The Hague Talks: The case for conflict prevention - Lessons learned from local civil society

What's the role of civil society in sustaining peace and preventing conflict?

At Hague Talks in Colombo we will have local and international voices reflecting together on the importance of civil society participation in preventing conflict and building peace. Speakers from Sri Lanka, Colombia and The Philippines will share how their personal experiences inspired them to become peacebuilders and will reflect on the need of involving local civil society to sustain peace.  

The Speakers

Mr Dayapala Thiranagama, political activist,  Sri Lanka. Former academic and politician, who left Sri Lanka after her wife Dr. Rajani Thiranagama was assassinated by LTTE during a period that moderate voices on both sides were killed. Ms Aaranya  Rajasingham, women's rights and peace activist, Sri Lanka. She works in conflict transformation and peacebuilding. Gus Miclat, executive director and co-founder of the Initiatives for International Dialogue, The Philippines. He is also a former journalist, editor, university lecturer, theatre artist and organizer. Darynell Rodriguez Torres, executive director GPPAC Foundation, Colombia. He has a deep knowledge of conflict prevention and peacebuilding issues and extensive contacts with external stakeholders including civil society organisations, government representatives and high level officials at the United Nations system and regional multilateral organisations.   It will be an inspiring event to share and discuss how to build durable peace. The Dutch ambassador in Sri Lanka, Ms Joanne Doornewaard, will carry out the opening. The chair of the GPPAC Board, Fijian peace activist and 2014 NGO CSW Forum Women of Disctinction awardee, Ms Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, will moderate the event.    

Sign up here   The Hague Talks Colombo will be a collaboration of the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Sri Lanka with the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC).