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This Week in Peace #29: April 19

Peace News Staff
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This Week in Peace #29: April 19

Welcome back to This Week in Peace, our weekly summary of events in global peacebuilding. 

This week, Russia makes an offer for peace negotiations in Ukraine that could be a potential opening, or another part of a hybrid war. Saudi Arabia is set to host peace talks to attempt to end the war in Sudan, which began one year ago this week. Infighting between members of a guerilla group in Colombia further threaten efforts to reach a much-needed peace deal, and an international aid conference can help to strengthen peacebuilding in Ethiopia. 

The Kremlin suggests a return to 2022 negotiations, but actions speak louder than words 

As Vladimir Putin continues to reshape Russia’s society and economy around his war on Ukraine, Kremlin officials have suggested a return to 2022 negotiations which showed some initial promise on bringing the war to an end, and addressing the desires of both sides. Under the  2022 proposal, Ukraine would have been a neutral, non-nuclear state, with a number of guarantors, including the US and Russia, vowing to protect its security, with specific interventions required in case of a future invasion. As we reported last week, an upcoming peace conference in Switzerland won’t include Russia, and French and now German efforts to convince China to pressure Moscow to negotiate in good faith are so far unsuccessful. As Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure with missiles and Iranian-made drones, and threatens a military breakthrough as Ukraine waits on aid from the US, an offer to return to peace talks is tempting, at least on the surface. 

Russia’s behavior, and its current position of military strength, cast doubt on how serious the offer is, and whether it will be willing to negotiate in a constructive manner. The illegal annexation of occupied Ukrainian territory, the ongoing targeting of civilians, and the war crimes and atrocities carried out during the invasion, most notably in Bucha,  almost certainly mean that many Ukranians will likely be suspicious of Russia’s offer. There is also the chance that this offer is not serious but solely intended to blame the West for the war, as part of well-documented Russian cyber warfare and disinformation and influence operations intended to weaken the US and Western support of Ukraine. The war must end, but legitimizing a brutal and unprovoked war of aggression risks opening the door to future conflict. 

Saudi Arabia to host peace talks, as Sudan passes a grim anniversary

In a move welcomed by regional and international actors, Saudi Arabia announced it would be holding further peace talks between the two warring factions in Sudan, as the war marks its one-year anniversary. The conflict has created a humanitarian crisis, with millions at risk of famine, sexual violence, and displacement, yet has been overshadowed by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Caused by a dispute over power by the generals in charge of Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the war has become a proxy war for a variety of states. Further complicating the issue is that one of the states facilitating the peace talks, the United Arab Emirates, is one of the chief backers of the RSF, which is notorious for its atrocities and crimes against humanity in Darfur. The two generals have previously collaborated to attack Sudan’s pro-democracy movement, and peace will only be possible when global actors stop seeing the war as an opportunity, and instead as a humanitarian emergency which must be addressed urgently. The Saudi-hosted talks are an opportunity, but sustained action from the international community is necessary to end the war, and protect the people of Sudan. It is also crucial that the voices of Sudanese women and democracy activists are included. 

Read our story on Sudan from January here, and keep an eye out for an upcoming story on the crisis. 

Further turmoil in Colombia, as infighting may doom peace talks with guerillas 

This publication has frequently reported on Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” initiative, and the challenges it faces. This week, the outlook worsened for Petro, as infighting within a guerilla group known as the EMC threatened to further derail peace talks. The EMC is the largest group of dissidents from the Marxist FARC rebels. The FARC signed a historic peace agreement with the government in 2016, starting an ongoing peace process that aims to bring Colombia’s decades of civil conflict to an end. Many members chose to continue their armed struggle, and many of them organized under the EMC. The group recently agreed on a ceasefire and peace talks with the government, but ongoing violence have made the path to negotiations difficult. Recent infighting, which has seen only some parts of the organization represented, further damage the prospects for a negotiated deal. 

Read our recent article on environmental peacebuilding in Colombia here.

