FPC Events and Outputs

08 July, 2024 | 17:15-19:30 | Grand Café Utopie Join us for the next edition in the Fireside Peace Chats series, titled “Global Cycles of Conflict: The Armed Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Abroad”. This edition takes place with a human rights defender from the Great Lakes region of Africa and current Shelter City Deventer guest. This speaker is a part of the Congolese organisation Centre for the Observation of Human Rights and Social Assistance or CODHAS, which advocates for human rights, peace, and an equitable community access to land and mineral resources. We will explore and discuss the cycle of conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in addition to those of neighbouring countries in the Great Lakes region such as Burundi, Uganda, and Rwanda. Through a wholistic comprehension of the region, we will discuss the humanitarian crisis, human rights violations, stakeholders in the conflict(s), the importance of minerals and land, and the vicious cycles of conflict present. Moderator Sever Dzigurski (KPSRL) Approximate Agenda 17:15-17:30: Guest Walk-ins 17:30-18:45: Discussion 18:45-19:30: Informal drinks & Networking More about Fireside Peace Chats The Fireside Peace Chats series is an event series consisting of informal, intimate chats with peacebuilders who have either lived in for an extended period of time or are from conflict-affected environments. Fireside Peace Chats are a joint initiative of Leiden University College The Hague (LUC), Knowledge Platform for Security and Rule of the Law (KPSRL), and The Hague Humanity Hub (THHH), with an aim to open a space where practice, research and policy in peacebuilding come together in an informal way, through experience of people on the ground. This initiative aims to contribute to a locally informed paradigm shift in liberal peacebuilding.  

Join us for the next edition in the Fireside Peace Chats series with Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Peacebuilding Support at the United Nations. This edition is titled “Navigating Conflict: The UN’s Role in Peacebuilding and Peacemaking,” following Ms. Spehar’s professional journey, we will explore the opportunities and challenges for the UN in contributing to peacebuilding in different contexts (e.g. Cyprus, Latin America, at HQ level). While geopolitical shifts and transnational challenge undermine the position of multilateral diplomacy; how can the UN be a viable peacemaker and peacebuilder? How did Ms. Spehar experience her engagement with situations of (post-)conflict while positioned in a large multilateral organization? About Ms. Spehar Ms. Elizabeth Spehar has been the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support since 2022. She has over 35 years of experience in international and political affairs, having worked at United Nations Headquarters and in the field leading political, development, peacemaking, peacebuilding and conflict prevention initiatives. Key roles have included serving as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), also serving as Deputy to the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus. Previously, Ms. Spehar was Director of the Policy and Mediation Division in the former Department of Political Affairs (DPA) and Director for the Americas and Europe Division. Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Spehar was a senior official with the Organization of American States (OAS) for more than 12 years, working to promote democracy and develop the organization’s dialogue and conflict resolution instruments. She speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Croatian. Moderator Sever Dzigurski (KPSRL) More about Fireside Peace Chats The Fireside Peace Chats series is an event series consisting of informal, intimate chats with peacebuilders who have either lived in for an extended period of time or are from conflict-affected environments. Fireside Peace Chats are a joint initiative of Leiden University College The Hague (LUC), Knowledge Platform for Security and Rule of the Law (KPSRL), and The Hague Humanity Hub (THHH), with an aim to open a space where practice, research and policy in peacebuilding come together in an informal way, through experience of people on the ground. This initiative aims to contribute to a locally informed paradigm shift in liberal peacebuilding.

When & Where 13 February (17.30-19.00) at the Hague Humanity Hub (Fluwelen Burgwal 58, 2511 CJ Den Haag). Please register here.   Background Join us on 13 February for the next edition in the Fireside Peace Chats series with fellows from the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP). This edition is titled “Intersectional Insights: NGOs Advancing Youth, Feminist, and Human Rights-Based Perspectives.” The fellows will share experiences from local peacebuilding efforts addressing crucial issues such as gender equality, youth empowerment and support for marginalised communities within decision-making on peace and security.  This edition will uniquely feature a group of four speakers:   Speakers Shushanna Hasasyan, Psychologist, Project and Training Coordinator and Counselor, Pink Armenia As a project and training coordinator and counselor at Pink, Shushanna’s mission is clear: to offer psychotherapy and counseling services, with a special emphasis on creating a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. In this capacity, she conducts training sessions addressing critical issues such as sexuality, abuse, cyberbullying, well-being, and burnout. Coordinating programs and activities tailored to ensure inclusivity for LGBTQ+ individuals has become a significant aspect of her work.  Maryam Majidova, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Gender Hub Azerbaijan Maryam Majidova is an international youth policy and gender expert with extensive experience of work with international and European Institutions. She is co-founder and executive director of Gender Hub Azerbaijan - Youth NGO, focusing on promoting gender equality in Azerbaijan. Specialized in non-governmental organisation management, youth work, domestic violence, gender equality, human rights education, project management and policy advocacy, Maryam is passionate about right-based approach in learning, feminism and public policy making. Vladimer Mkervalishvili, Executive Director, Human Rights NGO “Rights Georgia” Since 2019, Mr. Mkervalishvili has been an Executive Director of the Human Rights NGO “Rights Georgia”.  Vladimer has more than 15 years of experience at international organizations as an expert, executive director, and project director/coordinator in the field of human rights, with a special focus on access to justice, judicial reform, freedom of expression and media, gender equality and violence against women.  Ana Negru, Program Manager, Platform for Security and Defence Initiatives With nearly a decade experience working in non-governmental organisations to promote security and defence issues, Ana’s expertise and work was mainly focused on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, disinformation, and its impact on national security. Her journey encompasses over 25 projects, engaging diverse stakeholders from public institutions, local public administrations, academia, and youth. These initiatives were implemented to create platforms for discussion and work on the most pressing issues tangential to security and defence, emphasizing both the pivotal role of civil society and cooperation between state institutions, civil society, academia, media and citizens About the series Fireside Peace Chats series are informal, intimate chats with peacebuilders who have either lived in for an extended period of time or are from conflict-affected environments. Fireside Peace Chats are a joint initiative of Leiden University College The Hague (LUC), Knowledge Platform for Security and Rule of the Law (KPSRL), and The Hague Humanity Hub (THHH), with an aim to open a space where practice, research and policy in peacebuilding come together in an informal way, through experience of people on the ground. This initiative aims to contribute to a locally informed paradigm shift in liberal peacebuilding.

