In 2024, Peace News Network (PNN) continued its mission of telling stories about peacebuilding and peacebuilders in conflict zones across the globe. We continued to shine a light on people promoting unity and reconciliation despite violent and difficult situations.
As we start a new year, we are sharing our top 10 most viewed articles of 2024. These articles discuss peacebuilding in several corners of the globe where conflicts continue to harm people, including Ukraine, Nigeria, Pakistan, Israel-Palestine, and more.
Below are PNN’s top 10 articles of the year.
By Rana Salman
Our most-read article of the year, part of our “Voices of Peacebuilders in the Middle East” series, details the work of former combatants in Israel/Palestine who now promote an end to violence, and seek mutual respect and compassion. The author, Rana Salman, is the organization’s executive director. Salman discusses how Combatants for Peace chooses a different path by acknowledging the shared pain and humanity of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Ayesha Jehangir discusses how many Afghan refugees in Pakistan faced expulsion under the Pakistani government’s recent crackdown, which entered its second phase on 15 April 2024, impacting at least 1.3 million Afghan refugees. The nation-wide crackdown was launched with full force and immediate effect on 15 September 2023.
By Leo Weakland
Leo Weakland explains the history behind Sudan’s brutal civil war, which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions. He points out how the overthrow of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir offered hopes for a democratic transition, however, it led to a power struggle, and a horrific humanitarian crisis.
Kristian Atland analyses how the international summit on peace in Ukraine had the potential of becoming an important stepping stone on the long and winding path towards peace in Ukraine. However, he notes that Ukraine and Russia have widely diverging views of what a negotiated settlement should look like and how it may be accomplished.
By Natalia Urzola and María Paula González
Natalia Urzola and Maria Paula Gonzalez put a spotlight on how climate change intensifies gender-based violence. For example, when women must travel longer distances for water, they are more likely to be exposed to violent situations. Urzola and Gonzalez discuss how the peacebuilding process can address such issues.
Peace News staff explore how scholars and peace advocates are working to build peace in this digital space, leading to the rise of digital peacebuilding. This work is crucial as conflicts now not only take place on the ground but also online, with digital platforms being used to spread violence and hate.
By Leo Weakland
Leo Weakland spoke to Dr. Margarita Tadevosyan of George Mason University about the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Weakland explains the context of the two countries being involved in one of the most enduring of the many conflicts in the post-Soviet space. Tadevosyan told PNN that both countries need to support “an internal conversation about what a mutually built peace should look like.”
Maria Andrea Nardi shines a light on the contributions nature can make to foster sustainable peace and development in Northern Uganda beyond its role in income generation by resource exploitation. The environment, she argues, is relevant for peace because it works as a (a) semiotic system, (b) public space, and (c) reconciliation means.
By Lesley Pruitt and Katrina Lee Koo
Lesley Pruitt and Katrina Lee Koo advocate for what they call Intergenerational Peace Leadership (IPL). They explore the concept, along with its prospects and challenges, and offer examples of three case studies from Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and Nepal. These countries all feature intergenerational conflict experiences and efforts at community-based peacebuilding.
Journalist Mohammed Ibrahim reports on how relationships between people of different tribes, religions, and ethnicities contribute to peacebuilding, and have helped reduce conflict in Nigerian states impacted by it. Ibrahim speaks to Nigerian citizens about their heartwarming stories of befriending those from different groups than their own. These connections, he says, help restore confidence and trust across the country.
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is a journalist in Bangkok. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