Aid conference can help to keep fragile Ethiopia on a path towards peace

This week, international donors pledged over $600 million in humanitarian aid for Ethiopia at a UN-organized conference, although the initiative fell short of its $1 billion goal. Ethiopia is still dealing with the aftermath of the two years of devastating war in the Tigray region, which put hundreds of thousands at risk of famine, and the recent suspension of food aid following the revelation of a massive campaign of theft and diversion. Millions of people in the Tigray region still rely on humanitarian aid, and the scars of the exceptionally brutal war, which saw war crimes committed both by Tigrayan rebels and the Ethiopian and Eritrean forces opposing them. While that war ended, Ethiopia is now dealing with two revolts by ethnic militias in its two largest regions, violence which recently spilled into the capital of Addis Ababa. The promise of increased aid can help to mitigate the effects of years of war and is an important step forward, but sustained international agreement is needed to help build peace in Ethiopia, and make sure that the 2022 agreement with Tigrayan rebels holds. 
Read our past stories on Ethiopia here.

Can Education and Dialogue make a difference in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Adi Marer
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Can Education and Dialogue make a difference in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Editor’s note: While the conflict in Gaza is creating growing tensions and divisions, a number of peacebuilding organizations are working to reverse this trend and continue on a decades-long mission to build reconciliation. This is the mission of the Rossing Center. The following account is by Adi Marer, one of its members.

How do you raise a family in Israel? What kind of future will they have in this land? Even though  I just started my Master’s degree at 25 years old, and am focusing on my personal, academic, and professional advancement; in the past months, I’ve found myself asking these questions. In part, my work with the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue has offered me some answers, and some hope for what the future of this land might look like.

Despite the challenges that have beset our region, the Rossing Center remains steadfast in its mission to promote inclusivity, equality, and democracy among Palestinians, Israelis, Jews, Christians, Muslims, and non-religious individuals. Our commitment to this cause remains resolute as we continue our work within the education system and in mixed cities, advocating for grassroots cooperation and engaging with key stakeholders at all levels. Fostering understanding, empathy, and cooperation becomes even more crucial.

Education as a Catalyst for Change 

In the Israeli context, the education system is separated and segregated, an experience I knew well as a young girl growing up here. At the same time, education serves as a powerful tool for shaping attitudes and perceptions from a young age. Recognizing this, the Rossing Center focuses on training principals and teachers in techniques that enable students to process their emotions and beliefs constructively. By providing educators with the necessary tools and resources, we empower them to foster environments where dialogue, understanding, and respect thrive. Our goal is to cultivate a generation of young people equipped to navigate complex issues with empathy and tolerance, without sacrificing the dignity of others. A core value I hope to instill in my future children. 

Embracing a Multifaceted Approach

While our work within the education system and in mixed cities is crucial, we also understand the importance of engaging with key decision-makers and institutions at the top level. By collaborating with municipalities, ministries, and other stakeholders, we advocate for policies and initiatives that promote inclusivity, equality, and social cohesion. 

Through our top-down approach, we seek to influence systemic change and create an enabling environment for grassroots efforts to flourish. By working with government officials and policymakers, we aim to address structural barriers and create opportunities for meaningful dialogue and collaboration at all levels of society. Our goal is to create a ripple effect that permeates every facet of society, from the highest echelons of power to the grassroots level. These are the same institutions, systems, and communities that my future children will inherit.

Looking Ahead with Hope

Expanding upon the Rossing Center’s initiatives and approach, it’s evident that our efforts extend beyond mere discourse; they actively contribute to the transformation of societal norms and structures. Our multifaceted strategy involves not only direct engagement with communities but also advocacy at the governmental level, leveraging partnerships and alliances to effect systemic change. Through our educational programs, we instill values of tolerance, empathy, and cooperation in the next generation, laying the groundwork for a more harmonious and equitable society.

