“Seizing the Moment for Peace in a Disrupted World”
800+ Registrants 50+ Countries 289 Organizations
The Alliance for Peacebuilding hosted our annual conference, PeaceCon 2019, from October 2nd - 4th in Washington, D.C. From exploring ways to better engage women and youth in peace processes, to unpacking environmental drivers of conflict, to measuring successes and setbacks in the peacebuilding field - PeaceCon 2019 truly lived up to its central theme.
Participants of the 2019 U.S. Peacebuilding Advocacy Day in a group photo in front of the Capitol Building.
To kick off PeaceCon 2019, some 40+ AfP members spent October 1st on Capitol Hill for the first-ever Peacebuilding Advocacy Day with the +Peace Coalition. Together, American and International peacebuilders joined forces to educate lawmakers on global peacebuilding priorities. The first day of PeaceCon started off at the iconic headquarters of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) on October 2. Dynamic discussions from unpacking 20 years of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, to countering the disruptive aspects of technology on conflict and democracy, to understanding the power of grassroots activism and mobilization, were held throughout the day. Most of these sessions were recorded and can be viewed on USIP’s website here.
People, Power, and Peace Processes. Pictured, left to right, Nadine Bloch, Aden Abdi, Palwasha Kakar, Dr. Veronique Dudouet, Maria Stephan
Days two and three, October 3rd and 4th, were held at the conference facilities of our generous sponsor, FHI 360. Day two involved thought provoking discussions on peacebuilding in the United States, the nexus of gender and technology, private sector-civil society social impact partnerships, #MeToo and peacebuilding, and new frontiers in peace education. At the final day of PeaceCon 2019, a morning plenary took place focusing on “Building Modern Movements.” The day carried on with sessions covering topics from trauma-informed peacebuilding and peace engineering, to the challenges facing children of veterans and the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of ex combatants.
“Social justice movements isn’t about age, or gender, or sexual orientation; it doesn’t discriminate because injustice doesn’t. Everyone is affected, whether directly or indirectly.”
Participants at FHI 360 during PeaceCon 2019
We know the connections and partnerships built will continue beyond PeaceCon and truly harness collective action for peace as we face an increasingly disrupted world. From launching a new committee on DEI to seeking new legislation on Youth, Peace, and Security in the U.S. Congress, the Alliance for Peacebuilding is seizing the moment to unite for peace.
PeaceCon 2019 Day 1 Morning Plenary and Keynote by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
PeaceCon 2019 Day 1 Afternoon Plenary and Keynote by Ambassador William J. Burns
PeaceCon 2019 Day 2 Morning Plenary and Keynote by Judith Heumann
