Cambodia's journey from war towards peace: Reflections from Cambodian peacebuilders on the 30-year anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements

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The Initiative for Peacebuilding, in collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS), will host a two-hour Zoom event on Monday 25th October, 2-4pm AEDT / 10am – 12pm ICT. This panel discussion coincides with the 30-year anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements (PPA), which represented a turning point for Cambodia’s post-war transition towards peace. Cambodian peacebuilders will share their experiences and reflections on Cambodia’s journey from war towards peace and reconciliation.

Since the PPA, Cambodians have led peacebuilding efforts that helped to refocus on the future, build relationships and adopt alternatives to violence. Cambodia’s anti-landmines campaign, weapons reduction efforts and conflict transformation programs are some examples. As the country looks forward, many have focused on the two-thirds of the population who are youth. Youth for Peace (YFP) and the Alliance for Conflict Transformation are illustrative of local non-governmental organisations focused on supporting young people to help transform the legacy of past conflicts. The Cambodia Peace Museum, a project of CPCS, was launched on the 27th anniversary of the PPA, and is a space for learning and reflecting on Cambodia’s journey from conflict to peace and highlights the resilience of Cambodia’s people in transforming conflict and overcoming adversity.

About the panel:

  • Soth Plai Ngarm, the creator of the Cambodian Peace Museum, will lead this panel reflecting on Cambodia’s war to peace journey.
  • Huot Thavory, Sotheavy Srey (ACT) and Khet Long are representative of locally-led peacebuilding movements and they will share their intergenerational reflections on Cambodia’s longer-term efforts for conflict transformation, social healing and peace.

Presentations:

  • Tania Miletic (Initiative for Peacebuilding), Welcome and Opening, 10am – 10.10 ICT / 2 – 2.10pm AEDT
  • Soth Plai Ngarm (CPCS and Cambodia Peace Museum Visionary), From War towards Peace, 10.10 – 10.25am ICT / 2.10pm – 2.25pm AEDT
  • Screening of Behind the Vision produced by Karlos Malupig on the Cambodia Peace Gallery Vision, 10.25 – 10.40am ICT / 2.25 – 2.40pm AEDT
  • Huot Thavory (Khmer Ahimsa), From war to non-violence, 10.45 – 11am ICT / 2.45pm – 3pm AEDT
  • Long Khet, Cambodian Peace Learning Centres and Youth for Peace, Youth focused peacebuilding - looking forward from the past, 11 – 11.15am ICT / 3pm – 3.15pm AEDT
  • Sotheavy Srey (Director of The Alliance for Conflict Transformation), Longer-term peacebuilding, 11.15 – 11.30am ICT / 3.15 – 3.30pm AEDT
  • Q&A with the audience moderated by Tania Miletic, 11.30 – 11.45 ICT / 3.30pm – 3.45pm
  • Soth Plai Ngarm, Closing remarks on Reconciliation and Healing, 11.45 – 11.55am ICT / 3.45pm – 3.55pm AEDT
  • Acknowledgements and Close, 12pm ICT / 4pm AEDT

Download the event program:

The event program can be downloaded in PDF format.