Just Peace Festival

Just Peace Dialogue: Imagining Peace

Date: Monday 16 June 2025
Time: 16:00 - 19:00
Location: Wijnhaven
Turfmarkt 99
2511 DP The Hague
Room: Spanish Steps

Amidst today’s armed conflicts, authoritarian governments, cyber-attacks, organized crime, economic insecurity, and ecological destruction, it can be hard to imagine peace. What do we mean by ‘peace’, beyond the absence of war? What kind of peace are we seeking? What makes people and society at peace? What path(s) can bring us to peace? This dialogue brings together leading thinkers who push us to get clearer and more creative about peace.

This is the opening panel for the Just Peace Dialogues, a series of public forum discussions on key topics for building peace in today's world.

Opening words will be given by Mariëlle Vavier (Deputy Mayor of The Hague), Jill Wilkinson (Managing Director Hague Humanity Hub) and Koen Caminada (Dean Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, Leiden University).

We are grateful for cooperation with the Hague Peace Projects in organising the Imagining Peace Dialogue.

Registration is required. Tickets are free. Get yours here.

The Just Peace Dialogues will be held in English with simultaneous translation into Dutch.

Meet the Panel

Baukje Harmsma, Youth Activist for Peace

Baukje Harmsma is a student of the MA International Relations programme in Leiden. She is a political activist for Palestine, climate justice, decolonisation and peace. As part of the pacifist wing of GroenLinks/PvdA, Baukje advocates for a strong stance for peace and disarmament. She is also a critical voice in the debate on the normalisation of militarism and the militarisation of society.

Joachim Koops, Leiden University

Joachim A. Koops is Professor of Security Studies and Jean Monnet Chair on the Role of the European Union in Security and Global Affairs at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs of Leiden University. In addition, he is also serving as the Chair of the Global Governance Institute (GGI) in Brussels where he coordinates the Global Alliance for Peace Operations. Joachim’s research focuses on regional and global governance approaches to peace, security and diplomacy with a particular emphasis on EU foreign policy and United Nations peacekeeping.

Rugiatu Neneh Turay-Koroma, N’NINKIE Project

Rugiatu Neneh Turay is a Sierra Leonean changemaker, civic society leader, and former Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, known for her grassroots and policy-level work on women’s rights, anti-corruption, and community-led development. She founded the Amazonian Initiative Movement to end FGM through culturally respectful, non-violent alternatives, and co-leads N’NINKIE, promoting locally driven solutions for structural change and true empowerment for all groups in society. A 2024 Hrant Dink Award recipient, Neneh believes, “The world needs peace and peace, like change, can only come from within.”

Lidija Zelovic, Producer and Director at Zelovic Film

Lidija Zelovic is the creative producer at Zelovic Film. She worked for years as executive producer and researcher for BBC and Channel 4 and has been producing Zelovic Film for 15 years. From 2012 to 2016 she took place in the documentary advisory committee at the Media Fund. Her latest award-winning documentary, 'Home Game' (2024), warns against the violent consequences of social polarization.

Schedule:

15.30 Doors open
16:00-16:15 Welcome from Mariëlle Vavier (Deputy Mayor of The Hague), Jill Wilkinson (Managing Director Hague Humanity Hub) and Koen Caminada (Dean Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, Leiden University)
16.15-17.00 Roundtable
17.00-18.00 Breakout Groups
18.00-19.00 Borrel

Register for this event

The Just Peace Dialogues are a free event hosted by Leiden University. Space is limited, therefore registration is required for all Just Peace Dialogues.

The Just Peace Dialogues are a set of meetings for public deliberation of key aspects of building peace in today’s world. The dialogues are held from 16 to 22 of June and address each of the festival’s six main themes. The aim is stimulate creative discussion about conditions for a just peace in contemporary society.

The dialogues are:

Imagining Peace (16 June 2025 16:00 - 19:00);
Peace in Europe (17 June 2025 16:00 - 19:00);
Peace in Sudan (18 June 2025 16:00 - 19:00);
Peace in Israel-Palestine (19 June 16:00 - 19:00);
Democracy and Peace (20 June 2025 16:00 - 19:00);
Cybersecurity and Peace (21 June 14:00 - 17:15);
Climate and Peace (22 June 14:00 - 17:15).

Learn more about the Just Peace Festival

global transformations and governance challenges