Doha: The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in partnership with the Doha Forum, hosted the second annual Doha World Negotiation Day on Monday. Held under the theme "Negotiating Peace in a Fragmented World: The Case for Preventive Diplomacy," the event followed the conclusion of the two-day Doha Forum 2025.

According to Qatar News Agency, the event gathered a selection of prominent global experts in peace negotiations and conflict resolution to offer strategic insights on the evolving role of preventive diplomacy amid increasing international fragmentation.

In this context, Director General of the Doha Forum, Maha Al Kuwari, stated that the Doha World Negotiation Day demonstrated once again why negotiation remains one of the most powerful tools in an increasingly complex and fractured world. Al Kuwari added that from preventive diplomacy to peacebuilding, negotiation remains a mindset, not just a mechanism, as it requires careful understanding of motivations, confronting various threats, and recognizing the human element.

For her part, HE Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former President of the United Nations General Assembly and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the Republic of Ecuador, stressed that in a world that is fragmented and polarized, peace must be the result of negotiation, not a standing assumption. She emphasized the importance of making preventive diplomacy the first choice, not the last resort.

The event concluded with the presentation of the 2025 'Doha Best Negotiator of the Year' Award, which was granted to Malebona Precious Matsoso, a health sector leader in the Republic of South Africa. This recognition honors her outstanding efforts in international diplomacy and the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement. Matsoso is considered a pivotal figure in global health governance, currently serving as Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which is tasked with negotiating the adoption of the World Health Organization's Pandemic Agreement.