Peace and Migration: Cross-Regional Perspectives

While Middle Eastern countries struggle under the weight of millions of refugees, European nations offer opened doors or high fences. Today's crises raise questions of economic survival and cultural identity. Is migration a right? Is hospitality an obligation? How to balance the needs for integration and the preservation of one's native culture? Panelists will address these questions and recommend principles, policies and action steps that can lead to sustainable models for peaceful coexistence.

Moderator:  Mr. David Fraser Harris, Secretary General, UPF Middle East and North Africa

Speakers:

• Werner Fasslabend, Minister of Defence (1999-2000), Austria
• Ulla Sandbaek, Member of Parliament, Denmark
• Mohammad Al Antaki, Secretary General, Integrated Community Based Initiative, Jordan
• Paulo Pisco, Member of Parliament, Portugal
• Antonio Stango, Secretary General, Italian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights

Addressing Peace and Security Challenges through Trade and Economic Integration

Integration processes in Eurasia are a strategic priority for Russian foreign policy, while integration with the western part of the former Soviet Union is a European Union foreign policy objective. Sharing common security challenges and threats, such as conflicts in the Middle East, Europe and Eurasia have a clear interest in cooperating and meeting the challenges and opportunities aroused by Asia’s export economies, notably with regard to the ambitious Chinese Silk Road Economic Belt project.

In this session, panelists will assess the challenges and opportunities offered by trade and economic integration between Europe and Eurasia, and the opening of trade routes toward Asia and beyond.

Moderator:  Mr. Robin Marsh, Secretary General, UPF United Kingdom

Speakers:

• Vladimir Petrovsky, Russian International Affairs Council, Russian Federation
• Katsumi Otsuka, Chair, UPF Eurasia
• Victor Razbegin, Director, Interdepartmental Centre for Integrated Regional Transport Projects, Ministry of Economic Development, Russian Federation
• Ms. Madi Sharma, United Kingdom Representative, European Economic and Social Committee

Introduction to Peace Road 2016

The “Peace Road” is a global peace project aimed at actualizing the International Peace Highway originally proposed in 1981 by the UPF Founders, a modern “Silk Road” intended to make the world a single community. In recent years, symbolic Peace Road events have been held throughout the world. In February 2016, Peace Road activists began a symbolic ride at the North-South Korean border as a call for the Reunification of Korea and World Peace, with the support of parliamentarians from around the world. In London, parliamentarians will have the opportunity to support Peace Road riders engaged in the project in Europe.

Moderator:  Mr. Matthew Huish, National Director, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification – United Kingdom

Video presentation

Speakers:

• Maxim Misko, Chair, Belarus Peace Fund
• Issawi Frej, Member of the Knesset, Israel
• Gerardo Giovagnoli, Member of Parliament, San Marino

Overcoming Extremism and Promoting the Peaceful Resolution of Conflict: The Contribution of Religious Leadership

Session at the Parliament

A most pressing contemporary issue is violent religious extremism. What role can religious leadership play in confronting extremism? At what level can their cooperation with political leaders bring effective, lasting solutions to the current crisis? Panelists in this session will offer their perspective and recommend policies and action steps fostering a positive contribution of faith-based organisations and leaders in the prevention of extremism.

Moderator:  Rt. Hon. Tom Brake, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom

Speakers:

• The Rt. Rev. the Lord Robin Eames OM, House of Lords, United Kingdom
• E. Fatmir Sejdiu, President of Kosovo (2006-2010)
• Senator Latifa Gahouchi, Member of Parliament, Belgium
• Afzal Ashraf, Consultant Fellow, Royal United Services Institute, United Kingdom

International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace

Session at the Parliament

It is time for humanity to embrace universally shared values, going beyond differences of ideology, race, nationality, and religion, and pursuing a path of mutual cooperation and mutual prosperity. In this way it is possible to build a world of lasting and sustainable peace that can be bequeathed to future generations. In this session, parliamentarians will propose the formation of a world-level association of parliamentarians as a forum through which to work together for peace and human development.

Moderator:  Dr. Thomas Walsh, International President, Universal Peace Federation

Speakers:

• Keynote Address: Dr. Sun Jin Moon, International Chair, Universal Peace Federation
• Hon. Tom Brake, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
• Nina Novakova, Member of Parliament, Czech Republic
• Karlis Kreslins, Member of Parliament, Latvia
• Eleonora Bechis, Member of Parliament, Italy
• Silvio Parnis, Member of Parliament, Malta
• Hilik Bar, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, Israel

Family, Peace and Sustainable Development

                      The family is extremely important for social stability, and relevant to advancing all of the Sustainable Development Goals. How do stable and resilient families foster human development and social peace and prosperity? What family policies are conducive to sustainable development? Panelists in this session will give their perspective on the role of the family in peacebuilding, its impact on social stability and prosperity, and assess challenges in defining family policies for sustainable development.

Moderator:  Mr. Heiner Handschin, Director, UPF Office for UN Relations, Geneva

Speakers:

• Harry Benson, Research Director, the Marriage Foundation, United Kingdom
• Inga Bite, Member of Parliament, Latvia
• Baron Rajinder Loomba CBE, House of Lords, United Kingdom
• Ulviyya Aghayeva, Member of Parliament, Azerbaijan
• Antoine Renard, President, European Federation of Catholic Family Associations, France

Session VI-B: Media and Peacebuilding: The Impact of Social Media 

Social media have become a catch-all phrase for a spectrum that runs from word-of-mouth rumour to The New York Times and BBC live blogs. They are fast and can have immediate global repercussions. But how much do they really help or hinder efforts to build peace? Are they more relevant than the introduction of printing, radio, television or the Internet itself into fractious societies? To what extent should the law step in to regulate the messages they bring? Addressing these questions, panelists in this session will assess the impact of social media on peacebuilding. 

Moderator:  Mr. Humphrey Hawksley, BBC World Affairs Correspondent, United Kingdom

Speakers:

• Simon Holberton, Professor of Journalism, United Kingdom
• Predrag Vujovic, President, Public Relations Business School, Serbia
• Kiriakos Pierides, Journalist, Association for Social Reform (OPEK), Cyprus
• Zuheir Bahloul, Member of the Knesset, Israel

Women’s Leadership in the Prevention of Radicalization

                           In efforts toward the prevention of violent extremism, women play a crucial role. As mothers and wives, they may detect early signs of radicalization in the family. As members of the community, they highly value family protection, education and well-being. As leaders in society, they prioritize connectivity, inclusiveness and peaceful solutions to conflict. In this session, panelists will offer their thoughts and perspectives on the role of women’s empowerment and leadership in countering extremism and resisting radicalization.

Moderator:  Mrs. Carolyn Handschin, Vice President, Women’s Federation for World Peace International

Speakers:

• Alenka Jeraj, Vice President, Slovenian Democratic Party; former Member of Parliament, Slovenia
• Dilara Jabrayilova, Member of Parliament, Azerbaijan
• Roberto Rampi, Member of Parliament, Italy
• Ksenia Svetlova, Member of Parliament, Israel
• Flora Brovina, Member of Parliament, Kosovo