American Jewish World Service (AJWS)’s Post

International conference on “Memory as a resource in conflict transformation: The role of media and journalists in peacebuilding” While it is clear that media and journalists are key actors in conflict transformation, as I have explained in more detail elsewhere, their role in the aftermath of mass-atrocities when dealing with the past of conflicts by constructing collective memory narratives through their everyday practices is often not sufficiently understood in the field of peacebuilding. In the meantime, we find a wide range of processes and lessons learned in practice (specially from a Global South perspective), which however in academia and policy forums often remain unnoticed. In response to this, I have pitched and co-organised the international conference “Memory as a resource in conflict transformation: The role of media and journalists in peacebuilding” to bring these experiences of practitioners, communication experts, artists, activists, journalists and researchers into dialogue with each other. Thanks to my colleagues Sonja Hegasy (Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO)), Sabine Mannitz (PRIF Peace Research Institute Frankfurt), Jonas Wolff (PRIF Peace Research Institute Frankfurt), Stefan Peters (Justus Liebig University Giessen, German-Colombian Peace Institute CAPAZ) and Juan Pablo Aranguren Romero (University of the Andes, Colombia) for the great collaboration. Also, thanks to the Research Center “Transformations of Political Violence” (TraCe) for supporting the project [grant number 01UG2203A], funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Find here the conference report on the process and findings, co-authored with my colleague Claudia Maya (Research Associate, German-Colombian Peace Institute CAPAZ), written in Spanish and with an executive summary in English. (Downloadable under this link: https://lnkd.in/eaERm6u8) In case of interest in further details and/or in thinking together about new projects on this or related topics, get in touch. #conflictmemory #transitionaljustice #media #journalists #colombia #massatrocities #peacebuildnig #conflicttransformation #globalsouth

If you read Spanish and are interested in Africa, you may want to check out the most recent issue, No. 117, of the Cuban journal "Temas," which is widely read across Latin America. Its "in focus" thematic section is devoted to "Africa Hoy" (Africa today). I was the invited guest editor. Below are two links. The first is to the home page for the issue. If you want to download a PDF of the issue or any of its articles, you'll need to register, however: https://lnkd.in/exm2sM2r The second is a link to a presentation about the issue before an audience of academics and African diplomats at the Writer's Union (UNEAC) in Havana last month: https://lnkd.in/e24rwXKd

Did #Palestine ever have a chance to gain its full rights as a state? In this article Ardi Imseis presents some of the conclusions of his most recent book, arguing that the history of the United Nations actions "𝑜𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑒’𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑗𝑢𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚." A must-read article. #freepalestine #ceasefirenow #stopthegenocide

The CAQ is taking Quebec back to the Duplessis era - and they are loving it. Premier Duplessis targeted Jehovah Witnesses and passed the Padlock law. No Charter of Rights existed at that time that could stand in Duplessis' way. Premier Legault has targeted hijab wearing Muslim women and passed Bill 21. Legault invoked the notwithstanding clause and kicked the Québec and Canadian Charter of Rights out of his way. Do you see any difference? I do and it is not encouraging. In 1957 the Supreme Court of Canada found a way to invalidate the Padlock Law even though it had no charter of rights to work with. In 2024 it is looking like the Supreme Court of Canada will not be able to invalidate Bill 21 even though we have a Québec and Canadian Charter of Rights. So from a human rights perspective, things are worse under the CAQ than they they were under the Duplessis government. The CAQ has made Québec a charter free zone. If this is not the Quebec of tomorrow that you want for yourself and your family- say so, get active now and vote accordingly in 2026- and get others to do the same. Democracy is not a spectator sport.

“There is much to criticise [about Hamas] but the idea that the organisation's political ideology is "radical" or "fundamentalist" is absurd. It is a total fabrication designed to delegitimise the Palestinian struggle against foreign colonial occupation and it does an enormous disservice to women experiencing serious oppression all over the world. The problem with getting your information from publications that inevitably have political agendas is that you don't get any information at all, just harmful stereotypes, and the opinions you subsequently form about organisations you personally know nothing about are based on just that... Nothing but harmful stereotypes. I highly recommend Louis Brehony's book on Palestinian Music in Exile for a well-researched, critical perspective on music practice in Gaza, the role of Hamas, and the impact of conservatism. Khaled Hroub's book "Hamas: A Beginner's Guide" is also a must read for anyone who cares to know anything about the organisation they are currently hearing so much about. It helps to demystify things if you don't want to come across like (bzw. be) a total racist”.

Here is a summary of the key points and promises from Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration speech that he delivered on 19 June #SouthAfrica #Featured #Important #Presidency #CyrilRamaphosa

What just happened?! 👀 Last week, New Zealand’s Parliament was briefly suspended after Māori MPs performed a haka in protest against a controversial bill that seeks to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi. Signed in 1840, the Treaty established a governance framework between the British Crown and Māori chiefs, and its clauses continue to influence laws today. The proposed bill, introduced by the ACT New Zealand Party, aims to narrow the interpretation of the Treaty, a move critics argue would undermine Māori rights. Many Māori and supporters view this as a setback in their fight for justice and equality. The haka, a traditional Māori dance, was a powerful act of defiance by Te Pati Māori MPs, drawing attention to their opposition. Additionally, thousands are marching from the country’s north to Wellington to protest this legislation. While the bill is unlikely to pass, this moment highlights the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights in New Zealand. What do you think about it? Do you think it was the right thing to do in this context or was it out of line? 🤔 Sources: CNN, Le Média Positif

Sound advice in this article - leave foreign enmities at the door: https://lnkd.in/gDWytWye

A Principled Stand for Peace: Backing EU High Representative Josep Borrell's Condemnation of Annexation Rhetoric In a decisive and necessary move, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell’s condemnation of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s call to “apply sovereignty” in the West Bank underscores Europe’s commitment to peace and the rule of international law. Borrell’s remarks highlight the urgent need to address the deepening crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, where escalating violence, forced displacements, and civilian casualties demand a global response. His words resonate as a call to the international community to resist any actions that undermine human rights and violate established legal principles. Minister Smotrich’s rhetoric advocating for West Bank sovereignty signals an intent to normalize annexation, a step that, as Borrell aptly asserts, contravenes international law. Such unilateral moves dismantle the fragile framework for a two-state solution, making a fair and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict increasingly elusive. In sidelining Palestinian rights, this stance not only destabilizes the region further but also robs millions of Palestinians of fundamental rights—security, self-determination, and dignity. Borrell’s condemnation also spotlights the humanitarian toll on Palestinian civilians, especially in Gaza, where the mounting casualty count calls for urgent international attention. His reference to “ethnic cleansing” underscores the systematic nature of the violence, framing the situation as a profound moral issue that transcends regional politics. This crisis challenges the world to stand for universal values of justice and human rights. In reaffirming these values, the EU signals its commitment to a rules-based order where peace is built on respect for all people’s rights. As a global leader, the EU’s position against illegal annexation rhetoric is critical to curbing actions that would deepen occupation and impede peace. Borrell’s statement conveys that the EU will not remain passive in the face of actions that threaten any pathway to a just solution. In supporting Borrell’s condemnation, we reinforce a united international voice dedicated to upholding human rights, international law, and a balanced resolution to this protracted conflict.