Category: gulalai

2019: A year in peacebuilding

December 2019

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.

Gulalai Ismail and her parents acquitted of terrorism charges

October 2019

Updated on July 2, 2020: In Pakistan, an anti-terrorism court acquitted Gulalai Ismail and her parents of financing terrorism charges. “Thank you for standing up in this hard time with my family,” the Ismail sisters said.

Peace and human rights activist Gulalai Ismail is safe in the U.S. after threats to her life

September 2019

Peace Direct and the Alliance for Peacebuilding can announce today that peace and human rights activist Gulalai Ismail is safe in the U.S. after facing threats and intimidation in her home country of Pakistan.

UPDATE: Gulalai Ismail is a brave and inspiring peacebuilder

October 2018 Comment

Since the arrest of Gulalai Ismail in Pakistan on 12th October, we have been deeply concerned and are continuing to call for no further interruption to her vital peacebuilding work.

The future of peacebuilding: six lessons from Next Gen Peace

June 2016 Comment

From May 24-26, we joined some 400 diverse peacebuilding experts, practitioners, policymakers, and NGO representatives at the Alliance for Peacebuilding’s (AfP) annual conference in Washington, DC. The theme of the gathering, “Next Gen Peace”, spoke to the future of peacebuilding as a field, and the three days were full of energy, insightful panels, and thought-provoking discussions. For us, the event was a time to listen and learn from others, share our own work, and collaborate with the AfP community to encourage greater support for local peacebuilding, including the critical role of youth as peacebuilders. Our experience at the conference highlighted six key lessons for the future of peacebuilding.

Support locals stopping terrorism, urges report

November 2015 Comment

This week, the Global Terrorism Index claimed the world needs more locally-led efforts to counter extremism and conflict in the world – the sort we support.

Youth can challenge extremism

October 2015

As the British government unveils new plans to tackle the ‘poison’ of terrorism, our partner Aware Girls continues its campaign to stop young people from joining violent extremists in Pakistan – and its approach has lessons for the UK.

Countering extremism in Pakistan: an alternative to drones

October 2015 Comment

As the government of Pakistan sanctions its first drone strike on home territory, we ask if there is a better way to tackle violent extremism.

A family of peacebuilders

January 2015

Aware Girls, our peacebuilding in Pakistan, was founded by two brave, young Pakistani sisters, Gulalai and Saba Ismail. Outlook, a BBC World Service show, interviewed Gulalai and Saba about why they became peacebuilders and what their work involves.

Pakistani peacebuilder Gulalai Ismail interviewed by BBC

August 2014

Last week, Pakistani peacebuilder Gulalai Ismail was interviewed on the BBC World Service flagship Outlook programme

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