Geneva Peacebuilding Platform

02/09/2026

🎤 Share your story at the Geneva Peace Forum
This year, the Geneva Peace Forum is opening the stage to participants who would like to share a personal story, lived experience or reflection on peace, dialogue, resilience, identity or hope.

🎙️During the Open Mic Session: Voices for Peace, six selected participants will each have up to five minutes to take the microphone and share something meaningful—whether intimate, difficult, inspiring, unexpected or thought-provoking. Whether your story is personal, challenging or inspiring, your voice can help build understanding and encourage meaningful conversations.

📩 Would you like to participate?
If you will be attending GPF26 in person, send your proposed speech of no more than five minutes to [email protected] by 9 September 2026.

Selected participants will be invited to share their story live during the Forum during an open mic session jointly organised by the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation and the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform & Geneva Peace Forum.

👉Learn more and submit your story: https://www.genevapeaceforum.ch/en/gpf26/call-for-stories-open-mic-session-take-the-stage-at-the-geneva-peace-forum-2026

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26/08/2026

Would you like to experience one of the world's longest-running peace forums from behind the scenes?

🙋 The is looking for enthusiastic volunteers and event assistants to help welcome participants from around the world and support the delivery of the Forum from 12 to 15 October 2026 at the CICG in Geneva.

As part of the team, you will have the opportunity to contribute to an international event bringing together representatives from governments, the United Nations, international organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector to exchange ideas and advance peace in action.

Whether you are interested in event management, communications, international affairs or simply want to gain valuable professional experience, this is a unique opportunity to develop new skills, expand your network and play an active role in making a success.

📅 Application deadline : 16 September 2026 at midnight.

🤝 Apply today and join us in shaping an inspiring and inclusive experience for participants from around the world.

🔗 Learn more and apply at https://www.genevapeaceforum.ch/en/about-us/job-opportunities

07/07/2026

🌍 From 22 to 26 June 2026, the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform (GPP) contributed to the inaugural UN in New York, engaging in strategic discussions on strengthening multilateral cooperation and advancing innovative approaches to sustaining peace.

Together with our partners, we co-organised two high-level side events exploring:
🤝 How stronger connections between global peacebuilding hubs can foster more inclusive and effective multilateral action. Organized with The Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York and the International Peace Institute (IPI).
💼 The critical role of decent work in preventing conflict and sustaining peace. Organized by the International Labour Organization.

These discussions reaffirmed Geneva's unique role in connecting policymakers, practitioners, researchers and international organisations to advance innovative, evidence-based approaches to peacebuilding.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.gpplatform.ch/en/events-and-news/news/the-geneva-peacebuilding-platform-contributes-to-the-first-un-peacebuilding-week-in-new-york

Coypright: The Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York

03/07/2026

25/06/2026

📢 Join the online webinar "The Business of War: Arms, Finances and Extraterritorial Obligations (ETOs)" with Florence Foster, Special Adviser to the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform (GPP), who will be moderating this timely discussion alongside leading experts Attiya Waris and Shahd Hammouri.

📰 Date: 29 June 2026�🕒 Time: 14:00–15:00 CET�
As conflicts and humanitarian crises continue to unfold across the globe, this webinar will examine the interconnected roles of States, corporations, and financial institutions in shaping contemporary conflicts and explore how Extraterritorial Obligations (ETOs) can strengthen accountability and advance human rights.

Register:

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Arms, Finance, and Extraterritorial Obligations. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

24/06/2026

Today, the International Labour Organization, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, the United Nations Peacebuilding and Peace Support (PBPSO-DPO), Switzerland, and Colombia together with ISDC - International Security and Development Center and the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, organised a high-level side event on "The Road Ahead: Sustaining Peace through Decent Work" as part of in New York.

Marking ten years since the Joint ILO/UNDP/PBPSO/World Bank Statement on Jobs Aid Peace, the discussion brought together distinguished speakers and participants to reflect on how decent work can contribute to prevention, recovery, and sustainable peace.