Furthermore, our commitment to inclusivity extends to our organizational practices. We strive to ensure diversity and representation within our team, recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives in driving meaningful change. By fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment, we set an example for the broader community, demonstrating the benefits of embracing diversity and collaboration. 

Looking forward, we remain optimistic about the potential for positive change in our region. While the road ahead may be challenging, we are buoyed by the resilience and determination of those who share our vision. With continued dedication and collective action, we believe that a future characterized by peace, justice, and equality is not only possible but inevitable. If not for us, for our children. 

This gives me hope to start a family, which is also my Grandma’s dream. As she reminds me in Hebrew every time we meet, “Adi, you should plan on making the family bigger. When are you finally giving me great-grandchildren?”

 I am confident that the future I hope to see for my children will come to fruition if we work together, strategically and systematically. 

Lessons for Peace Journalism from the Global South

Peace News Staff
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Lessons for Peace Journalism from the Global South

Countries in the Global South, especially ones in conflict or post-conflict status, are often the site for peace journalism training and practice. This means that peace journalism is usually practiced more in the Global South than elsewhere. This article examines lessons for peace journalism from the Global South, based on a webinar on the topic on Mar 27, 2024, as part of a webinar series on growing peace journalism hosted by the Media and Peacebuilding Project (MPP) at the George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA), along with partners. The webinar hosted four experts based in the Global South. 

First up was Shabir Hussain, a professor at Bahria University Islamabad and a past contributor to Peace News. His research focuses on developing “non-Western practical and theoretical approaches”, and he has previously reported on conflicts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He spoke about key findings from his research: mainly that peace journalism is not a monolith, and that its surrounding context determines how much agency peacebuilders can have. 

He discussed a variety of contexts which can offer challenges and opportunities for peace journalism. For example, he spoke about a hypothetical environment where a high security threat level might provoke a climate of patriotism, and decrease the prevalence of peace reporting. In this scenario, any number of factors, including the fear of violence, the role of the military or a foreign actor, or clear ideological differences, might mean that journalists would use their reporting to support an ongoing conflict, leading to victory oriented coverage. In a situation with a less present security threat, however, there are greater opportunities for peace journalism. This framework identifies a dangerous paradox: the conditions that create the greatest need for peace journalism also make it much more difficult to carry out, and creates a less receptive audience. 

Speaking from his own experience training peace journalists, Hussain was clear to reinforce the threats facing peace journalism. He emphasized that powerful institutions can easily manipulate media and public opinion, and that social media can also be weaponized to promote elite narratives. There is hope for peace journalism, and Hussain specifically mentioned the importance of pragmatism and the need to train journalists to recognize when opportunities open, even in highly securitized environments throughout the world and the Global South. 

Up next was Priya Sen, an independent journalist based in Delhi. She has reported from around the world, working with Professor Steven Youngblood, the moderator of the panel, on a project with the East West Center. Much of her work has explored the experiences of minority groups in South Asia from a peace journalism framework. These minority groups include sexual, religious, ethnic, and linguistic minorities, and people living on borders – including Pakistani Hindus, Rohingya refugees, and climate refugees. Sen discussed how to better report on these communities, emphasizing the importance of combating stereotyping and demonization of minorities. 

Moving to constructive communication, instead of discourse focused solely on conflict, was also emphasized, as was the need to find common ground and establish cross-border dialogue. Above all, it is crucial to practice informed journalism: reporting with accuracy and knowledge of the subject, and respecting the complexities present in every story. She shared a quote from a Jesuit priest in India, who spoke about how prejudice can be challenged by engaging with youth as agents of change. 

Sen also spoke about what peace journalists need to avoid in this context. Like Hussain, she recognized the power of narratives in conflict and the danger of manipulation. She highlighted the need to avoid nationalist narratives, and avoid what she termed “warmongering” to increase viewership during times of conflict or rioting. The delicate balance needed in peace journalism was another aspect of her presentation. Reporters should be careful to avoid “abetment” of conflict when reporting, but also must not prioritize diplomacy over authentic journalism. Victims of conflict should be portrayed as humans, instead of being cast in one single light that might inadvertently promote stereotypes. Finally, Sen spoke about the danger of ignoring the causes and outcomes of conflicts by focusing on sensationalism and only the visible effects of violence. 

