Just Peace Dialogue: Voices of the City

• Date: 18 September
• Time: 17:00 - 19:00
• Location: Amare- Spinoza Foyer

Please note that this event will be held in Dutch.

The world is changing rapidly, and with it the way we live together. Elections are approaching, and they will also have consequences for The Hague. Democratic institutions, international law, civil society, and human rights are under pressure worldwide – and increasingly here in the Netherlands. Freedoms and rights are being tested, while at the same time polarization in our society is growing. This can make it feel easier to think in terms of opposites. Precisely for this reason, the need for connection and collaboration is increasing. Not waiting, but taking the initiative ourselves. This brings us to the inevitable question: What can we, as citizens, do?

During this Just Peace Dialogue, organized in collaboration with Oxfam Novib, residents of The Hague – from students and neighborhood organizers to activists and policymakers – will engage in conversation about how we can make our voices heard, live out our values, and initiate change together. We will explore questions such as:

• What pressures do we experience today, and how has this changed in recent years? Can we do something about it together?

• How does polarization work, what can counter it, and how can we deal with differences of opinion without losing dialogue?

• What happens when we protest, and what does or does not work in creating social awareness?

• How can we organize effectively on a smaller, local scale?

We will explore how local initiatives in the political city of The Hague and beyond contribute to a more cohesive and resilient society. How we can strengthen connection and trust. And how everyone, from their own position, can contribute to a true City of Peace and Justice.

During this dialogue, we will speak with a panel of experts and engaged citizens in the fields of civic participation and social resilience. Manon Tiessink (Coalitie Schilderswijk), Yussuf Abdi (Hijaz Community) and Fakiha Ahmed (Oxfam Novib) will join us as speakers to share their knowledge and insights. After that, the discussion will be open to everyone: from activists and social organizations to journalists, policymakers, researchers, young people, and engaged citizens. The strength lies precisely in a respectful and open exchange of different perspectives, which can lead to greater mutual understanding and the emergence of new solutions

Manon Tiessink:
Manon lives and works in the well-known but beloved Schilderswijk in The Hague. She started as a volunteer, but soon embraced a role of active and radical participation: she became co-owner and leader of community spaces, redistributed resources, and took decisions. From managing community centers and gardens together with residents to building a grassroots coalition in the Schilderswijk and setting up a neighborhood cooperative – she is fully committed to the power of community and bottom-up change.

Fakiha Ahmed:
Fakiha Ahmed is a civil rights expert at Oxfam Novib. With a background in Peace and Conflict Studies and extensive experience with international organizations, she focuses on human rights and equality, bringing together policy and social dialogue to foster change.

Yussuf Abdi:
Lawyer and founder of Abdi Juristen and Lotus Legal BV. Active in the Hijaz community in The Hague, where he connects law and compassion. He believes that true peace begins with justice in daily life.

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