Parliaments have in general not been front and centre in peace-building theory and literature, and to speak about them in the context of peace-building remains exceptional. And yet the international community has long recognized a causal relationship between strong democratic domestic institutions and peace.

The event, organized jointly by UNDP and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), will reflect on the role of parliaments as a space of dialogue and voice. It will present evidence that when this role is unfulfilled, the root causes of conflict can be exacerbated, societal divisions increase, and tensions worsened. This evidence includes WFD’s research on parliamentary action in transitional and conflict settings, and programmatic initiatives such as UNDP’s project on the parliamentary dimension of Women, Peace and Security.

The discussion will seek to draw greater attention to the multidimensional relationship between parliaments and peacebuilding, and benefit practitioners by identifying important considerations and potential benefits of parliamentary engagement in this area.

Speakers

Hon. Mobina Jaffer, Member of the Senate of Canada 

Professor Nina Caspersen, Head of the Politics Department, University of York  

Charles Chauvel, Global Lead, Inclusive Processes and Institutions, UNDP 

Discussant: Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, CEO, International Civil Society Action Network 

Moderators

Sarah Lister, Director of Governance, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP 

Anthony Smith, Chief Executive, Westminster Foundation for Democracy    

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Agata Walczak.