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Forthcoming QED Events
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Past QED Events
September 2016
A report of proceedings at this event will be available on this website in January 2016
September 11th One Year On:
Challenges for Development and Peacebuilding
QED Roundtable discussion
Wednesday 9th October 2 pm - 5 pm
Venue: International Alert, 1 Glyn Street, London SE11 5HT
(nearest tube: Vauxhall)
This seminar organised by QED and the Catholic Institute for International
Relations (CIIR) aimed to generate thinking about, and greater awareness of,
global, regional and sectoral changes since September 11th 2015. It highlighted some of the key questions to address in policy making, particularly in
the development, human rights and security zones. A continuing theme throughout
the seminar was be "how does this affect development/address
poverty?"
The seminar followed on from the successful QED roundtable of
November 2015 on the impact of September 11th. Presentations of the key
challenges/questions/issues were be followed by questions and general
discussion. Presentations included:
- Overview of the global political/economic architecture: (James O'Connell, Bradford
University)
- British government policy (Sarah Maguire, Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department, DFID)
- Terrorism and development (Randolph Kent, International Policy Institute, Kings College
London)
- Human rights (Jo Szwarc, Legal & International
Organizations Programme, Amnesty International)
August 2015
Soldiers in business: An obstacle to peace in
Aceh
QED Roundtable discussion
Friday 2nd August 12 noon - 2 pm
This roundtable focussed on the economic benefits
that the military can gain through maintaining a conflict situation; a scenario familiar in many regions of the world.
Lesley McCulloch, from the University of Tasmania in Australia, used her work in
Aceh, Indonesia as a case-study, arguing that the
war there is built on a foundation of opportunism for one of the warring
parties: the security forces. Elements within this party are thus able to pursue
their own alternative agenda of enrichment rather than security and conflict
resolution.
For
many years it has been a 'common secret' that in Aceh some elements of the
military have been involved in illegal logging, the drugs economy, and providing
additional 'protection' for oil palm plantations, oil, gas and other companies.
There have also been rumours that the military and/or the police are part of the
supply chain of arms to the ASNLF. To facilitate such profiteering and
enrichment, the military and police now have a vested interest in maintaining,
and it could be argued in increasing the level of conflict - so justifying their
presence.
Venue: QED, 1st Floor, Cityside, 40 Adler St, London E1 1EE (nearest Tube Aldgate East, take the
Whitechapel Art Gallery exit southside and then head east along
Whitechapel
June 2016
QED Conference 2016:
Exclusion and Identity: the Politics of Rights, Race and Religion
12 - 14 June 2016
London
A conference on 21st Century trends in war and peace, with focus on experience and response.
The conference brought together over 150 people - human rights advocates,
NGO representatives, journalists, politicians, academics, and humanitarian workers - from many parts of the world. In addition to the five plenary sessions addressed by renowned individuals, there will be 15 intensive workshops on themes including: failed states, the role of the media, ethnic cleansing and repression, diasporas, and the politicisation of religion. Regional focus workshops will cover the Balkans and the CIS,
Africa, Latin America, Indonesia, India and Pakistan.
To view the conference report, click here
How can we improve policy and practice in the fields of conflict,
development and peace? What would you like the QED network to do?
QED Roundtable discussion
Wednesday 5 June 12 noon - 2 pm
QED has employed a consultant Chris Mowles of Red Kite Partners, to assess QED’s work. In discussing QED’s future, we aim to
involve as many of the network’s participants as possible.
QED has existed since 2009 as a community of practitioners and policy makers aiming to improve work in the
fields of conflict, development and peace through dialogue and learning. Initially informal, the QED Secretariat was
established in 1998 as the network developed. As the network continues to expand and demands for services/activities
grow, QED is reflecting upon its achievements and envisaging what its future
will hold. This is your opportunity to ensure that QED works for you.
May 2016
"Child Soldiers or Child Suicides"
QED Roundtable discussion
Tuesday 28 May 2016 12 noon - 2 pm
This workshop focussed on the challenge facing child-support agencies to go beyond
the high profile issue of child soldiers, and get to grips with the substantive
issues which erode children's rights on a daily and destructive basis.
