Peace is not the Absence of War but in Building Resilient Societies

On 11 June, The Just Peace Festival was inaugurated by the Mayor of the Hague Jan van Zanen, the Rector of Leiden University Prof. Annetje Ottow and The Managing Director of the Hague Humanity Hub, Jill Wilkinson at a well-attended event at Amare.

The opening launched the start of 2 weeks of events, dialogues, art exhibitions, performances and movie nights which will run parallel with preparations for the upcoming NATO summit, set to take place in the city in 2 weeks. The festival represents the significance of peace in the current state of the world and offers opportunities for civic engagement, cultural expressions and critical reflections on the global state of the peace to the general public, international organizations and policy makers.

Organized with the support of The Hague Humanity Hub, the Festival opening aimed to create space where people address the topic of increased military strategy of countries and the need for a more holistic version of security, one that includes human ,social and economic dimension.

Jill Wilkinson’s statement which called for a balanced vision of peace and security, set the tone for the evening and the festival as a whole, framing peace not only as a passive ideal but as an active ongoing effort requiring the commitment of all sectors of society.

In times where the focus is towards military and defence preparations there is a need for investment in policies which eliminate the social, economic and political roots of the conflict. This calls for political leaders, civil society, international institutions and concerned citizens to champion policies that recognise addressing the root cause and ensuring that pursuit for peace is a priority nationally and internationally. Additionally, there is increased investment in developing stable institutions, equitable economies, inclusive and just societies and the rule of law and recognise and support important contributions of peacebuilding and humanitarian organizations and professionals both in the Netherlands and worldwide.

Following the speeches, attendees got the chance to experience a powerful dance performance by the Slovak artist, interpreting themes of resilience and resistance. The program concluded with an artist talk, where creators of the visual art exhibition shared the stories behind their work, paintings that reflect the pain and harsh truth in current global conflicts.

As global tension mounts, the Just Peace Festival stands as a reminder: Peace is not found in the absence of war but in the resilience, inclusive and just societies. It can be achieved not only through security strategies but also through investment in justice, inclusion and dignity.

In the Hague that message has found both a platform and a community ready to carry it forward.

Read the full statement here: https://www.justpeacethehague.org/stand-for-just-peace?_locale=en