The Cordoba Foundation of Geneva, in partnership with the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, the Peace Research Institute Oslo, Inclusive Peace & Transition Initiative, and the World Council of Churches, is pleased to contribute to the Geneva Peace Week on the theme of prevention.

Studies on conflict data show a sharp increase in conflicts with which involve religious incompatibilities. According to studies conducted by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), in 1975 only 2 percent of conflicts involved a religious incompatibility. In 2013 the percentage had grown to more than 50 percent. There are no exhaustive explanations to this change, yet the phenomenon can be approached by looking at the prevention work undertaken throughout the last 30 years. While conflicts without religious incompatibility have been addressed through active preventative methods and tools, the lack of understanding and suitable preventive measures concerning the challenges that conflicts with religious incompatibilities face, need to be acknowledged.

Meanwhile, religious organisations are considered as a rich source for peace promotion. Whether as legitimate local or international peace actors and mediators or as providers of humanitarian aid, religious institutions have a role to play in conflict resolution.

Considering the need for promoting experience sharing and developing a common understanding on the possible role religious actors could have in preventing violence, the Cordoba Foundation of Geneva together with its partners is pleased to invite you to a discussion panel addressing questions such as:

• why has religion been raised to the forefront of conflict – are we seeing a new development or an old, but reframed trend;
• the role of religious actors/organisations in preventing hate speech and violence;
• good practices and successful prevention measures developed by religious actors and communities;
• religion and inclusivity – when religion and religious actors are included, what risks exclusion and how to fill these gaps;
• the support needed to strengthen the work of religious actors in preventing violence;
• the risks and opportunities of including religious dimensions in conflict transformation practice.

The audience is warmly invited to join the discussion.

Panelists

Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi
Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, Washington, D.C. Office

Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi is the Director of the Washington DC Office of Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. Born in Sudan, hard work brought Dr. Elsanousi to Pakistan to pursue a degree in Sharia and Law. After graduation, Dr. Elsanousi continued studies in the United States. In 2001 on September 11, when two airplanes hit the WTC in New York, Dr. Elsanousi had a leading position at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), a position that was soon redefined by the changes in society after 9/11. In 2010 Dr. Elsanousi co-chaired the founding of the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign, an interfaith organization dedicated to ending anti-Muslim sentiment by strengthening the voice of freedom and peace. Dr. Elsanousi joined the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers 2014, and today Dr. Elsanousi works on themes including mediation and peacebuilding in Central African Republic, promoting religious freedom in Muslim majority countries and preventing violent radicalization, especially in the Middle East and North America.

 

Peter Prove
Director, International Affairs, The World Council of Churches

Peter Prove assumed the office of Director, International Affairs, at the World Council of Churches in February 2014, and has responsibility for the WCC’s programs in the field of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, arms control, and human rights. A lawyer by profession, Peter has 20 years experience in the international policy arena, including more than 12 years as Assistant General Secretary for International Affairs & Human Rights at the Lutheran World Federation and four years as Executive Director of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. Peter has served in numerous leadership roles in UN and civil society contexts and as a founding member of the International NGO Committee on Human Rights in Trade and Investment and the International Dalit Solidarity Network. He also has extensive experience of interfaith networking for peace and development, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Rev. Dr&Canon Trond Bakkevig
Dean of Vestre Aker, Church of Norway, Peace Research Institute Oslo

Rev. Trond Bakkevig is a pastor of the (Lutheran) Church of Norway. He currently serves as Dean of Vestre Aker, a grouping of eleven Oslo city parishes. From 1987 to 1988, he was personal adviser to the Norwegian State Minister of Foreign Affairs, and from 1984 to 1993 General Secretary of the Church of Norway Council on Foreign Relations. Since 1996, Bakkevig has helped facilitate dialogue between Christians, Muslims and Jewish religious leaders in Palestine/Israel, as well as with politicians and international church bodies on the situation there; this task has involved extensive contacts with political and religious leaders in other parts of the Middle East countries. From 1997 to 2006, he was a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches. He has published several books, as well as numerous scientific and popular articles. His doctoral dissertation was on the topic of theology and nuclear arms. He has also written a book about his church and his own involvement in the struggle against the apartheid system in South Africa.

Catherine Germond
Assistant Program Manager, Cordoba Foundation of Geneva

Catherine Germond holds a B.A and M.A. in Ancient Near Eastern Studies and a second B.A in Theology from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She studied Latin, Greek, Akkadian, ancient Hebrew, Aramean, Ugaritic and Sumerian. Her knowledge of the ancient history and religions of the Middle East, combined with her interest in the Muslim world, give her a broad insight into the background, geopolitics and current affairs of the region. In 2014 she started working at the Cordoba Foundation of Geneva where she is now assistant program manager, responsible for the Middle East program that covers Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, as well as for a project in Morocco. Catherine is the co-editor of Maghreb Machrek, Religion et Etat. Logiques de la Sécularisation et de la Citoyenneté en Islam, n°224-225, éditions Eska. Catherine’s articles have appeared in Le Courrier and 24 Heures.

Facilitator

Dr. Thania Paffenholz
Director of the Inclusive Peace & Transition Initiative

Dr. Thania Paffenholz is the Director of the Inclusive Peace & Transition Initiative (IPTI) at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. With over 25 years of experience as both an academic and policy advisor, Dr. Paffenholz is internationally renowned for her work on and in support of peace and political transition processes worldwide, focusing on mediation and peacebuilding, process design, inclusion and participation, as well as the conditions under which these processes produce sustainable outcomes. In recognition of her work, Dr. Paffenholz received the prestigious Wihuri International Prize in 2015. Dr. Paffenholz has roots in Europe, Africa and Asia.

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Our thanks to Mr. Albin Hillert and the World Council of Churches for the pictures: