9TH PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION CONFERENCE [PCRC2022]
5th - 7th of November 2022 - Bangkok, Thailand
Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom hotel
PRESENTERS
5th - 7th of November 2022 - Bangkok, Thailand
Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom hotel
PRESENTERS
Elevating the ‘emic’ in Conflict Analysis: Going Deep When Understanding Conflict Actors and Dynamics
This paper seeks to map out and advocate for greater emphasis on the interpretive approach in conflict analysis. After sketching out the dominance of the etic/positivist approaches in scholarly conflict resolution and international affairs, it then highlights interesting new dimensions in social science research. It argues, essentially, that the repertoire of analytical tools within the interpretive approach to human inquiry has not been as fully exploited as it might be, and a blind spot in our understanding of conflict is the result.
Dr Kenneth Houston has been teaching and researching conflict for almost two decades, including ten years in SE Asia.
Sustaining Peacebuilding
What is resilience and what does it mean for peacebuilders? How can we sustain our peacebuilding work long term? Is burnout inevitable?
This session will explored these questions and discussed tools and skills peacebuilders can use to build their resilience and sustain their work.
This session will explored these questions and discussed tools and skills peacebuilders can use to build their resilience and sustain their work.
Jenn Weidman is founder and CEO of Space Bangkok, a social enterprise that supports peacebuilding, resilience, leadership development, and strategic problem solving using creative facilitation, accompaniment, and capacity building. Prior to founding Space Bangkok, Jenn spent ten years establishing and then leading the Rotary Peace Center at Chulalongkorn University as the deputy director.
Examining Humanization and its Potential to Aid in Conflict Transformation Processes
Conflict transformation has the potential to facilitate the establishment of sustainable peace in post conflict societies. Navigating such work requires the rebuilding of relationships and the reversal of negative conflict spirals. In combining psychological theories to philosophy, humanization becomes a focal point in understanding how positive conflict transformation occurs. The process of humanization can be transformational in and of itself, thus increasing its potential to aid in conflict resolution processes and especially in reaching reconciliation. In this study, transformative humanization is defined as change in oneself of how one sees and relates to others. An outlook of transformative humanization allows for conflict to become a positive process, rather than negative or destructive. The potential of transformative humanization is that change must happen within an individual first and be followed by a change in the ingroup and outgroup dynamics of how parties see each other. There are key issues to consider when analyzing such processes which will be discussed in this presentation. The key argument is that when parties in conflict engage in transformative processes, negative cycles are reversed, sustainable peace can be built, and reconciliation has the potential to be achieved
Maclaine M Day was raised in Lewistown, Montana. As a youth, her family founded a non-profit organization for youth fitness in her local community, and she has stayed connected to that program for over fifteen years. Maclaine graduated from Brigham Young University-Hawaii in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Cultural Studies with a certificate in Peacebuilding and Mediation and a certificate in Strategic Communication. She then served a volunteer mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ukraine for a year and a half. In December of 2021, Maclaine graduated from the University of Bradford with her master’s degree in Advanced Practice in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution. Maclaine is passionate about creativity through music, art, and writing. She is fluent in Russian and has studied French and Spanish. Maclaine began teaching in the Intercultural Peacebuilding Department at Brigham Young University-Hawaii January of 2022.
Nuclear Flashpoint: War in the Disputed Territory of Kashmir
The disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir remainns the longest unresolved conflict on the agenda of the United Nations and its resolution remains nowhere in sight. It lies between three nuclear armed neighbors and the trajectory of violence is rapidly escalating. This academic article explores the India-Pakistan and Sino-Indian disputes, connecting it to Kashmir, making this the most dangerous place on earth
Dr. Farhan Mujahid Chak is the Secretary-General of the Canadian based NGO Kashmir Civitas. Also, he is an Associate Professor of Political Science, at the Gulf Studies Graduate Program, Qatar University. He has worked at the United Nations, the Canadian Parliament and Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. His research interest includes Islam and Politics, Political Theory, Secularism, Peace & Conflict Studies, Post-Colonialism, Epistemology and Leadership. His latest book publication, 'Islam and Pakistan's Political Culture' was published by Routledge in October 2015. He is a regular opinion writer for Aljazeera, Daily Sabah and TRT World (Turkish Radio and Television). Currently, he will be releasing his forthcoming book "Nuclear Flashpoint: The War Over Kashmir“ soon.
Environmental (in)Justice and Protected Areas: Compensation in Nepal’s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserv
Nepal has grabbed global attention over the past four decades by protecting and preserving endangered species like the Bengal tigers, snow leopards, one-horned rhinos, and Asiatic buffalos, to name a few. Alongside this joyous conservation snapshot, is a complicated and tragic story, particularly for communities living by protected areas or buffer zones.
Nearly 200 people have died in the past ten years alone, and roughly 400 sustained physical injuries due to human-wildlife conflict. Annually many more families lose their livelihood sources as wild animals eat and rampage through the crops, vegetables, and even fish farms. As a result, communities lose loved ones, sustain permanent physical injuries and psychological trauma, and also face uphill battles to receive compensation from the government despite the well-crafted laws and policies in place. In Nepal’s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve borderland areas, like so many others, the cumulative impact on this one community is a poverty cycle trap and seemingly endless environmental injustice.
