"The New Year has begun with our world in turmoil.” Just days into 2020, UN Secretary General António Guterres called for restraint, dialogue and international cooperation as tensions rise around the world. He warned of the terrible human suffering caused by war, and spoke of our common duty to avoid it.

But despite the turbulent start to the new year, there are reasons to be positive about peace in 2020. There are brave, passionate and creative people working around the world and joining forces to prevent conflict and build more peaceful societies. By working collectively, we can all move towards a more peaceful future.

In the Central African Republic, many of today’s young people have grown up knowing only conflict. It shapes their day to day life, and their futures, but they are all too often left out of the processes which try to build peace.

"Enough, to hell with this film!" Tearing up the script, the producer stormed out of the room. 

Such tense scenes were commonplace during the production by Armenian and Azerbaijani filmmakers of the 3-part documentary film series Parts of a Circle on the history of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict. 

Earlier this year, I met a group of young women in Colombia who had come together to discuss their experiences of working for peace. The group included former combatants, environmentalists, feminist activists, and a police officer who contributed to the disarmament and demobilisation process of the FARC.

The following is a statement from Saferworld, Conciliation Resources, International Alert and Peace Direct concerning a possible merger of the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

2019 may be coming to an end, but at Conciliation Resources we are marking an important beginning. 25 years ago, Andy Carl and David Lord began Conciliation Resources, with the staunch conviction that people living in areas of violent conflict should be involved in its resolution.