News and Insight

A shared statement by peacebuilders working in the South Caucasus

A year after the signing of the Colombian peace agreement, women from diverse sectors of Colombian society met last week at a conference in London to celebrate their achievements so far and look at the challenges ahead.

Statebuilding and peacebuilding discussions increasingly emphasise inclusion as a key ingredient for peaceful states and societies, and marginalisation as a key cause of conflict. However, the persistence of conflict and violence in many borderland regions can defy and challenge these peacebuilding blueprints.

Conciliation Resources has been facilitating dialogue among Georgians and Abkhaz for almost twenty years – bringing together officials, experts and civil society from either side of the conflict divide. Recently, discussions as part of the Limehouse Discussion Platform, as the informal dialogue is known, have achieved concrete results on the topic of education – helping to improve the lives of those living with the conflict.

En un programa de la televisión pública catalana el director del programa de Transiciones a la Paz de Conciliation Resources, Kristian Herbolzheimer, compartió sus reflexiones sobre las dificultades y las oportunidades de diálogo en el conflicto de auto-determinación de Cataluña.

Conciliation Resources’ joined 390 civil society organisations and NGOs from 98 countries to write an open letter to United Nations Member States. The letter calls on Member States to prioritise gender equality and women’s rights, and to increase their support for women civil society organisations and women human rights defenders.

ABColombia, a coalition of organisations supporting human rights in Colombia, will host a public conference in London next month in association with Conciliation Resources.

Seventeen years ago, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 1325. Read about the different ways we support this resolution on women, peace and security.

This year, to celebrate the International Day of Peace, we’re sharing the inspiring thoughts, ideas and stories of people who are working for peace across the globe. Behind the scenes, people in regions of conflict are working to bring peace. Real people on the front-line who are overcoming extreme challenges, demonstrating creativity, courage and resilience to prevent violence and resolve conflict in their communities.

Sofia Vinasco-Molina is part of the Truth, Memory and Reconciliation Commission of Colombian Women in the Diaspora (TMRC). The initiative brings together women in London and Barcelona to share their stories and memories of conflict and migration, and to claim a voice in Colombia’s peace process.