Studying wildlife-human conflicts with a specific focus on compensation issues in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal’s first and only wetland reserve, this paper situates in the broader environmental justice literature. Analyzing the practical and legal complexities of the compensation distribution processes, I demonstrate the need for linking the compensation issue within broader historical social structures. Throughout the paper, I argue for the urgency to study human-wildlife conflict from this perspective, such that we can reorient our understanding of environmental injustice within protected areas to finally shift to seeing the local community as victims, adversaries, or expendable collateral into true partners and keepers of needed protected areas and their borderlands.
Nearly 200 people have died in the past ten years alone, and roughly 400 sustained physical injuries due to human-wildlife conflict. Annually many more families lose their livelihood sources as wild animals eat and rampage through the crops, vegetables, and even fish farms. As a result, communities lose loved ones, sustain permanent physical injuries and psychological trauma, and also face uphill battles to receive compensation from the government despite the well-crafted laws and policies in place. In Nepal’s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve borderland areas, like so many others, the cumulative impact on this one community is a poverty cycle trap and seemingly endless environmental injustice.
Studying wildlife-human conflicts with a specific focus on compensation issues in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal’s first and only wetland reserve, this paper situates in the broader environmental justice literature. Analyzing the practical and legal complexities of the compensation distribution processes, I demonstrate the need for linking the compensation issue within broader historical social structures. Throughout the paper, I argue for the urgency to study human-wildlife conflict from this perspective, such that we can reorient our understanding of environmental injustice within protected areas to finally shift to seeing the local community as victims, adversaries, or expendable collateral into true partners and keepers of needed protected areas and their borderlands.
Dhirendra Nalbo, PhD is a faculty and co-founder of the Open Institute for Social Science, a liberal arts college based in Kathmandu; he serves as a visiting professor at the Department of Conflict, Peace and Development Studies, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu. He also is a regular lecturer at the Nepal Army Command Staff College, and Nepal Armed Police Force Command and Staff College. His research interests include but are not limited to natural resources and peacebuilding, environmental peacebuilding, climate change and conflict, and protected areas and local communities in Myanmar and Nepal. He received his PhD from the Jimmy and Roslyn Carter School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, USA. His dissertation examined the linkage between community forests governance and peacebuilding in Myanmar’s Kachin state.
An Analysis of the Violent Situations of Kerala and the Scope of Peace Education in Education Curriculu
Kerala is one of the Indian union's smallest states. It covers less than 1% of India's entire land area, with a total area of 38,863 square kilometers. Kerala has a unique development model called "Kerala Model development" since it has accomplished extraordinary social growth in health, education, and economic development. Kerala has performed exceptionally well across the board regarding human development indicators, including a shallow infant mortality rate, high male and female longevity, below-replacement fertility, near-universal literacy rates (94 percent for males and 88 percent for females), etc. These incredible achievements termed the "Kerala model of development" has been investigated by several researchers and policymakers alike. (Lieten, 2002; Kannan, 1998; Heller, 1995). Despite these developments, particularly in literacy, Kerala is currently dealing with a slew of severe difficulties, including an increase in crime, violence, hostility, insurgencies, drug misuse, religious intolerances, suicides, and terrorism. Education is considered a process designed to bring about a desirable and genuine change in a person's lifestyle. It is indisputably true that education's aims and values are drawn from society's goals and values and that teaching technique is attained by merging the two in terms of objectives. But this has not become a reality yet in Kerala now. Educational Institutions in Kerala, which are supposed to lay the groundwork for peace and harmony, have become transmission hubs for violence and drugs. The fact that violence is showing itself in the actions and attitudes of the younger generations in Kerala is particularly frightening. By evaluating the current social-political conditions in Kerala, this paper aims to underline the necessity for peace studies in the education curriculum. Its goal is to explore the cause of Kerala's worrying rise in violence and intolerance and to suggest peace education in conflict transformation tailored to the state's unique circumstances as a remedy.
Sarath Thomas is a Research Scholar at Marian Research Centre Kuttikanam & Lincoln University Malaysia. He holds a master's degree in social work from Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam, Kerala, a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Calicut University, Kerala, and a bachelor's degree in Theology from Paurastya Vidhyapeedam Kottayam. He is doing his research about the need for peace education in Kerala's particular context. He is a social worker, philanthropist, and parish priest in a traditional parish in Kerala and the director of various organizations in the Forane.
DDR, SSR and Transitional Justice: A Better Way Forward for Security, Disarmament and Long-term Peace Consolidation
Within international peacebuilding discourse, there remains a split as to the relationship between security and disarmament through such programmes as Security Sector Reforms and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration, and transitional justice. This split is based on criticism of how SSR and DDR programmes affect the pursuit of long-term peace consolidation through transitional justice mechanisms. While protocols such as the 2012 UN Secretary-General’s Guidance Principles have encouraged better communication between security and disarmament mechanisms and transitional justice, this paper argues that more is required.
With 2022 marking the 20th anniversary of the official conclusion of its civil war, Sierra Leone provides a rich case study to examine the long-term effectiveness and impact of programmes and processes such as DDR, SSR and transitional justice. In the case of Sierra Leone, all three processes were largely viewed as underwhelming and marred by operational complexities, despite the failings of these mechanisms the country has remained relatively peaceful.
