Brussels – 5 October 2026

The Brussels International Forum 2026, organized by the International Congress SHIELD, opened today in the Belgian capital under the theme: “Human Rights, Fundamental Freedoms and Peaceful Coexistence: Building Bridges of Cooperation, Dialogue and Mutual Understanding Among Peoples and Cultures.” The Forum brought together a broad range of participants and contributions from different countries and regions.

The Forum was officially opened by Dr. Daher Saleh Muhamed, President of the International Congress SHIELD, who stressed in his opening address that human rights, peace and human dignity are not merely international concepts, but issues directly connected to the lives and future of peoples. He emphasized the need to move beyond responding to the consequences of crises and wars and to work seriously toward preventing their causes before they emerge.

In his address, Dr. Daher raised a central question:

“Why do we always wait for a major catastrophe before we begin dialogue? And how can we prevent the causes of war before it begins?”

He stressed the need for stronger dialogue, preventive diplomacy, mediation and international cooperation, as well as for an international system better able to listen to peoples, protect civilians and advance justice and human dignity. He also renewed the call put forward by the International Congress SHIELD since 2013 for reform of the United Nations system and its decision-making mechanisms, with a view to achieving more balanced international representation.

The Forum featured participation from Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Austria, Luxembourg, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Italy, South Africa, Belgium and the Kurdistan Region, alongside other international contributions.

The Forum also included participations, statements and interventions delivered via video and online communication, allowing a number of participants from outside Brussels to contribute directly to the proceedings. This added a broader international dimension to the Forum and extended its dialogue beyond the conference room.

The discussions addressed a wide range of issues affecting humanity and its future, including human rights and fundamental freedoms, civilian protection, human security, diplomacy and mediation, wars and conflicts, refugees and irregular migration, human trafficking, freedom of expression and the media, digital disinformation, artificial intelligence and hate speech, climate justice, food and water security, intercultural and interfaith dialogue, and the fight against racism and discrimination.

The discussions underlined that differences between countries, cultures and societies do not erase the common values shared by humanity. Security, peace, freedom and dignity remain aspirations shared by all people, while meaningful dialogue begins by listening to others and seeking common ground rather than deepening divisions.

A key outcome of the Forum is the “Brussels Document 2026,” which aims to translate the ideas and discussions developed during the Forum into principles and recommendations reflecting the participants’ aspirations for a more just, secure and peaceful world based on respect for human dignity, protection of rights and stronger cooperation among peoples.

European and Diplomatic Messages Reflect the Forum’s International Reach

Ahead of the Forum and as its proceedings commenced, the International Congress SHIELD received a number of messages, expressions of support and good wishes from European, international and diplomatic institutions, reflecting interest in the themes addressed by the Forum and in efforts to promote dialogue, human rights and peaceful coexistence.

These communications included institutions and bodies such as the European Commission, the European Youth Foundation, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European Economic and Social Committee, Unia, and the Brussels International Relations Office, alongside other European and international organizations and institutions.

The organization also received messages and expressions of support from diplomatic and international bodies, including the Mission of Palestine to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, and the Embassy of Mauritania in Belgium, as well as communications from other organizations and institutions engaged in human rights, peace and international cooperation.

These messages and interactions reflected the broader international interest in the Forum and its humanitarian message, highlighting the importance of maintaining spaces where diverse voices can come together around issues that transcend borders, particularly the protection of human dignity, the promotion of rights and freedoms, and the advancement of dialogue and mutual understanding among peoples and cultures.

From Brussels, the Forum conveyed a message that extends far beyond the venue:

The world does not need more walls between peoples, but more bridges; it does not need to wait for wars, but to prevent their causes; and it does not need the language of confrontation, but the language of dialogue and understanding.

In this spirit, the Brussels International Forum 2026 reaffirmed that the human being must remain at the heart of every international effort, and that human dignity, freedom and peace are not privileges, but shared rights belonging to all peoples.

Humanity before conflict, dialogue before confrontation, peace before war, and dignity as a right for every human being.

Issued by the Media and International Relations Department
International Congress SHIELD