News Archive

Young people in particular are often profoundly affected by conflicts and therefore have specific needs. They are usually the ones on the front line who experience physical and psychological violence. On December 9, 2015, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2250, which specifically addresses the role of young people in peace and security issues. Ever since then, the crucial role that young people can play in conflict and post-conflict situations has been acknowledged across the board.

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Poetry makes us human. Poetry, through words, reduces our experiences to their essence and, at the same time, uplifts our souls to their highest.

Read the Critical Reflection

This roundtable, jointly organised with Peace Brigades International (PBI), is an opportunity to learn more about and discuss the challenges faced by indigenous communities in Guatemala ranging from economic pressure to questions of gender equity and the work of human rights defenders.

German invitation

Read about the challenges and opportunities of new information and communication technologies in peacebuilding.

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The KOFF Directors' Meeting brought together the directors of the KOFF member organizations and high-ranking representatives of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) to discuss current issues and challenges in peacebuilding and conflict transformation

German Summary of the Meeting

While some argue that any religion has the potential to cause violence, others point out that religion is never the sole cause of conflict and that it can have a peacebuilding effect. Numerous contributions to this issue maintain that the attribution of a conflict to purely religious factors is often a gross over-simplification, if not an actual falsification of the true causes of a conflict. Such a simplified view can hinder peacebuilding.

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Together with cfd - the feminist Peace Organisation and COEXISTENCES, KOFF shows the documentary "THE FIELD" about a peace initiative by the Palestinian activist Ali Abu Awwad. The movie follows his project "Roots" in which he brings fellow Palestinians and Israeli settlers together for dialogue in an attempt for reconciliation. Followed by a discussion with our guests Fiuna Seylan Ongen and Valentina Maggiulli.

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Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century and is becoming increasingly associated with conflicts. However, it would be wrong to assume that there are wars or conflicts that are caused by climate change alone. Climate change acts more so as a threat multiplier or a conflict driver – in other words, it adds more fuel to the fire. This is happening in various ways. For example, climate change is making resources scarce and therefore increasing competitive pressure. It is also destroying livelihoods, forcing people to migrate in certain circumstances. Alternatively, it is weakening state institutions by causing extreme weather events such as drought or flooding.

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On Thursday, 22 November, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs launched the 4th National Action Plan (NAP) on the Resolution 1325 of the Security Council. A number of civil society organizations including KOFF have committed themselves to taking a critical look at the implementation of the action plan.

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This year, Geneva Peace Week emphasizes the urgency of finding peaceful solutions for the growing risks of violent conflict, building on the lessons from history and the needs for future peacebuilding practice.

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