News

It's the halfway mark of the Geneva Peace Week 2020. KOFF created a podcast concerning the migration-peace nexus in collaboration with DCAF - Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance. Furthermore, KOFF is holding a live side event - the learning meeting "Making it work: migration in peace policy & practice" - to discuss the newly published toolbox (2020/11/05, 10.15am - 12.15pm, online). 

listen to the podcast | sign up for the learning meeting | learn more

Over the last decade, digital technologies have shown their potential in easing the work of peacebuilding professionals. While they can be used to raise awareness of peaceful causes, connect people, and foster exchanges, their downsides are by no means insignificant. Hate speech, disinformation, and polarization in conflict settings tend to exacerbate division and violence.

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Is the Responsible Business Initiative (Konzernverantwortungsinitiative) also good and fair for the people in developing countries? Clearly yes, say 15 renowned development economists from all over Switzerland.

Read the statement

On 31 October 2000 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on "Women, Peace and Security". It is considered a milestone in women's rights because it places women's concerns on the international security agenda for the first time. Armed conflicts were viewed through a women's perspective, and the resolution calls for for increased involvement of women in peace processes. However, the resolution is also relevant to Switzerland's domestic policy.

read the statement (de)  

Together we will discuss and test our newly published toolbox on migration in peace policy and practice, created through a KOFF Joint Learning Process. Please register via email, indicating very briefly your motivation to join this meeting (1-2 sentences), as the spots are limited. We are looking forward to fruitful exchange of expertise!

2020/11/05, 10:15am - 12:15pm, online 

toolbox | GPW20 podcast | learn more

In tackling the common negative, linear understanding of security and participation, cfd, PWAG and KOFF joined forces as civil society's critical voice to advocate for an interpretative turn in the implementation of the UNSCR 1325. Find out more about the understanding of feminist security we propose in our project. 

Learn more here and here

Five years ago Switzerland co-signed the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. Where do we stand today with regard to its implementation? What are the challenges facing Switzerland? How did the federal government and the administration prepare for its implementation? What role does civil society play? From whom can we learn?

Side event to Rendez-vous Bundesplatz, 2020/10/22, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

learn more and register here

After a year and a half of "Joint Learning Process on Peacebuilding & Migration", KOFF/swisspeace launch a toolbox! Based on three case studies (on the Bangladeshi, Colombian and Ethiopian contexts), this document provides political decision-makers and peacebuilding practitioners with guidance on how to deal with migration in different phases of conflict and peacebuilding.

Consult online  | Download (en) | Video teaser

The training, provided by artasfoundation and the ZHdK, is designed to bring together members of internationally cooperating organisations and experienced artists and curators who wish to develop their understanding of international collaboration. The aim is to gain a critical understanding of the potential of working with art in fragile contexts and in peacebuilding. Through examples and field visits, the participants will gain an insight and develop a sensitive approach to international artistic collaboration in regions of conflict.

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The Quaker United Nations Office and the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform will host a discussion at Geneva Peace Week on the theme ‘Rethinking Security: What enables secure and sustainable living’. The event will draw upon submissions received from the public and aims to engage a broad array of voices to gather visions of a world free from fear, want and indignity.

Share your experiences of secure and sustainable living, whether individual or collective, to help shift the concept of security from its state-centred confines to a more inclusive, people and planet focused notion. Submissions are welcomed by email until 15 October.

learn more (de, en, fr)