When & Where The event will be held on 2 May from 17:30 - 19:00 at the Cafe Utopie Den Haag. This event does require registration, so that we may have an accurate estimate of the number of attendees. Please register here.   Background Join us for our latest Fireside Peace Chats event, co-hosted by Leiden University College, on 2 May. These events are informal, intimate discussions with global expert peacebuilders. We are delighted to invite you to a special event, “European Strategic Autonomy and a Rising China: Can Europe serve as a peace preserver between the US and China?” This event will be an informal, intimate exchange where attendees are encouraged to actively engage in discussion with each other and our guest speaker, Michael Swaine from the Quincy Institute of Responsible Statecraft. Joining us as a discussant, we also welcome Xiaoxue Martin, Research Fellow at the Clingendael China Centre. Throughout the discussion, Swaine will be discussing practical and relevant issues in Chinese international relations including; The concept of strategic autonomy in Europe as it relates to China and the US The ‘Taiwan issue’ and addressing speculated parallels with Russia’s war on Ukraine Supply chain pressures; production semi-conductors   Guest speaker Michael Swaine is one of the most prominent American scholars of Chinese security studies and has extensive experience working with US and Chinese government and military officials and scholars. Swaine was previously at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the RAND Corporation. He advises the US government on Asian security issues, has authored and edited more than a dozen books and monographs, and directed for nearly two decades, along with Iain Johnston of Harvard University, a multi-year crisis prevention project with Chinese partners.

Join us for our latest Fireside Peace Chats event, co-hosted by Leiden University College, on 21 March. These events are informal, intimate discussions with global expert peacebuilders. Join us in hearing Fr Dionysius Mintoff from Malta on how to work for peace at the global level. Fr Mintoff will share his thoughts on how to address the key challenge faced by the world. He will announce the International Laboratory for Peace in The Hague that will focus on dialogue, education and practical solutions for peace. Walk-in registrations are welcome! Simply arrive at the location, Leiden University College Floor 1. In 2010 Fr Mintoff was awarded the inaugural FI Human Rights Award in Geneva, Switzerland and is a co-founder of Franciscans International. His Peace Lab was founded in Malta in 1971 with a mission for peace education. Today it also acts as a sanctuary for refugees and is a place of learning, inclusion, and acceptance regardless of personal beliefs. Programme:  17:30-19:00 Dialogue  Welcome Remarks by Robert Micallef, Lecturer Leiden University Key Note Intervention: Fr Dionysius Mintoff, Founder of Peace Lab Reflections and Q&A: Dr. Maja Vodopovic, Assistant Professor, Leiden University Fr. Dionysius Mintoff established the Pope John XIII Peace Laboratory in 1971, following an appeal made by Pope John XXIII, who called for the world to reflect on peace. “As a Franciscan, and a Maltese who has personally seen the outcomes of war, I decided to open a space that advocates for peace education in Malta” he explained some years ago in an interview. And it is no secret that Fr. Mintoff had been hoping to personally welcome the Pope and show him around, during the Apostolic Visit to Malta that had been scheduled for 31 May 2020 and was postponed due to the pandemic. The Peace Lab runs an extensive adult education programme. It has its headquarters at Hal Far, a site that was originally part of the HalFar airfield which saw intensive air combats during World War II.

Join us for our latest Fireside Peace Chats event, co-hosted by Leiden University College, on February 22nd. These events are informal, intimate discussions with global expert peacebuilders. The event focuses on the geopolitics of peace & conflict and decolonizing the debate on religion and peace & conflict. The speaker will focus on Sri Lanka as a case study with possibilities for comparative conflict analysis with Northern Ireland and Korea as well. No registration is required! Simple arrive at the location, Leiden University College Floor 1, for a welcoming, educational, and informal atmosphere to learn about and discuss peacebuilding and decolonization. Jude Lal Fernando is Associate Professor at the School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies at Trinity College, University of Dublin. He is the director of Trinity Centre for Post-Conflict Justice. His latest publications are Resistance to Empire and Militarization: Reclaiming the Sacred ( 2021) and Faith in the Face of Militarization: Indigenous, Feminist and Interreligious Voices ( 2022). He has been a visiting professor in Tampere University in Finland, Uppsala University in Sweden and Ritsukeikan and Sophia Universities in Japan. He is the Coordinator of the People's Tribunal on Sri Lanka ( Dublin, Bremen and Berlin Tribunals) and lives in exile in Ireland due to his opposition to war against the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Fireside Peace Chats series are informal, intimate chats with peacebuilders who have either lived in for an extended period of time or are from conflict-affected environments. This is the first event kicking off the series. Dr. Randall Puljek-Shank has more than 20 years of experience in peacebuilding in the Western Balkans in programme design, implementation, training, evaluation, and research. Randall holds a PhD in Political Science from the Radboud University Nijmegen. His doctoral research deepened his interest in the intersection of civil society and politics of ethnically divided societies.