We need to create bonds of friendship beyond our frontiers; we need to be curious about other ways of life. History teachers us that whenever cultures came into contact with each other for peaceful exchanges of ideas and knowledge, the entire humanity progressed. It is then our duty to keep that flame burning.
from ECPD Youth Forum opening speech by
the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2015 Dr. Quided Bouchamaoui
We have been encouraging the peaceful exchange of ideas and knowledge for more than a decade. Through initiatives, activities, encounters we have been creating bonds across the borders, across the cultures and generations.
We are concerned that meeting same minded people, creating relationships and envisioning can make world a better place to live.
To this aim, in the late October 2017, we participated in a series of events organised by the European Centre for Peace and Development of the University for Peace (ECPD) in Belgrade, Serbia.
ECPD International Round Table Peace and Democratic Multilateralism was dedicated to the current and specific topic of multilateralism.
Numerous distinguished scientists, politicians, representatives of the international organisations and diplomatic missions from Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, India, and Australia discussed on:
- the new global challenges and new global solutions;
- UN priorities in the new era: food, water, health, environment and education;
- the Agenda for Peace, and sustainable development.
The Round table event was followed by the 5th Global Ecpd Youth Forum Youth Peacebuilders For A Sustainable Future where young people, youth-led organizations, non-governmental organizations, professors and experts gathered to discuss global challenges that endanger democratic values and proposed concrete solutions for peace and nonviolence on the global level.
Within the Youth Forum panel, entitled Unity in diversity: Inclusion for a sustainable future Ruta, a project manager from CESIE, presented a paper: The involvement of women in post-conflict peacebuilding. Women represent half of the population of this world and if their word is not heard and taken into account equally with men, would the peace be possible to achieve?
She explained the importance of women’s contribution to peace processes, the main existing barriers for women’s engagement in peace building and provided recommendations how to achieve more inclusive peace building practices.
Within the afternoon workshops Youth Forum participants discussed about:
- conflict prevention and interfaith dialogue,
- how the internet and social media can be utilized for advocacy and peace,
- what are the essential skills for today’s sustainable development challenge.
There is a lot to be done, and with young energy, enthusiasm, strong partnerships and motivation, we can make this world a better place to live!
If you are interested to know more, or if you have any ideas for inclusive peace building initiatives, please contact Ruta Grigaliunaite: ruta.grigaliunaite@cesie.org
