Peace, Humanity and Saving Lives in the Middle East
Thursday, 19 May 2022, 1 – 2pm 
The Trinity Centre for Global Health presents a lunchtime lecture with Dr Mohamed Al-Hadid on ‘Peace, Humanity and Saving Lives in the Middle East’. This talk has been organized by the Trinity Centre for Global Health with the support of Magen David Adom Ireland and the Trinity Long Room Hub.
Dr Al-Hadid has promoted peace in the Middle East as president of the Jordan National Red Crescent Society over many decades, while calling on Arabs and Jews to tear down the walls of distrust and suspicion between them. He continues to promote peace in the Middle East through civil society activities around the world.
For his contribution to peace – not simply the absence of war, but genuine peace, founded on freedom, independence, national sovereignty, equality, human rights, and a fair and equitable distribution of resources – the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent unanimously agreed to award Mohammed Al-Hadid the Red Cross and Red Crescent Prize for Peace and Humanity.
Register to join the in-person audience: here
Biography
Dr Al-Hadid is the president of the Jordan National Red Crescent Society and the only individual awardee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Prize for Peace and Security. Conferred in extraordinary circumstances, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Prize for Peace and Humanity is a highly prestigious Movement award recognizing efforts by a Movement component or an individual to build a more peaceful world through humanitarian action and promoting the Movement’s ideals. Mohammed Al-Hadid started his four-decade commitment to the Movement by managing the Jordan National Red Crescent Society’s blood bank, its hospital in Amman and its emergency operations. His operational experience kindled a passion for peace building, prompting him to serve on the Movement Peace Commission from 1985 to 1992.
Dr Al-Hadid played a leading role in the Movement’s operations during the 1990–1991 Gulf War, when his knowledge of different cultures, traditions and languages enabled him to reach out to the parties. His determination and his contributions earned him deep appreciation within the Movement, and friends in National Societies the world over.
As a member and later as chair of the Standing Commission, he made it his priority to resolve the Movement’s emblem issue, as a step towards a more unified Movement. In 2005, Dr Al-Hadid persuaded the Magen David Adom in Israel and the Palestine Red Crescent Society to meet for the first time. They did so under the auspices of the JNRCS and signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November that year. This paved the way for adoption of the Third Protocol (on the red crystal emblem) at the 2005 Diplomatic Conference. Under Dr Al-Hadid’s skilful chairmanship, the challenging 29th International Conference of 2006 recognized the Magen David Adom in Israel and the Palestine Red Crescent Society, and admitted them to the Movement, resolving what had long seemed an insoluble problem. Dr Al-Hadid continues to promote implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding and to encourage peace and harmony in the Movement, by helping parties find common ground in the Middle East, in Cyprus and in other difficult contexts.
He has enabled Palestinians from the West Bank to travel to Jordan for specialist treatment, facilitated the delivery of medicines and relief supplies to Gaza and the occupied territories and negotiated with governments to lift blockades or release humanitarian workers.
Under Dr Al-Hadid’s guidance, the Jordan National Red Crescent Society has helped Jordan host an unprecedented number of refugees, thereby contributing to stability in the region.
Campus Location: Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute
Accessibility: Yes
Room: Neill Lecture Theatre
Event Category: Lectures and Seminars
Type of Event: One-time event
Audience: Clinical Teaching Staff, Researchers, Undergrad, Postgrad, Alumni, Faculty & Staff, Public
Cost: Free but registration is required
Contact Name: Dr Ann Nolan
Contact Email: nolan13@tcd.ie