Through an exploration of the implementation, limitations and failings of the DDR and SSR programmes, this paper examines how and why the integration of security and disarmament into the wider transitional justice process can better facilitate long-term sustainable peace consolidation.
With 2022 marking the 20th anniversary of the official conclusion of its civil war, Sierra Leone provides a rich case study to examine the long-term effectiveness and impact of programmes and processes such as DDR, SSR and transitional justice. In the case of Sierra Leone, all three processes were largely viewed as underwhelming and marred by operational complexities, despite the failings of these mechanisms the country has remained relatively peaceful.
Through an exploration of the implementation, limitations and failings of the DDR and SSR programmes, this paper examines how and why the integration of security and disarmament into the wider transitional justice process can better facilitate long-term sustainable peace consolidation.
Recently awarded her doctorate by Flinders University, South Australia, Christina Mammone’s research examines the limitations of international humanitarian efforts in post-conflict countries to promote sustainable long-form peacebuilding. Her research is primarily focused on transitional justice and how its relationship with development can provide a more durable form of peace. To address this relationship, Christina’s approach to transitional justice research incorporates retrospective analysis and contemporary development perspectives. Presently, Christina’s research explores transitional justice in Sierra Leone to ascertain the level of effectiveness of transitional justice’s effort for long-term sustainable peace.
Is Palestine a State Under IInternational Law
The factual and legal issues related to the Palestine-Israel conflict are very complex and controversial, especially regarding Palestine’s statehood. While there is a lack of a unanimous understanding of statehood theories and their application in practice, there is a need for a final determination on the question of Palestine’s statehood. Grave human rights violations have been claimed to be committed by means of the conflict. In addition, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has reported to the United Nations Security Council the immediate need for ending the Israeli occupation before facing “an irreversible, dangerous collapse and widespread instability.” Thus, determining whether Palestine qualifies as a state would help define its legal obligations and entitlements.
This presentation considers statehood theories and their application to Palestine while also observing the current international practice in this regard. Part I of it will examine statehood theories; the declaratory and constitutive theories. Part II will apply the declaratory and constitutive theories to the case of Palestine to answer the question of whether Palestine is a state under statehood theories. Part III will shed light on the current international practice with regard to statehood claims.
This presentation considers statehood theories and their application to Palestine while also observing the current international practice in this regard. Part I of it will examine statehood theories; the declaratory and constitutive theories. Part II will apply the declaratory and constitutive theories to the case of Palestine to answer the question of whether Palestine is a state under statehood theories. Part III will shed light on the current international practice with regard to statehood claims.
Israa Daas is a Palestinian Fulbright alumna, working as a Truman Fellow with the University of Missouri-Kansas City(UMKC). She holds a bachelor's degree in law from An-Najah National University, Palestine, and a master's degree in international law from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA. She is a human rights activist and has worked in this field with non-governmental organizations in Palestine. Israa has practiced law as a trainee lawyer in Palestine in civil, criminal, and family matters. She is very interested in international law and its application to the case of Palestine.
Just Spying: Defending the Legitimacy of Covert Action as a Means of Diplomacy
The resolution of disagreements between nations remains a complex and complicated area of law. For the large part, negotiations between heads of state (or their delegated diplomatic corps) form the backbone of interactions and when these negotiations cannot reach a settlement, armed conflict is the inevitable result. Yet underlying both forms of diplomacy has emerged the so-called “third way” of covert action, comprising a wide spectrum of activities from secret communiques to carrying out drone strikes. This presentation will examine the under-theorised spectrum of covert action and its attraction for peaceful negotiation and conflict resolution across a variety of scenarios. With a particular focus on the members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia) and their strategic adversaries, this presentation will argue that covert action remains legitimate – both legally and ethically – as a mechanism for resolving differences between nations.
Dr Brendan Walker-Munro is a Senior Research Fellow with the University of Queensland's Law and the Future of War research group. Brendan's research focus is examining the frameworks for establishing civil and criminal liability for the use of autonomous weapon systems, both in Australia and internationally. He also has a keen interest in national security law, and the role played by intelligence agencies, law enforcement and the military in investigating and responding to critical incidents.
Brendan has completed a number of appointments in investigation and law enforcement roles across diverse government agencies over ten year. Prior to joining the University of Queensland, Brendan worked with the Australian Taxation Office to develop lawful uses of data and analytics for investigative and compliance programs. Brendan is admitted to practise law in the Supreme Court of Queensland and also holds an appointment as a Member to both the Queensland Councillor Conduct Tribunal and the Disciplinary Panel of CPA Australia.
Brendan has completed a number of appointments in investigation and law enforcement roles across diverse government agencies over ten year. Prior to joining the University of Queensland, Brendan worked with the Australian Taxation Office to develop lawful uses of data and analytics for investigative and compliance programs. Brendan is admitted to practise law in the Supreme Court of Queensland and also holds an appointment as a Member to both the Queensland Councillor Conduct Tribunal and the Disciplinary Panel of CPA Australia.
The Role of Religious Leaders and Civil Society in Interreligious Reconciliation Processes: A Case Study of Conflict in Ramu 2012, Cox's Bazar, Banglades
The presentation is a qualitative and documentary-based research paper that briefly discusses the impacts of the conflict in Ramu 2012, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, on the communities and the role of religious readers and civil society in interreligious reconciliation processes. The paper found that most conflicts and religious violence are driven by frictions of cultural and religious identity, beliefs, faiths, and opinions in Bangladesh. The disputes in 2012 formed anger, fear, social and religious insecurity, and misunderstanding. The paper tells the audience how destroyed social trust and harmony among the civilian communities in Ramu, Cox's Bazar, and the whole country of Bangladesh.
The paper shows that conflicts in Ramu 2012 occurred over interest-based conflicts and cultural identity-based violence for land, money, power, status, and values. Religious leaders and civil society played a role in interreligious reconciliation through their contribution by facilitating interfaith dialogue platforms, promotion of education for all, and non-violence (ahimsa) communication for inter-religious reconciliation. How the religious leaders and Civil Society applied Peaceful Means to build trust, relationships, confidence, commitment, and respect among the civilian society in Ramu, Cox's Bazar, and Bangladesh to fill the gap between the civilian communities.
The paper shows that conflicts in Ramu 2012 occurred over interest-based conflicts and cultural identity-based violence for land, money, power, status, and values. Religious leaders and civil society played a role in interreligious reconciliation through their contribution by facilitating interfaith dialogue platforms, promotion of education for all, and non-violence (ahimsa) communication for inter-religious reconciliation. How the religious leaders and Civil Society applied Peaceful Means to build trust, relationships, confidence, commitment, and respect among the civilian society in Ramu, Cox's Bazar, and Bangladesh to fill the gap between the civilian communities.
Venerable Lablu Barua is a PhD candidate in Peace Studies at International Buddhist Studies College (IBSC), Thailand. He pursued BBA and MBA in Thailand. He is an IEP Peace ambassador, Rotary Positive Peace Activator and International Mediator at the IBSC mediation Centre. He has been working with many international and local organizations to build positive change, positive energy and inner and outer peace through his mindfulness training and social and spiritual contribution. He travelled to many countries to join conferences, seminars and workshops in Asia, Europe and Australia to promote Human Rights, spirituality, culture, and peace. He is interested in teaching mindfulness, Human Rights, Buddhism and Mediation in schools, colleges, universities and monasteries in Thailand, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Cambodia. He wrote many articles about peace, Buddhism, mindfulness, and biographies in international and local journals. He has engaged in interfaith dialogue with other faith peoples, such as Hindu-Buddhist, and Buddhist-Islam.
Compassion in Conflict Resolution
You are what you think. That’s right. Whatever you are doing is determined by the way you are thinking (intention). Whatever you feel-all your emotions- are determined by your thinking. Whatever you want-all your desire are determined by thinking. If you’re thinking is unrealistic, it will lead you to many conflicts. If you’re thinking is overly pessimistic, it will deny you due recognition of the many things in which you should properly rejoice . Thus, the Buddha said; “we are shaped by our thoughts: we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy (peace) follows like a shadow that never leaves”.
Thus, since the beginning of this world, all conflicts (problems) are caused by unrealistic thoughts and uncompassionate minds and the only way to solve the conflicts is to understand the conflicts and eliminate their causes of conflicts.
Therefore, in this paper researcher is going to search for what conflicts are and their causes. How do solve conflicts from a Buddhist perspective?
Thus, since the beginning of this world, all conflicts (problems) are caused by unrealistic thoughts and uncompassionate minds and the only way to solve the conflicts is to understand the conflicts and eliminate their causes of conflicts.
Therefore, in this paper researcher is going to search for what conflicts are and their causes. How do solve conflicts from a Buddhist perspective?
Tenzin Dorjee is born in Tibet. He came to India as a refugee at the age of 9, crossing the Himalayan mountain on a walk. In the year 1995 he was ordained a Novice and joined Sera Je Secondary School and completed his tenth grade there in 2003.
Having studied modern education in secondary school, he joined Sera Jey Monastic University to pursue advanced Buddhist studies. Tenzin learned the Buddhist Philosophy of four schools (Vaibhāsika, Sautrankika, Cittamātra, and Mādhyamika) Buddhist Logic, (Pramana) Vinaya, and Abhidharma and Graduated Bachelor's degree in Philosophy of Buddhism.
In 2016 he had the privilege of receiving a Bhikkhu ordination from HH the Dalai Lama. While studying Buddhist philosophy in the monastery, he also completed a three-year English Translation Course and engaged in various translation projects for five years.
Participated in many inter-religion seminars and in the year 2018 Tenzin participated in Tibetan-Thai Sangha Exchange Program. Achieved M.A in Buddhism at Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidhyala University and currently doing Ph.D. research at International Buddhist Studies College (IBSC).
Having studied modern education in secondary school, he joined Sera Jey Monastic University to pursue advanced Buddhist studies. Tenzin learned the Buddhist Philosophy of four schools (Vaibhāsika, Sautrankika, Cittamātra, and Mādhyamika) Buddhist Logic, (Pramana) Vinaya, and Abhidharma and Graduated Bachelor's degree in Philosophy of Buddhism.
