has paved the way for a multi-polarising world characterized by new power dynamics, strategic re-alignments and formation of new regional, trans-regional and international organizations. In this changing global landscape, China continues to emerge as a strategic player to promote dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes, including through its Global Security Initiative (GSI).

On 30 May 2025, in culmination of a consequential initiative driven by China, the Convention on the establishment of 'International Organization on Mediation' (IOMed) was signed in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).[1] Pakistan was among the 33 founding member states of the IOMed. The event was attended by 400 delegates representing 85 countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and 20 international organizations.[2] This reflects a widespread interest of the 'Global South' in this new mechanism.

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