DI Staff to Provide Leadership at Global Peace Convention 2017

Dialogue Institute staff will provide key leadership during the upcoming Global Peace Convention 2017, to be held February 28-March 3 in Manila, Philippines.

The overall theme of the gathering is "Moral and Innovative Leadership: New Models for Peace and Development," convened by the Global Peace Foundation to provide a diverse community of peacebuilding practitioners, youth leaders and experts in business, international development and education a unique opportunity to explore critical global issues, share best practices and develop innovative and action-driven solutions to building peace and social cohesion while strengthening robust multi-stakeholder partnerships.

That the need for a global ethic is most urgent is becoming increasingly apparent to all; humankind no longer has the luxury of letting such an ethic slowly and haphazardly grow by itself, as it willy-nilly will gradually happen. It is vital that there be a conscious focusing of energy on such a development. Immediate action is necessary.
— Leonard Swidler

DI Founder and President Leonard Swidler will participate in the Global Strategic Priorities Plenary on the first full day, exploring identity conflict and violent extremism. Executive Director Rebecca Mays will moderate a panel discussion on March 1, including Professor Swidler, on "Building a Better Future: Shared Values to a Global Ethic"—part of the Convention's Interfaith Peacebuilding track.

In addition, both will facilitate a special one-day post-Convention training focused on essential skills to foster dialogue and understanding across divided communities. Designed for scholars, elected officials, faith leaders and practitioners, students and other peace advocates, the training will present a process for building consensus around shared values as well as ultimately building a global ethical framework, and provide resources for resolving conflicts, fostering social cohesion, building peace and advancing human development.

The Global Peace Foundation (GPF) is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding. GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national and regional peacebuilding models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. In doing so, GPFaffirms the importance of universally recognized principles and shared values as essential to building social cohesion within nations and the global community.