In 2016 he had the privilege of receiving a Bhikkhu ordination from HH the Dalai Lama. While studying Buddhist philosophy in the monastery, he also completed a three-year English Translation Course and engaged in various translation projects for five years.
Participated in many inter-religion seminars and in the year 2018 Tenzin participated in Tibetan-Thai Sangha Exchange Program. Achieved M.A in Buddhism at Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidhyala University and currently doing Ph.D. research at International Buddhist Studies College (IBSC).
Peacekeeping: International Media Coverage of Cyprus
A long-time ethnic and political dispute is centered on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, the only divided nation in Europe. While the genuine number of deaths compared to other conflicts has been low, the percentage of loss-to-people ratio is one of the highest since the Second World War. For more than 60 years the Cyprus conflict has captured headlines of the media worldwide. Our study examined how three international media organizations located in the United States and the United Kingdom framed the peacekeeping initiative within the last five years
Marquita Smith, Ed.D., is assistant dean for graduate programs and an associate professor at the University of Mississippi. She is a former Fulbright Scholar, who has lived and worked in Ghana and Liberia. As a Knight International Journalism Fellow, Smith created a judicial and justice reporting network in Liberia which continues to operate. She previously served as Division Chair for Communication and Fine Arts at John Brown University. She has more than a decade of experience in higher education, and more than 15 years as an award-winning journalist. As a former chair of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s Commission on the Status of Minorities, Smith’s research often centers on diversity and media.
Before joining the MA program at the University of Mississippi, Md Sazzad Hossain worked in various print and electronic media as a journalist newsroom for 11 years. His last newsroom position was Senior broadcast journalist at Independent Television, a private 24/7 news channel in Bangladesh. He worked in this position from July 2018 until joining the University of Mississippi in 2021. Besides covering daily events, Sazzad made special reports using Virtual Reality (VR). Before, he worked with another private television channel SA.TV in Bangladesh, for six years as a Staff reporter. On this television, he was a business news bulletin presenter. Before starting with electronic media, Sazzad worked with a few national newspapers. In his journalism career, he did business and economy reporting. He completed a bachelor's & MSS from the Jahangirnagar university department of government & politics and a second Master's in entrepreneurship economics from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Wicked Problems: Threats and Opportunities
Wicked Problems also known as irregular conflicts are defined by “contradictory and changing requirements, multiple stakeholders, many interdependencies, and problems that keep evolving.” (Kramer 2011). Conflicts are by nature complex and require comprehensive analysis to understand, design and implement responsive interventions. These interventions should ideally aim at addressing the root causes of violent conflict are best carried out by those within the context, who through hard work and various confidence building measures, have gained trust and credibility with the different “sides” of the conflict.
However, because irregular conflicts are so dynamic, it is necessary to adapt to their pace by not only understanding the conflict but keeping up with changing forces and factors that affect the conflict. This therefore means that both threats and opportunities exist which can be identified and utilised to make a difference. The process of identifying the threats as well as opportunities to transform these irregular conflicts into more productive rather than destructive states may seem like a tall order in the heat of episodes of violence; but the approach of multi-track diplomacy, inclusive and bottom-up approaches has been shown to bring about more productive outcomes and sustainable cultures of peace in conflict affected communities.
However, because irregular conflicts are so dynamic, it is necessary to adapt to their pace by not only understanding the conflict but keeping up with changing forces and factors that affect the conflict. This therefore means that both threats and opportunities exist which can be identified and utilised to make a difference. The process of identifying the threats as well as opportunities to transform these irregular conflicts into more productive rather than destructive states may seem like a tall order in the heat of episodes of violence; but the approach of multi-track diplomacy, inclusive and bottom-up approaches has been shown to bring about more productive outcomes and sustainable cultures of peace in conflict affected communities.
With over 23 years’ work experience in diverse expertise including girls/women’s empowerment, peacebuilding, facilitation and learning; starting in her home country Nigeria, Safiya Ibn Garba has worked extensively within civil society for sustainable development. In 2008, Safiya founded Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative, a non-profit with a mission to provide multisectoral interventions for the empowerment and enlightenment of girls and women.
Safiya is also Director of Institutional Learning at Generations For Peace Amman Jordan overseeing the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning and Capacity Strengthening and Training) units. In 2020, Safiya commenced her doctoral studies with the UN Mandated University of Peace, Costa Rica where her research focusses on peacebuilding efforts leveraging the agency of women in violence affected north-west Nigeria via participatory arts. Safiya is the recipient of a range of awards including the Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Fellowship in 2020 and The International Alliance of Women World of Difference Award in 2022.
Safiya is also Director of Institutional Learning at Generations For Peace Amman Jordan overseeing the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning and Capacity Strengthening and Training) units. In 2020, Safiya commenced her doctoral studies with the UN Mandated University of Peace, Costa Rica where her research focusses on peacebuilding efforts leveraging the agency of women in violence affected north-west Nigeria via participatory arts. Safiya is the recipient of a range of awards including the Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Fellowship in 2020 and The International Alliance of Women World of Difference Award in 2022.