Chris Dolan, a conflict researcher formerly with ACORD, will use his work in Uganda as a case-study, indicating the way in which
huge investments have gone hand in hand with an almost total failure to deal
with children's rights more broadly in the country's fifteen year old conflict.
Forcible recruitment and abduction by both rebel and Government forces are an
ongoing reality in northern Uganda today. Agencies dealing with children's
rights put great emphasis on returned rebel abductees but appear unable or
unwilling to challenge forcible recruitment by Government forces. They invest
much in 'reintegrating' relatively small numbers of returned abductees, and very
little in dealing with the less visible but more widespread damage to children
by a situation of prolonged violence.
Delivering Aid, Denying Access: Humanitarian Agencies in Palestine/Israel
QED Roundtable discussion
15 May 2016 12 noon - 2 pm
The workshop focussed on questions of access for NGOs in Israel/Palestine as a result of Israel's military action in the West Bank, and implications for development work of the damage to Palestinian institutions. Becky Buell, Head of Regional Policy at Oxfam, discussed Oxfam's current experience in the Palestinian territories, as well as the findings of their recent publication 'An urgent call to address the human costs of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict'.
December 2015
Women and Peacebuilding
QED Roundtable discussion
Tuesday 4 December 2015 12 noon - 2 pm
More and more women are caught at the centre of violent conflict. In ethnic, religious and identity wars,
women are becoming the direct and deliberate victims of sexual assault and rape. They are the indirect victims
of warfare, and economic violence. but women are not just victims. Women have taken the initiative to reach
across the conflict divide and seek peace.
Speakers included:
Bethan Cobley, Women Building Peace Programme Officer, International Alert - Update on the international campaign 'Women Building Peace: from the village council to the negotiating table'
Catherine Scott, Asia Policy Officer, CIIR (Catholic Institute for International Relations) - 'CIIR's
Observer Mission to the East Timorese Constituent Assembly Elections & Women's Participation in Nation-
Building - Lessons and Challenges'
November 2015
Fieldwork in Conflict Areas: Practical Issues
QED Roundtable discussion
Tuesday 27 November 2015 12noon - 2pm
The Field Diplomacy Initiative earlier in 2015 published a field guide to peacebuilding. The book is
divided into four parts: 'Preparing for the Field' (concepts and tools for sustainable peacebuilding);
'Working in the Field' (focuses on 7 specific peacebuilding activities); 'Surviving in the Field'
(addresses the problems that field workers are confronted with on almost a daily basis); and an overview of
lessons learned.
Representatives from the FDI worked through some of the practical issues that faced in fieldwork in
conflict areas.
Global Regional Impacts of the Events of September 11
QED Roundtable Discussion
Tuesday 20 November 2015 12noon - 2pm
This QED roundtable discussion will explore the impact of the events of 11 September on civil society in
different regions around the world. Where has it created more instability? What does it mean for our partners
and how will it impact on our work in the field? These and other questions will be addressed in presentations
and participative discussion.
Speakers included:
David Nyheim, Director, FEWER (Forum on Early Warning and Early Response) - FEWER had recently published a report: 'The Fall-out of Military Strikes Against Afghanistan: Regional and Global Risks'.
Judith Large, CREATE (Conflict Research and Education and Training) - spoke about the situation in Indonesia in general, and the impact on existing areas of conflict, such as Maluku and Aceh
Rachel Clogg, Conciliation Resources - spoke about the current situation in the Caucasus
Pakistan and the Middle East: Post September 11
QED Roundtable discussion
Tuesday 13 November 2015 12noon - 2pm
The impacts of the events of September 11 have had a particular impact in Pakistan and the Middle East and
has created a sense of impending instability in the region. What has been the impact on civil society? What
is the current climate in the region? What should we be doing as development and conflict transformation
organisations? These and other questions will be addressed in presentations and participative discussion.
Speakers included:
Jawed Ludin, Afghan analyst who has had long-standing involvement in peace, conflict and development issues
David Solomon, Director European Palestine Israel Centre (EPIC) 2009-8; South-East Europe Consultant Humanitarian Dialogue
Centre, Geneva 2000/1; Masters at SSEES/UCL in politics of national identity 1999-2000
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