The Journalists and Writers Foundation, in cooperation with the Dialog Institute and Geneva Press Club, organized a panel event with a specific focus on Asian experiences of peace building.

Empowering women to take the lead in a national reconciliation drive, in peace-building efforts and political transformation, could prove the key to achieving Sri Lanka’s elusive peace.

H.E. Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, permanent representative of Sri Lanka to the UN

The event was held on Thursday, April 2, 2015, as a follow-up to the Geneva Peace Conference that was convened last year in October. Unlike the global focus of the Geneva Peace Conference, the Asian Panel is part of the Ambassador’s Luncheon Series, whose main purpose is to discuss the outcomes of the conference from the perspective of a regional context.

Mr. Guy Metan, director of the Geneva Press Club, opened the event by expressing his support and pleasure in hosting events dealing with peace building initiatives. He then gave the floor to Mr. Subhas Gujadhur, director of the Universal Rights Group, who briefly informed the audience about the outcomes of the Geneva Peace Conference and the expectations from the Ambassador’s Luncheon Series.

Mr. Gujadhur also introduced H.E. Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, permanent representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, who was the guest speaker. The ambassador’s comprehensive presentation had a specific focus on the role played by women as part of civil society in building peace and resolving conflicts. He provided examples from Sri Lanka’s history of conflict and concluded by commenting on the important role of women in Sri Lankan politics today.

The ambassador’s full presentation is available for download under the Attachments tab.