Nepal's Violence and Enforced Disappearance: A Case Study of Tharu Communities
This paper is prepared based on participant observation and field studies (November 28, 2021 – February 4, 2022), in the fourteen Tharu communities from five highly violence-affected districts in Nepal. The Tharu communities comprise more than one-third of the total number of disappearances that were victimized by state and non-state actors. There are several reasons to make the disappearance of Tharu communities, mainly by state security forces. First, the past bonded labor (Kamaiya) system, a desire for respect, dignity, inclusion, ad self-identity, and existing socio-cultural and economic hierarchical practices contributed to recruiting them into the Maoist-led violence. Second, a porous-open border in India was used as a transit to supply war-related materials to insurgents by them. Third, Tharu communities were discriminated against everywhere and there was no access to security forces in the countryside during the violence when the Maoist attracted them with popular slogans. Last, even to save their lives from the state atrocities, the Tharu communities joined with insurgents, Once the security mobilized the countryside for operation, they believed that all Tharus were Maoists. They arbitrarily arrested almost all of them found and made them disappear. The state has no choice for justice finding out the truth about their disappeared beloved ones through transitional justice and ultimately addressing the family’s pains, sufferings, and grievances.
Susmita Bastola is pursuing PhD at Osaka Jogakuin University, Japan. She is researching violence and enforced disappearances against the indigenous ethnic Tharu communities during the armed conflict in Nepal. Her research interest is localizing peace in everyday life, conflict transformation, meditation facilitation, and creating alternative mechanisms to deal with conflict and violence. Susmita also graduated with MA in Peace and Human Rights Studies from the same university and with MA in Rural Development from Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
Dangerous Love Mentoring: a Model for Creating Ambassadors of Change
As conflict rapidly increases in communities worldwide, there is an urgent need to address peace through education. This need was identified at Kahuku High School, where students were engaging in or experiencing frequent violence. Utilizing a collaborative approach, university students at Brigham Young University–Hawaii developed a culturally competent and responsive curriculum to teach high school students practical peacebuilding solutions. The goal was to develop grassroots peacebuilders within their own sphere of influence, prompting subsequent change among peers, families, the local community, and even establishing intergenerational transformation. This curriculum, titled Dangerous Love Mentoring (DLM), adapts college-level peacebuilding theories for twelfth grade students in a simple, thought-provoking, and engaging way.
The development and integration of DLM centers around the belief that peace is a journey that can be nurtured through skill-building and perspective-sharing. As students take this journey, their actions as ambassadors of change become contagious, spreading peace and fostering love in a world full of conflict. This presentation invites attendees to begin this same journey, as they are provided the powerful opportunity to learn about DLM and reflect on the conceptualization of their own conflict resolution curriculum, creating ambassadors of their own.
The development and integration of DLM centers around the belief that peace is a journey that can be nurtured through skill-building and perspective-sharing. As students take this journey, their actions as ambassadors of change become contagious, spreading peace and fostering love in a world full of conflict. This presentation invites attendees to begin this same journey, as they are provided the powerful opportunity to learn about DLM and reflect on the conceptualization of their own conflict resolution curriculum, creating ambassadors of their own.
Gracie Messier is a senior at BYU-Hawai’i from Seattle, Washington. Double majoring in Intercultural Peacebuilding and Political Science, Gracie also works in her Intercultural Peacebuilding major, directing various projects around the school. She also works as a virtual intern with the U.S. State Department doing research with diplomats from across the world. Gracie believes peace comes through advocacy, and works to manifest this belief in her life through different projects and opportunities. She has worked for several non-profit organizations, given 2 TEDx talks, organized state-wide advocacy projects, and been featured in many news articles for her advocacy projects to end child marriage in America. In her free time, Gracie enjoys being with friends and family, going to the beach, shopping, traveling, and cooking. She’d like to thank her family, and especially her mom, for their endless love and support.
Introduction of the UN Security Council Dataset
Intelligent and advanced technologies have a dual nature. On one hand they support societal developments and progress and on the other hand sustain help achieve one’s aims and project desired (military) power on adversaries in times of conflict. The United Nations Security Council with its primary mission to maintain international peace and security has an important role in this. Through meetings, resolutions, and complex strategic decision-making they determine critical aspects and values to be respected, protected, and strengthened globally. The ongoing academic and societal discourses as well as the implications and consequences of different resolutions and decisions taken by the Security Council call for further understanding, involvement, or updates of the methods used. This research aims to enhance the transparency of the political decision-making processes in the Security Council by providing a large dataset containing meetings and resolutions since 1946 up to July 2022 as an artifact developed following a Design Science Research in a Data Science methodological approach. At the same time, this research aims to open a research paths for a better understanding of existing political decision-making processes and further building of intelligent methods that could support in a transparent and responsible manner the Security Council’s decision-making processes
Cedric Van Labeke, MSc. is a software engineering manager at Cisco Systems with 16 years of experience in the industry. On the personal front, he is a father of 2, husband of 1, with a non-stop desire to keep learning. This manifested itself by pursuing a degree at the Open University in the Netherlands whilst working. His thesis is an interesting combination of engineering and another topic close to his heart: human rights and global well-being. A side-effect from that engagement is now being published on this conference: the introduction of the united nations security council dataset.
