“Pandemics, Peace, and justice: shaping what comes next”
2000+ Registrants 120 Countries 200+ Speakers
On behalf of all of us at the Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP), we would like to thank our members and attendees who joined us virtually this year from December 7th - 9th for PeaceCon 2020, Pandemics, Peace, and Justice: Shaping What Comes Next.
In the midst of a global pandemic that has devastated the economic, political, and social infrastructure of fragile and conflict affected states, PeaceCon 2020 brought together thought leaders across virtual borders to discuss the future of peacebuilding in the wake of COVID-19, mass demonstrations against systemic injustice and racism, and rising global violence.
From exploring ways to navigate dis-/mis-information during COVID-19, to discussing what comes next for the Global Fragility Act, to analyzing the relationship between police and youth in El Salvador, PeaceCon 2020 surpassed all expectations in its diversity and inclusivity.
Watch the Highlights of Last Year’s PeaceCon 2020 Here!
PeaceCon Video Library
The submissions for PeaceCon 2020's call for proposals reached a record breaking high this year. To share more voices and stories, we decided to launch our PeaceCon 2020 Video Library.
On this page, you will find video submissions from IREX, FHI 360, the International Storytelling Center, Light Upon Light, READO, Sophie A Kanza Foundation, and more. We're excited to share these videos with you, so check out the page to find even more PeaceCon content!
Day 1 PeaceCon 2020
We kicked off Day 1 of PeaceCon 2020 with opening remarks by Lise Grande, President and CEO of USIP, Uzra Zeya, President and CEO of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, and Julia Roig, Board Chair for the Alliance for Peacebuilding and President and CEO of PartnersGlobal.
We heard remarks by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), a bipartisan leader committed to working across the aisle on issues that impact all Americans. Our high-level plenary session featured speakers Ambassador Mark Green, Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, David Beasley, Paige Alexander and moderator Dr. Joseph Hewitt. The plenary addressed the relationship between COVID-19, conflict, and fragility, and considered strategies for the international community to address the peace and security implications of the pandemic.
After an exciting opening day, we ended Day 1 of PeaceCon 2020 with a fireside chat between Uzra Zeya and President of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker.
Day 2 PeaceCon 2020
Day 2 of PeaceCon 2020 focused on the Women, Peace and Security agenda, opening with remarks by AfP’s Vice President, Liz Hume:
“The social and economic consequences of the pandemic are landing hardest on women because of existing gender inequalities … But despite this, women are showing exemplary strength as they combat COVID-19 within their communities. Women peacebuilders are educating local communities about containing and preventing the spread of COVID-19 and make up a significant portion of frontline health workers.”
We held an exciting award ceremony for the recipients of this year’s 2nd Annual Peacebuilding Champion Award, Senator Shelley Capito and Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Senators Capito and Shaheen were awarded the Peacebuilding Champion Award for their bipartisan championship of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Act of 2017 and the WPS agenda.
After the award ceremony, we heard from our Keynote speaker, Tina Tchen, President & CEO of TIME'S UP Foundation who discussed the impacts of COVID-19 on women in the workplace. Our Day 2 plenary panelists Sahana Dharmapuri, John Packer, Hamsatu Allamin, Bonnie Jenkins, Guissou Jahangiri and moderator Sanam Naraghi Anderlini continued the dialogue with discussions on WPS and local peacebuilding.
The winners of the 2020 Melanie Greenberg U.S. Peacebuilding Award, Shelley Marc and Joe Bubman, accepted their award for outstanding leadership in addressing conflict dynamics in the US.
Watch Senator Capito’s address here.
Read Senator Shaheen’s address here.
Day 3 PeaceCon 2020
Following the first two exciting days of PeaceCon 2020, our opening discussion on the third day focused on the Youth, Peace, and Security Act. We began the day with opening remarks from Jessica Baumgardner-Zuzik, AfP’s Senior Director of Learning & Evaluation:
“Today, we’ll look ahead to 2021 with a particular focus on U.S. peacebuilding and youth engagement … I’m personally excited to see what innovation, impact, and change we can bring about in 2021 - to not just get back to life as it was, but to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for ourselves and the coming generations.”
After opening remarks, we commenced the Peace Direct Award ceremony, hosted by Peace Direct who announced this year’s winners: Sagacious Youth Lead Consortium, local youth peacebuilders in Sri Lanka who are harnessing the power of social media to build peace.
Commemorating the end of the U.S. Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Coalition's #Yes4YPS Webinar Series and the 5-year anniversary of Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security, our Day 3 plenary session featured Congresswomen Grace Meng (D-NY), Congresswoman Susan Brooks (D-IN), and youth peacebuilders from around the world as they discussed the global YPS movement.
THANK YOU!
Despite the challenges we faced this year due to COVID-19, we overcame all obstacles to come together nationally and globally to facilitate timely discussions that impact the entire peacebuilding community. This year, we covered a diverse range of topics from DEI in the workplace, to increasing opportunities for women and youth in peace and security efforts, to addressing polarization at home after the U.S. elections. At a critical time when communities across the world are experiencing deep social, political, and racial divisions, PeaceCon 2020 gave us the opportunity to connect with each other and reaffirm our collective resolve to work towards pragmatic, peace-centric solutions. We want to thank you for joining us at PeaceCon 2020 this year and adding your voice to shaping what comes next.
PeaceCon 2020 Day 1 High-Level Morning Plenary with Keynote Speaker Senator Chris Coons, featuring panelists Paige Alexander, David Beasley, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Ambassador Mark Green
PeaceCon 2020 Day 1 Fireside Chat with Uzra Zeya and Ford Foundation President Darren Walker
Day 2 Opening remarks from Senator Shelley Capito, recipient of the 2nd Annual Peacebuilding Champion Award
