International Leadership Conference
Inter-regional Dialogue Addressing Critical Challenges
Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East, North Africa
London, United Kingdom September 7 to 9, 2016
#ilc_london
Inter-regional Dialogue Addressing Critical Challenges
Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East, North Africa
London, United Kingdom 7 to 9 September, 2016
For further updates please see www.upf.org, www.uk.upf.org,
and twitter @ukUPF #ilc_london
Draft Programme Sessions
Wednesday, 7 September
17:30 Session I: A Vision for Peacebuilding in the Global Era
The Universal Peace Federation, in cooperation with Ambassadors for Peace of all nations and faiths, has been involved in peacebuilding throughout the world through interreligious dialogue, consultations on peace and security, initiatives for peace in areas of conflict, peace education, and a multitude of other programs. In this session, the UPF peacebuilding principles and practices will be presented, and respected statesmen and Ambassadors for Peace will give their perspective on the critical challenges of our time and their vision for bringing effective peacebuilding solutions.
Thursday, 8 September
08:30 Session II: Peace and Migration: Cross-Regional Perspectives
While Middle Eastern countries struggle under the weight of millions of refugees, European nations offer opened doors or high fences. Today's crises raise questions of economic survival and cultural identity. Is migration a right? Is hospitality an obligation? How to balance the needs for integration and the preservation of one's native culture? Panellists will address these questions and recommend principles, policies and action steps that can lead to sustainable models for peaceful coexistence.
10:30 Session III: Addressing Peace and Security Challenges through Trade and Economic Integration
Integration processes in Eurasia are a strategic priority for Russian foreign policy, while integration with the western part of the former Soviet Union is a European Union foreign policy objective. Sharing common security challenges and threats, such as conflicts in the Middle East, Europe and Eurasia have a clear interest in cooperating and meeting the challenges and opportunities aroused by Asia’s export economies, notably with regard to the ambitious Chinese Silk Road Economic Belt project.
In this session, panellists will assess the challenges and opportunities offered by trade and economic integration between Europe and Eurasia, and the opening of trade routes toward Asia and beyond.
Introduction to Peace Road 2016
The “Peace Road” is a global peace project aimed at actualizing the International Peace Highway originally proposed in 1981 by the UPF Founders, a modern “Silk Road” intended to make the world a single community. In recent years, symbolic Peace Road events have been held throughout the world. In February 2016, Peace Road activists began a symbolic ride at the North-South Korean border as a call for the Reunification of Korea and World Peace, with the support of parliamentarians from around the world. In London, parliamentarians will have the opportunity to support Peace Road campaigners engaged in the project in Europe.
15:00 Session IV: Overcoming Extremism and Promoting the Peaceful Resolution of Conflict: The Contribution of Religious Leadership
A most pressing contemporary issue is violent religious extremism. What role can religious leadership play in confronting extremism? At what level can their cooperation with political leaders bring effective, lasting solutions to the current crisis? Panellists in this session will offer their perspective and recommend policies and action steps fostering a positive contribution of faith-based organisations and leaders in the prevention of extremism.
17:00 Session V: International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace
It is time for humanity to embrace universally shared values, going beyond differences of ideology, race, nationality, and religion, and pursuing a path of mutual cooperation and mutual prosperity. In this way it is possible to build a world of lasting and sustainable peace that can be bequeathed to future generations. In this session, parliamentarians will propose the formation of a world-level association of parliamentarians as a forum through which to work together for peace and human development.
Friday, 9 September
9:00 Two Concurrent Sessions
Session VI-A: Family, Peace and Sustainable Development
The family is extremely important for social stability, and relevant to advancing all of the Sustainable Development Goals. How do stable and resilient families foster human development and social peace and prosperity? What family policies are conducive to sustainable development? Panellists in this session will give their perspective on the role of the family in peacebuilding, its impact on social stability and prosperity, and assess challenges in defining family policies for sustainable development.
Session VI-B: Media and Peacebuilding: The Impact of Social Media
Social media have become a catch-all phrase for a spectrum that runs from word-of-mouth rumour to The New York Times and BBC live blogs. They are fast and can have immediate global repercussions. But how much do they really help or hinder efforts to build peace? Are they more relevant than the introduction of printing, radio, television or the Internet itself into fractious societies? To what extent should the law step in to regulate the messages they bring? Addressing these questions, panellists in this session will assess the impact of social media on peacebuilding.
11:00 Two Concurrent Sessions
Session VII-A: Women’s Leadership in the Prevention of Radicalization
In efforts toward the prevention of violent extremism, women play a crucial role. As mothers and wives, they may detect early signs of radicalization in the family. As members of the community, they highly value family protection, education and well-being. As leaders in society, they prioritize connectivity, inclusiveness and peaceful solutions to conflict. In this session, panellists will offer their thoughts and perspectives on the role of women’s empowerment and leadership in countering extremism and resisting radicalization.
Session VII-B: Resolving and Preventing Conflict: Reconciling Secular and Religious Perspectives
As religious ideals lie at the core of most national and cultural identities, can political solutions to conflicts succeed without the religious perspective? By outlining the interplay of religious and secular perspectives, panellists in this session will assess cases of conflict resolution and prevention, offer their perspectives and recommend principles and policies for lasting, democratic solutions to contemporary conflicts.
12:30 Closing Luncheon
Any Questions Please Contact
Robin Marsh
Secretary General
UPF United Kingdom
44 (0) 7956210768
For further updates please see www.upf.org, www.uk.upf.org,
and twitter @ukUPF #ilc_london
Please also see:
UPF Inter-regional Conference in London, Sept 7-9
Introduction to Universal Peace Federation