Conflict Resolution Comes from Yourself
No Peace for Afghanistan: A Case-Study of the Failure of Peace-Building Process in Afghanistan from a Transnational Feminist Standpoin
In early 2019, the United States officially started its direct negotiations with the Taliban to reach an agreement on a joint framework for a future peace deal in Afghanistan and inter-Afghan negotiations. Although debate continued over the size and duration of the US military presence in Afghanistan and the inclusion of the terrorist group the Taliban in the government of Afghanistan, what fell in and out of the headlines were the topic of women’s presence, their rights, and two decades of advocacy and achievements in these peace-building efforts. While the United Nations Security Council’s resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security, set into motion a consistent global movement towards recognition of gender-based roles and experiences to end violence and build sustainable peace, during the recent process of peace in Afghanistan, Afghan women consistently remained underrepresented both by the United States and the Taliban. My research “No Peace for Afghanistan: Case-Study of the Failure of Peace-Building Process in Afghanistan from a Transnational Feminist Standpoint,” addresses Afghan women’s marginalization from the recent process of peace negotiations, offers a new narrative of their advocacies for their lives and being included in landmark decision-making processes during the past twenty years, and analyzes the international community’s strategies in implementing peace negotiations with the Taliban, concerning women's conditions. In this presentation, I will discuss how Afghan women felt marginalized in the decision-making process of peace-building. This research challenges the United States counterterrorism efforts and their impact on Afghan women’s situation and US-Taliban’s exclusionary peace agreement through international human rights law and transnational feminism lens, and finally addresses the legal and feminist deficits of their agreement.
Tahmina Sobat is a women human rights lawyer from Afghanistan. She obtained a law degree from the Herat University of Afghanistan in 2015. Through the competitive FPJRA scholarship, she made to earn her LLM degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of
Notre Dame in 2020. Afterward, she started her second master’s degree in Gender and Women Studies through the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has also been through a fruitful career path. She started her professional experience working as an M&E Assistant for Women Empowerment Program at Zardozi Organization. In 2017, she started her next professional position as Ombuds-person at Independent Human Rights Commission in Afghanistan. She has done extensive research in legal analysis of women’s
rights, including women’s harassment in the workplace in Afghanistan, women’s role in peace-building, a case study of Afghanistan, and a book review: “A Woman’s Place: US Counterterrorism Since 9/11.” Over and above that, she is a first-year Ph.D. student at the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies department at the University of Minnesota. During her Ph.D. degree, she aims to conduct research titled “The Role of Grassroots Feminism in Demilitarization and Peace-Building in Afghanistan.”
Notre Dame in 2020. Afterward, she started her second master’s degree in Gender and Women Studies through the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has also been through a fruitful career path. She started her professional experience working as an M&E Assistant for Women Empowerment Program at Zardozi Organization. In 2017, she started her next professional position as Ombuds-person at Independent Human Rights Commission in Afghanistan. She has done extensive research in legal analysis of women’s
rights, including women’s harassment in the workplace in Afghanistan, women’s role in peace-building, a case study of Afghanistan, and a book review: “A Woman’s Place: US Counterterrorism Since 9/11.” Over and above that, she is a first-year Ph.D. student at the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies department at the University of Minnesota. During her Ph.D. degree, she aims to conduct research titled “The Role of Grassroots Feminism in Demilitarization and Peace-Building in Afghanistan.”
A Buddhist Approach to Peace Based on the Middle Way in Theravāda Buddhist
This paper, has two objectives, namely:- 1) the meaning and types of peace in Buddhist scriptures, and 2) the Middle way as a method to bring peace. There are two kinds of peace; internal peace and external peace. Thus, peace can be characterized into two categories, negative peace and positive peace. In addition to focus on a Buddhist approach to peace that can solve such conflict is the Middle Way, this Middle Way is generally referred to as the Noble Eightfold Path, because it is composed of eight categories namely: - 1), Right Understanding, 2), Right Thoughts, 3), Right Speech, 4), Right Action, 5), Right Livelihood, 6), Right Effort, 7), Right Mindfulness, and 8), Right Concentration.
Therefore, the Middle way is guide as the heart of the fundamental principle of Buddhist ethics, and the way to realise the final goal of peace. The Middle way dealing with the factors of the way and defining and analyzing those factors into various forms for use in specialized situation. This is the Middle Way which produces vision, and produces knowledge, and leads to peace. The Middle way shows man how to solve human conflicts.
Therefore, the Middle way is guide as the heart of the fundamental principle of Buddhist ethics, and the way to realise the final goal of peace. The Middle way dealing with the factors of the way and defining and analyzing those factors into various forms for use in specialized situation. This is the Middle Way which produces vision, and produces knowledge, and leads to peace. The Middle way shows man how to solve human conflicts.
Dr. Myint Aung is a freelance business and researcher in the field of peace. Recently, he graduated his Doctor of Philosophy in Buddhist Studies from International Buddhist Studies College IBSC, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. His dissertation examined A Buddhist Approach to Pace and Unity Among the Multi-ethnic Groups in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. His research interests the fundamental teaching of the Buddha to approach peace and multi-ethnic groups in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. He is a development worker through his research and he also has a keen interest in rule of law, law enforcement and the role of Myanmar military government. He travelled to many countries to participate conferences, seminars, presentations and workshops in Asia to promote peace. He wrote many articles about peace and law. He completed his B.A in Sri Lanka, M.A in Thailand, and Post Graduate Diploma in Law as equivalent to Registered Lawyer Course, Yangon University of Distance Education, Myanmar.