The discussion was facilitated by the GPP's Executive Director, Dr Annyssa Bellal and included the following speakers:

▶️ Ms Beate Andrees, Assistant Director-General for the Regions and Director of the Office of the Director-General at International Labour Organization (ILO)

▶️ H.E. Valérie Berset Bircher, Ambassador and Head of International Labour Affairs, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) Switzerland

▶️ H.E. Gustavo Gallón, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations Office at Geneva

▶️ Ms Shoko Noda, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Crisis Bureau, UN Development Programme (UNDP)

▶️ Mr Frank Hagemann, Director, Partnerships Department, International Labour Organization (ILO)

▶️ Mr Brian Williams, Chief, Peacebuilding Fund Branch, UN Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office (UN-PBPSO/DPPA-DPO)

▶️ Ms Andrea Aeby, Counselor, Peace & Security, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN Office at Geneva

▶️ Dr Neil Ferguson, Director, Peacebuilding Research Program, International Security and Development Center (ISDC), keynote speaker.

16/06/2026

16/06/2026

As the Geneva Peace Forum Meets Vienna comes to a close, today’s final plenary on “Bridging Multilateral Ecosystems for Peace and Security” offered an important opportunity to reflect on how Geneva and Vienna-based actors, states, and partners can strengthen collaboration across the peace and security landscape.

Speakers included:

▶️ Ambassador Carl Hallergard, Head of Delegation to the International Organisations in Vienna, European Union

▶️Ambassador Salman Bal, Liaison Officer to the OSCE – The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Secretariat, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the OSCE, the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna

▶️Ambassador Nathalie Chuard, Director, DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance

▶️Ms. Elena Sokova, Executive Director, Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP)

▶️Dr. Loïc Simonet, Research Fellow, Austrian Institute for International Affairs

▶️Dr. Peter Batchelor, Special Advisor, Geneva Peacebuilding Platform

▶️Dr Annyssa Bellal, Executive Director, Geneva Peacebuilding Platform

Throughout the day, discussions highlighted the importance of overcoming institutional and thematic silos, fostering stronger partnerships, and advancing more coherent and connected multilateral engagement to address today’s complex global challenges.

🙏 We extend our sincere thanks to our co-organisers, Österreichisches Institut für internationale Politik - oiip and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, as well as to all partner organizations, speakers, moderators, participants, and everyone who contributed to making this event possible and a success.

15/06/2026

📘 2025 Activity Report is out now!

We are pleased to share the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform’s 2025 Activity Report, capturing a year of strengthened dialogue, expanded partnerships, and meaningful engagement.

Key highlights of 2025 include:
• The 12th edition of Geneva Peace Week
• Geneva Peace Week meets Addis Ababa (2nd edition)
• A wide range of events strengthening partnerships
• Sustaining and deepening the Geneva–New York connection
• Continued efforts to strengthen multilateralism
• Ongoing growth and diversification of our global network

Looking ahead, the report also highlights an important moment of transition as we prepare for 2026 and the evolution toward the Geneva Peace Forum, marking a new chapter in our convening role and community engagement.

👉 Read the full report: https://www.gpplatform.ch/en/publications/2025-activity-report

11/06/2026

Join us on 16 June at the Palais des Nations in Geneva for a high-level discussion on advancing gender equality in and through sport.

Organised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Qatar Sports Investments, the Qatar Olympic Committee, the State of Qatar, Qatar Foundation, the International Centre for Sport Security, and the Geneva Peace Forum & Geneva Peacebuilding Platform (GPP), this event will bring together leading voices from sport, international organisations, media, and security to explore how we can turn commitments into meaningful action.

🎤 Moderated by the GPP’s Executive Director, Dr Annyssa Bellal, the event will feature a keynote address by Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), opening remarks from International Labour Organization Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, followed by a panel discussion with distinguished leaders from across sectors.

📍 Palais des Nations, Room XVI (Building A, 5th floor)�🕚 16 June 2026 I 11:00–12:30

The discussion will be followed by a photo exhibition and reception.

🔗 Register now: https://indico.un.org/event/1024173/