The speakers of the Geneva Peace Talks 2015, to be held on 18 September 2015 at 16:30 at the Palais des Nations, include people working to build peace at home and abroad in in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe. All will address the theme, ‘It’s time for peace!’ The speakers include:

Lieutenant Antonio Dovizio of the Italian Navy just finished his mission as Commanding Officer of a vessel involved in Mare Nostrum Operation, Frontex Joint Operation Triton, Mare Sicuro Operation and the Sicily Channel patrol operation – rescuing more than 5,400 people in the Mediterranean Sea.

Tareke Brhane crossed the Mediterranean to escape violence and imprisonment in Eritrea, reaching Sicily in 2005 on his second attempt to reach safety. Now based in Rome, he helps asylum seekers and works for European recognition for migrants who die at sea.

Rashad Ali, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, works on de-radicalization initiatives that he carries out together with police and community groups, prisons and probation programmes. He works across Europe.

Rim Turkmani co-founded the Syrian Civil Coalition that supports the role of Syrian civil society in peace and democratic transition. A Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), she has published extensively on diverse aspects of the war in Syria.

Ebba Åkerman started United Invitations with a simple idea: to host dinners where longtime Swedish residents and immigrants could get to know each other. Now an international movement, it promotes the inclusion of immigrants in European societies.

Helena Puig Larrauri co-founded Build Up, which uses technology to bring more people into processes that deal with conflict and build peace. She’s worked in such countries as Sudan, South Sudan, Libya, Cyprus, Nepal, Somalia and Iraq.

Alexia Bonato and Isabelle Zakman are in daily contact with underprivileged and migrant children and families in Geneva. As Geneva Red Cross Youth coordinator and volunteer, they will share what they are learning about what it takes to build peace at home.

Marina Peter worked with the South Sudan Forum e.V. for more than two decades and knows firsthand that peacebuilding is a long-term commitment. She brings a grassroots ecumenical perspective to addressing complex issues on the path to a sustainable peace.

Eliezer Rabinovici is a Professor of Particle Physics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and co-founder of SESAME, a ‘third-generation’ synchrotron light source and cooperative venture by scientists and governments across the Middle East set up on the model of CERN.

Father Greg Boyle helps former gang members in Los Angeles reintegrate into society after prison by providing training and job opportunities through his organization, Homeboy Industries.

Séverin Yao Kouamé is research professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at the University of Bouaké in Côte d’Ivoire and an expert on local capacities for resilience and innovation in rural economies faced with state disengagement and weakness.

Sean Altshuler and Tyler Wolf are co-founders of Time-Peace, a watch company based in Brooklyn, New York, that seeks to remind people through its unique timepieces to live in the present moment in order to manifest peace in our lives and in our societies.

For full biographies of the speakers, click here.

ALSO FEATURING

Gabriele Schlipf is an artistic live interpreter who turns spoken words into accessible images through her company, MOMIK-Graphic Recording. She visually summarizes discussions at congresses, debates and workshops on topics in business, science, politics and culture.

Linley Constant is a young Mauritian author, composer, performer and music enthusiast with extensive stage experience. He joined the Ecole des musiques actuelles et des technologies musicales (ETM) to perfect his skills.

Giulio Valente is a 19-year old singer and guitarist, and student in the pre-professional track at the ETM. He is a member of the rock band "Lack of Space" and defines himself as an incorrigible dreamer and artistic creator.

Geneva Peace Talks
18 September 2015
16:30-18:30 followed by a reception
Palais des Nations
Room XIX

ABOUT THE PEACE TALKS

Launched in 2013, the Geneva Peace Talks is an annual, public event organized on the occasion of the International Day of Peace in partnership between the United Nations Office at Geneva, the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform and Interpeace.

The Peace Talks aims to make the issue of peace more understandable and accessible to a wider public by bringing together speakers from different sectors to share their personal stories, ideas and practical solutions to resolve conflict. Each speaker gives an 8-minute inspirational talk known as a “Peace Talk”. The event aims to highlight that everyone can contribute to peace.

You can also follow the Geneva Peace Talks at #GenevaPeaceTalks and at: www.genevapeacetalks.ch