Peace Activism: Forging Change in a Complicated World Case Study focus: Israel/Palestine and Myanma
“Since wars begin in the minds of men [and women], it is in [these] minds that the defenses of peace must be constructed (UNESCO, 1966, p. 5).
In May 2022, I was invited to be a participant in an international professional exchange program (IPEP) in Israel. Its specific focus was Peace Studies. Over the course of three weeks, I joined with two (2) other participants from Spain and Taiwan, staying in the homes of both Israeli Jews and Arabs, attending professional work visits across different parts of Israel and the West Bank and joining workshops focusing on peace activism in Wahat Al-Salam – Neve Shalom village. This paper has a twofold purpose: to share my learning from this exchange experience and apply it to my main area of research interest based in Myanmar.
In May 2022, I was invited to be a participant in an international professional exchange program (IPEP) in Israel. Its specific focus was Peace Studies. Over the course of three weeks, I joined with two (2) other participants from Spain and Taiwan, staying in the homes of both Israeli Jews and Arabs, attending professional work visits across different parts of Israel and the West Bank and joining workshops focusing on peace activism in Wahat Al-Salam – Neve Shalom village. This paper has a twofold purpose: to share my learning from this exchange experience and apply it to my main area of research interest based in Myanmar.
Shirley Worland is a Lecturer in graduate and undergraduate international programs in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. She graduated Bachelor of Social Work (Hons.) in 1992 and gained her PhD in Social Work in 2010, both from University of Queensland, Australia. Her research interests have mainly focused on issues relating to displaced people from Myanmar.
The Impact of Consistently Practicing Mindfulness on Internal and External Conflicts
After pandemic related restrictions were lifted and Brigham Young University-Hawaii returned to being fully in-person, many student resources for mental health support were overwhelmed. Counseling and disability services became especially stretched thin and candid with other University departments about the difficulty this brought to the campus community. It was apparent that there needed to be an alternative opportunity for students to improve intrapersonal skills. This led to the idea, creation, proposal, and approval of a Mindfulness Program at Brigham Young University-Hawaii. Mindfulness has become an increasingly popular topic in psychology and peacebuilding due to its implications of therapeutic healing and greater intrapersonal communication applied to conflict resolution. The premise was that by providing a space for people to learn about and practice aspects of mindfulness, consistent attendees would experience a greater ability to navigate internal and external conflicts. Research suggesting the program and curriculum impact has been measured by unstructured observations and written responses. Today, the program has been running for almost a year and a half and attended by over 100 students
Isabelle Finch recently graduated from Brigham Young University-Hawaii with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in intercultural peacebuilding and a Bachelor of Science Degree in clinical & counseling psychology. She is currently a counselor at a residential treatment center for adolescent youth struggling with substance use and co-occurring disorders. While attending university and having a strong interest in program development, she founded the Mindfulness program and relaunched the Peer Mediation program. Isabelle is practicing as a certified mediator in the state of Hawaii and assisted with teaching mediation courses. Being highly motivated to increase collaboration and improve relationships, she has facilitated conflict resolution workshops to over 200 people and volunteered her time at a local high school teaching similar concepts. Isabelle enjoys collecting shells, spending time in the mountains, practicing yoga, taking care of plants, and going to the beach with a good book.
Human Dynamics: Its Role in Conflict Resolution, Peace building & Peacekeeping
Principally concept of operations for conflict resolution is through trained & organized common sense centering the role of the people within a complex situation. Peacemaking is personal, peace building requires best approach in negotiations. Without negotiation there is no mediation. Without solving the root of the issue there is no settlement.
This presentation will discuss the anatomy of crisis, conflict and the human dimension, building a sound doctrine of solving and resolving a conflict balancing between what is desired and what can be achieved.
Conflicts are chaotic, complex and emotionally taxing, whether on an individual scale or a group hence addressing the emotional rooms in the trajectory of crisis & conflict will be detailed. Peace building requires sense-making of the parameters of conflict resolution along with essential elements of information that will affect the strategic goals to achieve state of peace and co-existence. The end goal of this presentation is that the audience receive some insight through functioning applicable information that can be utilized.
This presentation will discuss the anatomy of crisis, conflict and the human dimension, building a sound doctrine of solving and resolving a conflict balancing between what is desired and what can be achieved.
Conflicts are chaotic, complex and emotionally taxing, whether on an individual scale or a group hence addressing the emotional rooms in the trajectory of crisis & conflict will be detailed. Peace building requires sense-making of the parameters of conflict resolution along with essential elements of information that will affect the strategic goals to achieve state of peace and co-existence. The end goal of this presentation is that the audience receive some insight through functioning applicable information that can be utilized.
Dr. Rupali Jeswal is a specialist in the field of counterterrorism. Her extensive professional background stretches 3 decades of work in Asia, Far East Asia, U.K, Europe, The Balkans and the U.S.A with Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Justice & Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr. Jeswal has trained and worked with law enforcement agents (Police, Prisons & Special task force) She retired from active field work in 2021.
Dr. Jeswal has trained and worked with law enforcement agents (Police, Prisons & Special task force) She retired from active field work in 2021.
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