The next speaker, Gloria Laker Aciro, is a journalist, media trainer, and the head of the Peace Journalism Foundation in Uganda. She spoke about the long conflict with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the her work with Refugees Online News (RON), which carried out projects in Uganda, South Sudan, and South Korea. The Peace Journalism Foundation was established during the LRA conflict, and is predominantly led by women and youth. They help to mentor, train, and support journalists in Uganda and across East Africa. Through workshops and collaboration with outside organizations, such as the Center for Global Peace Journalism, they work to promote nonviolence and train over 150  journalists and local leaders who cover violence and terrorism. According to Aciro, they have trained over 400 East African journalists, along with support for students engaged in research into peace and refugee issues. 

Aciro discussed some of her foundation’s upcoming projects, including a peace journalism project in South Sudan (before elections currently scheduled for December) and in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is in addition to their ongoing work, including two outlets which regularly publish peace stories of success, focused on peace, refugees, humanitarian and environmental work, and development journalism: Voice for Peace Development (VPD) and Refugee Online News (RON). On the local level, the Foundation has established six community peace clubs in Uganda, which assist in the nonviolent resolution of disputes through engagement with communities and community leaders. In the future, the Peace Journalism Foundation plans to expand their cross-border collaborative peace journalism projects throughout East Africa, building on their considerable current work. 

The final speaker was Rose Obah, a peace journalist and media trainer from Cameroon, currently based at Makerere University in Kampala. She spoke about her experience in that country, and her approach to practicing peace journalism in a country dealing with an active conflict. She began with some background on the situation in Cameroon, where the deployment of the military against peaceful protests in 2016 has now escalated into a  full-scale conflict, which has seen significant human rights abuses, displacement, and disruption. Obah used the Cameroon Community Media Network as a case study. The Network is dedicated to amplifying voices of people throughout Cameroon, especially in remote areas. She spoke about efforts to find a platform for peace journalism across all possible platforms, including radio, tv stations, and blogs, in order to reach people in all sorts of communities. An important aspect of this was bringing major actors together to discuss the root causes of the conflict, and to include voices from both sides, which is always a challenge in times of war and civil conflict. 

At the same time, Obah emphasized one goal that is key to peace journalism – the importance of highlighting local voices, solutions, and those working to find them. She discussed how their training focuses on the art of storytelling, and the importance of highlighting local voices and solutions, community-driven initiatives, and the need to center ordinary citizens and those most impacted by crises. Obah plans to continue to advocate for peace journalism in Cameroon, through work with peacebuilders and the creation of a handbook to give to newsrooms throughout the country. When asked how she had found so much success in a country that has endured a civil war for years, she pointed to their dedication to inclusivity, working with members in all ten Cameroonian regions, and, crucially, both French and English speakers – which is important given the role the linguistic divide has played in fueling conflict in the country. 

The webinar series has now concluded, but we will be releasing a final article on the content of the sixth and final presentation. Keep an eye out for our upcoming peace stories, which cover the work of peacebuilders from around the world.

This Week in Peace #28: April 12

Peace News Staff
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This Week in Peace #28: April 12

Welcome back to This Week in Peace, our weekly summary of events in global peacebuilding. 

This week, a ceasefire in Gaza is closer than it has been since November, Switzerland announced plans to host a peace summit to bring peace in Ukraine, as Ukrainian civilians remain under threat, Colombia’s “total peace” initiative hit yet another roadblock, and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate marks 1,000 days as a political prisoner in Belarus. 

