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What role does culture play in peace and conflict? How can we tap into its potential for peacebuilding? The latest edition of à propos magazine demonstrates how diverse artistic expressions, cultural exchanges, and cultivating a “culture of peace” can spark dialogue and mutual understanding—essential components for achieving and sustaining peaceful coexistence.

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In June, our KOFF Roundtable on Conflict Sensitivity & Climate Change took place in Bern, looking at challenges associated with climate-related programming in fragile and conflict-affected settings. We are delighted to share the synthesis of this Roundtable with you. It summarizes the key points from the event and highlights relevant recommendations for practitioners working on climate-related programming.

Read the Synthesis

The June edition of à propos is available! Dive into the important role of youth engagement in peacebuilding. Our contributors highlight the transformative potential of youth-led initiatives and the pressing need to include their voices in peacebuilding efforts. Read their reflections on practical engagement strategies aligned with the principles of the United Nations Agenda for Youth, Peace, and Security.

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This Essential puts a focus on the implementation of the participation pillar of the UN Security Council resolution 2250, the UN Youth, Peace and Security Agenda (YPS), asking how international NGOs can contribute to the implementation of this pillar through their peacebuilding activities. It is a practical guide to help organizations facilitate and improve youth participation in peacebuilding practice.

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The March edition of à propos is now available! This issue explores the multifaceted world of communication in peacebuilding. By sharing their positive experiences, challenges encountered, and strategies, members of KOFF and their partners share valuable insights into the nuances of what, when, and for what purpose to communicate in the pursuit of peace and conflict prevention.

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The last episode of the KOFF podcast series on the Swiss seat in the UN Security Council is dedicated to the issue of the growing importance of the digital space for peace and security. Anne-Marie Buzatu (ICT4Peace), Sacha Meuter (Fondation Hirondelle), and Emma Baumhofer (swisspeace) discuss potential opportunities and challenges the digital sphere poses for the UN Security Council and suggests how Switzerland might include aspects on digital peacebuilding in its priorities during the second year of its non- permanent membership.

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Switzerland has worked towards the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda for a a long time. Yet, in times of gender backlash, there is still a long way to go. Switzerland needs to continuously work on this issue during its time in the UN Security Council. In this episode of the KOFF-Tonträger, Talia Wohl (FDFA), Lisa Bissegger (Frieda), and Helena Nyberg (WILPF) discuss Switzerland's successes and challenges in working for the WPS Agenda in the UN Security Council, as well as what a feminist security understanding means.

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For its time in the UN Security Council Switzerland has set out four priorities. One of them is addressing climates security. In the latest episode of the KOFF-Tonträger, Dorothea Schiewer discusses the interconnection between climate & security and its relevance for the international policy level with Stefan Salzmann, Fastenaktion, and Yvan Keckeis & Ariadna Pop, FDFA. What priorities are important? What challenges does Switzerland face? And what has Switzerland already achieved?

Listen to the KOFF-Tonträger on Soundcloud or Spotify

Since January 2023, Switzerland has a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council. KOFF engages in a podcast series with this new Swiss role on the international policy level. In this first episode of the KOFF-Tonträger, Dorothea Schiewer (KOFF/swisspeace) speaks with Esther Neuhaus (FDFA), Maria-Isabelle Wieser (GSUN) and Anna Leissing (KOFF/swisspeace) about priorities, opportunities, challenges, and civil society expectations for the Swiss seat in the UN Security Council.

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The November edition of à propos is online! It delves into the complex peace and conflict dynamics of the West African Sahel region. Discover how persistent political instability and governance issues contribute to violent extremism, climate-induced conflicts, food insecurity and gender-based violence. Learn about international troop interventions, their controversies, and their impact on the region's security landscape. The KOFF organizations and partners provide you with insights on navigating these transformations.

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