A Journey Through Poland, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Finland

In June and July 2025 I had a chance to visit five European countries during combined professional and holiday trips: Poland, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Finland.

Poland/Pologne

The World Justice Forum 2025 took place in Warsaw/Poland, from 23 to 26 June 2025, under the theme “Standing Up for the Rule of Law“. I had the privilege of being one of the speakers in the side-event on customary and informal justice that took place on 27 June 2025: The Global Convening on Strengthening Customary and Informal Pathways to People-Centred Justice.

As Poland’s capital, Warsaw is the centre of the country’s government, business, and media. It is also a major financial center in Central Europe, home to the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The city blends Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque in the Old Town with Soviet-era buildings and modern skyscrapers.

Switzerland/Suisse

In Switzerland, I had the privilege of conducting several advocacy meetings on the sidelines of the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, that took place from 16 June to 8 July 2025. I was there during the week of 30 June, advocating for transitional justice and peace in the DR Congo.

Geneva hosts the second-largest UN office after New York, the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG). It is home to over 200 international organisations, including: World Health Organization (WHO); International Labour Organization (ILO); World Trade Organization (WTO); and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Known for Swiss neutrality, Geneva is a centre for peace talks, negotiations, and humanitarian work. It is often chosen for hosting global summits and diplomatic meetings.

The natural beauty of Geneva is outstanding! Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) is a picturesque lake, popular for boating and scenic walks. The Jet d’Eau in the lake is a landmark fountain that shoots water 140 meters into the air. The city is surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, providing beautiful views.

France

From Geneva/Switzerland I traveled to Paris/France, as I began an annual leave, visiting family and friends. While in Paris, I had the opportunity to visit the Eiffel Tower, which is the most recognisable symbol of Paris and France. I also visited the Louvre Museum, which is believed to be home to the world’s largest art collection.

I also had an opportunity to visit Normandy (Normandie), a region of northern France. It is world-famous for the Allied invasion during World War II. I stayed in the Commune of Alençon, the capital of the Orne department, situated at about 173 kilometres west of Paris.

Belgium/Belgique

From France I traveled to Belgium. Belgium is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a complex federal system structured on regional and linguistic grounds. The country is divided into three highly autonomous regions: the Flemish Region (Flanders) in the north, the Walloon Region (Wallonia) in the south, and the Brussels-Capital Region in the middle. Belgium is also home to two main linguistic communities: the Dutch-speaking Flemish Community, which constitutes about 60 percent of the population, and the French-speaking French Community, which constitutes about 40 percent of the population.

I stayed in the municipality of Sint-Genesius-Rode (Rhode-Saint-Genèse), in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region, visiting family and friends. Rhode-Saint-Genèse lies between Brussels and Waterloo. The Atomium is a landmark in the Brussels skyline. It is often said that the Atomium is to Brussels what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. The monument was created for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair and has become Belgium’s symbol.

Finland

After Belgium, I also visited Finland. Finland is one of the Nordic countries and is also part of Fennoscandia/Fenno-Scandinavia, located on the northern edge of Europe, and a member state of the European Union.

Finland is known as the land of 77 billion trees and 168 000 lakes! The country has been ranked the happiest country in the world for seven consecutive years. Contributing factors to this include a clean environment, quality education, equality, an even distribution of wealth, and high levels of trust between people.

I stayed in the city of Jyväskylä, in Central Finland and the Finnish Lakeland, 270 kilometres from Helsinki – the capital city, visiting family and friends. “Athens of Finland” is one of the nicknames of Jyväskylä, referring to the major role of the city as an educational centre.