Hope for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Palestinians continue to face famine and bombs

A much-needed and long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza appears close after months of fruitless negotiations, although Israel insists it will follow through on its plans to attack Rafah, where over a million Palestinian civilians are sheltering. Israeli ground forces have withdrawn from most of the Gaza strip and have finally opened additional ports of entry for aid, which is desperately needed as much of Gaza faces famine. Negotiations are ongoing between representatives of Israel and Hamas, with American, Egyptian, and Qatari officials helping to mediate. American pressure has played a role in this new approach – following an airstrike on an unarmed humanitarian convoy run by World Central Kitchen, which killed 7 aid workers – with the Biden administration finally willing to discuss conditioning aid to Israel to protect Palestinians and increase flows of aid. 

Negotiations have found some obstacles, but with Biden publicly calling for a six-to-eight week ceasefire and figures such as the former head of Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security agency) have called for renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The condition of the remaining hostages in Gaza, and the far-right members of the Israeli government, could further complicate efforts for a negotiated ceasefire, which would be disastrous.  While the political situation seems to have shifted significantly, the reality for Palestinian civilians on the ground remains dire, and a ceasefire, which would allow for significantly more humanitarian aid to reach them, remains desperately needed. While Israel insists its war on Gaza will continue, international pressure can help ensure that any post-ceasefire fighting will not see the same horrific civilian death tolls, which has seen Gaza’s civilian infrastructure systematically destroyed. Israel’s conduct has raised serious concerns over what procedures are implemented by the IDF to prevent civilian deaths. Netanyahu faces renewed domestic pressure to find a deal to return the hostages, although the far-right members of his coalition reject any potential deal. 

Read our recent story on The Abraham Initiatives, an Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding group, here. 

Ukrainian civilians under attack as Switzerland plans peace summit 

This week, Switzerland announced that it would be hosting a peace summit in mid-June to work to find a peaceful resolution to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Swiss officials said that over 100 countries would be invited, including the US (with Biden potentially attending) and Russia. The summit is unlikely to find a full resolution, however – Russia declined to attend and reiterated that it would not agree to peace until its “goals” are met. As the state which is solely responsible for this conflict, having launched an illegal invasion of Ukraine (for the second time in 10 years), Russia’s refusal to attend dooms the summit before it has even begun, and makes any peace contingent on international acceptance of its conduct and motivations for the war.

Refusing to even discuss peace unless the international community legitimizes the illegal seizure of Ukrainian territory, denies Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to choose its own foreign policy, and leaves war crimes unpunished – from Bucha to Mariupol to the constant targeting of civilian infrastructure – means that the people of Ukraine and Russia will be forced to endure more of this horrific war. Recent missile strikes that destroyed Kyiv’s largest power plant, part of an ongoing effort to target Ukrainian energy infrastructure, illustrate the danger to civilians as long as the fighting continues, and the ongoing willingness of Russia to target civilians across Ukraine. 

Colombia’s ELN guerillas suspend peace talks, the latest blow to “total peace” 

In another complication to Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” initiative, the largest remaining leftist rebel group in Colombia, the ELN, announced they would suspend peace talks planned for later this month. The group’s leadership objected to the government’s parallel engagement with one of its regional factions, in order to carry out a demobilization initiative. Colombia has had success in peacefully demobilizing armed groups in the past, most notably the FARC, the largest leftist guerrilla group, and rightwing paramilitaries linked to drug traffickers and the military. While the ELN did not end the peace process, and there have been some recent successes as part of the “total peace” drive, this is the latest impediment to Petro’s aspirations to end Colombia’s decades-long civil conflict, which has involved armed groups from across the political spectrum and criminal groups, and a long history of abuses carried out by all sides, including the government. 

Read our recent article on environmental peacebuilding here. 

Peace prize laureate marks 1,000 days in prison for fighting for human rights in Belarus


Ales Bialiatski, one of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, has now been imprisoned in Belarus for over 1,000 days, for what are widely seen as politically motivated charges linked to his human rights advocacy. Alexander Lukashenko has ruled since the end of the Soviet Union, and has long been referred to as “Europe’s last dictator”. Repression in Belarus intensified following a widespread violent crackdown on protests following a 2020 election widely recognized as having been rigged, with dissidents and human rights defenders frequently targeted by state security forces. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko is also a strong supporter of Russia’s war on Ukraine, allowing Russia to use his country to launch attacks on Ukraine, and hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons.

