On 11 August 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Thai Red Cross Society, held the Eighth Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Lecture on International Humanitarian Law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, as Executive Vice-President of the Thai Red Cross Society, presided over the lecture. 

          The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Lecture Series is aimed at promoting greater understanding and research of international humanitarian law. For this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thai Red Cross Society were honoured to have Ms. Elisabeth Rehn, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, deliver a lecture on the topic of “The Role of Women in Securing Peace, Justice and Well-being”, in which she shared her experience in implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Women, Peace and Security. From her point of view, women’s leading role and participation in the peace process should be promoted since they are proved to contribute to sustainable peace and ensure that conflicts can be prevented and reduced. Women also play a vital role as peacekeepers in peacekeeping operations by bringing a balanced gender perspective. In addition, she highlighted the importance of respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Her previous appointments include the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative of the Secretary General in Bosnia and Herzegovina From 1998 to 1999 and the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights 

from 1995 to 1997.