If you work with a peacebuilding organization, shouldn’t you be able to define peacebuilding? After almost two years of working with Peace Direct, I still struggle with the term. Forget trying to be correct by academic and professional standards – I’m just trying to get the general public to understand well enough to be inspired.
Updated on Jan. 10: Peace Direct remains deeply troubled by the recent retaliatory attacks between the U.S. and Iran and persistent militarized tensions between the countries. We are relieved that both the U.S. and Iran appear to be pulling back from the brink of war and taking steps to immediately de-escalate the conflict.
Looking back at 2019, I am continually impressed by the courage, commitment, and resilience of our partners and thousands of local peacebuilders around the world. As war and violence raged in many places, local people on the frontlines of conflict have saved lives, interrupted cycles of violence, and strengthened the foundations for lasting peace in their societies.
Overall in 2019, Peace Direct supported local peacebuilders in 12 countries to stop violent conflict. Our partners set up local Peace Courts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, helped children traumatized by Syria’s war and trained Filipino women in conflict resolution, among many other projects.
As the end of the year approaches, we take a moment to look back at some of the key moments in our work and the lives of our partners.
The following is a joint statement from Saferworld, Conciliation Resources, International Alert and Peace Direct. Reports have emerged stating that the UK government is considering scrapping the independent Department for International Development (DFID), merging its function with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and abolishing its Secretary of State. This short-sighted move raises grave concerns about … Continued
Peace Direct, Search for Common Ground and Mercy Corps present “Pathways to Peace”, an art exhibit showing the face of conflict and hope in Yemen.
We are increasingly concerned with the surge in violence in Béni, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in recent days. We have been in touch with our local partners in Béni, who have shared their response to the violence. They underlined how the state must understand how the local population has … Continued
This season of giving, make a lasting difference to someone like Lembaka. When Lembaka was just 10 years old, his father was shot and killed by an armed group. Hungry for revenge and fueled by anger, he joined a rival group – leaving his family behind. Lembaka (name changed for privacy) spent eight years … Continued
Ahead of the UK general election on 12th December, Peace Direct urges all political parties to make sustainable peace a cross cutting priority in their development, security and foreign policies.
Updated on Oct. 25: The Alliance for Peacebuilding and Peace Direct express their deep concern over the detention of Professor Muhammad Ismail, the father of exiled peacebuilding leader Gulalai Ismail, in Peshawar, Pakistan.
This comic tells the stories of Ayaan and Abdi, ordinary Somalis whose lives have been affected by the war. They have shown remarkable resilience, bravery and determination in their efforts to build a safe and secure life for themselves and their families. Ayaan was just six years old when the Somali Civil War started. With … Continued
