Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, a world-renowned human rights advocate, warned that the world is facing not only a crisis in the international system, but a deeper and more dangerous crisis of values, conscience, and purpose.

Karman made her remarks during a panel discussion titled “Being the Voice of Conscience Amidst Conflict,” held as part of the International Strategic Communication Summit 2026 in Istanbul. The summit convened under the theme “Disruption in the International System: Crises, Narratives, and the Search for Order,” and was organized at the invitation of the Turkish Presidency.

In her address, Karman stressed that the current global moment goes beyond institutional dysfunction, reflecting instead a profound erosion of ethical standards guiding international relations.

The current situation represents not only a crisis in the global system, but also a crisis of values, conscience, and purpose, she said, underscoring the moral dimension of today’s geopolitical challenges.

She called for a comprehensive reassessment of the ethical foundations upon which the international system is built, arguing that restoring balance requires more than political or strategic adjustments—it demands a renewed commitment to universal principles and human dignity.

The summit convened international officials, policymakers, and experts to examine the rapid transformations reshaping the global landscape, with particular focus on how conflict dynamics and media narratives are influencing the contours of the emerging international order.