Find out the programme of the BPF Conference 2023!

On 2, 3 and 4 May AP will organize the Bologna Peacebuilding Forum (BPF) 2023.
Now at its 5th edition, the BPF is a yearly appointment for the curious and experts in peacebuilding, to discuss pressing issues and challenges in the discipline. This year, the Forum will focus on "Peace in Europe and Beyond", analyzing possible trajectories for peace on the European continent. The now yearlong war in Ukraine has generated an impressive disruption in Europe and its effects are reshaping global peace and security governance. While peace advocates reconcile solidarity toward Ukraine and a call for diplomatic solutions, new multilateral formats are under discussion or taking shape. So many developments deserve space for debate, and the BPF 2023 aims at providing such space, fostering reflections and open dialogue in the peacebuilding community. 

On 4 May from 9.30 to 13.30, AP will facilitate a workshop on Media and Peacebuilding, to reflect with professional journalists on the key role of the media in building durable peace. The workshop, addressed to students and youth, will be held in Italian, and to ensure interactivity and participation, the number of attendees is limited and subject to application process.
A number of other activities and side events will fill the days of the Bologna Peacebuilding Forum, such as closed-door meetings on donors for peace and networking appointments.
 

What Future for the European Peace and Security Communities?

One year after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, this event addressed the future of European peace and security organizations in the wake of the war. While pan-European organizations such as the OSCE have struggled to find a role in the new polarized environment, NATO's role as the prime collective defense organization was reaffirmed. According to some, NATO's new centrality and future enlargement will constrain the EU's already uncertain path towards greater strategic autonomy and higher security profile. At the same time, the European Political Community (which gathers 45 countries of the Eurasian continent) held its first meeting in October 2022. The seminar discussed the role that the EPC, OSCE, NATO and other organizations could play to bring stability and peace back to Europe.

From Clicking to Beating: Dealing with Physical Violence

It all innocently starts when you're scrolling through your social media. You see a post, somehow it triggers your emotions, and the way you respond to it says it all!
We interact with thousands of posts every day as we 'roam' from one social network to another. The rate of interaction with each post varies from just scrolling a post, giving it a reaction, whether liking it or 'haha' to actually commenting on it. In the process, some interactions can fuel longer conversations, some of which can be pretty hot. Can these conversations spiral out of control and lead to an actual 'fistfight'?

By Imani Henrick, Digital Rights Advocate and journalist, host of the digital rights-focused podcast "Dig It With Imani the Podcast". 

Journey to the divided Kosovar city of Mitrovica

“On the Southern side of the Ibar River, the majority if the population is ethnic Albanian. In the North resides mostly the Serb minority. A cement bridge manned by Italian carabinieri in support of the KFOR Mission divides the two sides." AP narrates a journey to the divided city of Mitrovica, Kosovo, and the current efforts for interethnic reconciliation.

By Mikhail Silvestro Sustersic, AP’s associate (the article is available in Italian only).

Intercultural Dialogue Workshop

AP conducted an Intercultural Dialogue Workshop organized with the Ravenna campus of the University of Bologna to understand and address the difficulties students from the International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage (I-CONTACT) face. In particular, the workshop focused on challenges in intercultural integration among students themselves and with local institutions. Participants, eager to discuss city-related issues, worked together with AP's officers to find creative solutions so that students can feel secure, welcome and integrated. The initiative will continue with its second phase, which will consist in meeting with stakeholders in the university and in the city of Ravenna, and open a debate on the needs of students. All the findings and reflections emerging from this project will be collected by AP and presented in a report. 
 

Peace Matters - Episode 1

'Peace Matters' is a new podcast about contemporary conflicts in Europe and the world - and how to solve them. Hosted by the International Institute for Peace (IIP) and Ponto, two Vienna-based think tanks, it discusses the most pressing global challenges with policy experts, decision-makers, academics, diplomats, civil society activists and other stakeholders. 
The first episode of the podcast is online, and it focuses on the military developments in Ukraine over the past year, the upcoming Russian military offensive and Western support to Ukraine, stressing the urgency to search for a diplomatic solution.

The nine roles that intermediaries can play in international cooperation

The role of INGOs as implementers is now giving way to alternative models of international cooperation. One well established but less common role for INGOs is that of intermediary, though this has often focused on INGOs as conduits for funding to organisations in the Global South. However, the role of the intermediary is far richer than just a mechanism for managing donor funds. In this new publication, Peace Direct explores the nine additional roles for intermediaries, which reflect our experience working with local partners for over 20 years.