Building safe and inclusive communities for Bedouin citizens of Israel

The Abraham Initiatives
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Building safe and inclusive communities for Bedouin citizens of Israel

Editor’s note: Our ongoing series with the Alliance for Middle East Peace brings you stories of peacebuilders from the Middle East, directly from the people who work to bring communities together and promote nonviolence. 

This story is about the work of the Abraham Initiatives, which works to promote “social inclusion and equal rights for Israel’s Palestinian citizens” and work to build an inclusive Israel as part of a two-state solution. This article focuses on their work in the Negev desert, a region of Israel where in many cities Jewish and Arab Israelis live side-by-side. Bedouin communities in the Negev have found themselves in a particular difficult situation in the past months. The community faces ongoing discrimination and marginalization from the government, which does not recognize many Bedouin villages throughout the Negev, which therefore lack the civil protection facilities found in other cities. The Abraham Initiatives works to address both these challenges by working to build a more inclusive society that tackles discrimination and builds a common community regardless of religion or ancestry, and working to keep vulnerable communities safe. This article is focused on the work done in Bedouin communities in the Negev, although the Abraham Initiatives work throughout Israel on a range of peacebuilding initiatives.

I heard the siren on October 7 from Rahat [Arab Bedouin town]. My house in the nearby village has no  shelter or safe room, and in a panic, I jumped into a large hole that my uncle had dug  in the yard, between the houses, covered with concrete and iron with an iron roof. 

Since that morning, the rift around me has been deepening. My friend ‘Aisha al Ziadne was kidnapped in Gaza. My friends from all over the Bedouin diaspora in the  Negev are facing a difficult economic situation. Our families continue to scatter the  children between the rooms of the house to distribute the risk in the event of a missile falling.  

In the early days, my work as coordinator of the Safe Communities in the Negev  project at the Abraham Initiatives also came to a halt. The Abraham Initiatives is a Jewish-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli organization that advances social inclusion and equal rights for Israel’s Palestinian citizens by influencing public policy, shaping public opinion and demonstrating practical models for a shared society. As part of the Safe Communities project, young men and women undergo training in personal security, learn to cope with emergency situations and get to know the relevant rescue organizations. At a time when everyone’s personal safety was at risk, we couldn’t continue to be together. We had no safe place to shelter, and in the shadow of the sirens, the women and young people couldn’t meet. 

My desire to find a bright spot in the great darkness led me to the Jewish-Arab war room, led by Shir Nosetzky, CEO of Have You Seen the Horizon Lately? and Hanan al-Sana from ItachMa’aki) – a lawyer for social justice, who works every Wednesday in Rahat. 

Their slogan “partners in fate, partners in the war room” spoke  to me. I was excited to see the joint mobilization for the benefit of the unrecognized villages and the residents of the envelope alike, and I started volunteering every week. Slowly, I felt that a community was being created there. We all live in the same  country, and all of us in Israel, Jews and Arabs, are in a state of emergency. I invited the women’s group from Rahat, who participates in the Safe Communities Project, to volunteer with me and they responded enthusiastically. Like me, the women in the course felt that volunteering was a source of light in the dark. 

In recent weeks, the project I lead has returned to functioning. Together with the local  councils in the Negev and the Home Front Command, we converted its short-term  goals to focus on “volunteering and contributing to the rescue of others.” In addition to the women of Rahat, young adult groups from Hura and Kseife have joined the  volunteer work, and together we realize the values of Arab-Jewish work and partnership.  

Despite all the pain around us and the constant concern for those kidnapped,  volunteering together and mobilizing women and young people gives me hope that we  will soon live together in peace and equality. The shared hours are yet another  reminder of what it means that we are all human beings whose lives intertwine, with dreams and the right to live in peace.

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