MFA: Top experts gather to an international conference in Helsinki – How to harness technology for building peace?

Attention will also be paid to the complex nature of conflicts and peace processes and to various actors’ relations and interdependencies. Myanmar, Yemen and Libya are examples of today’s complicated conflicts.

According to peace negotiators and participants engaged in different dialogues, the Conference on National Dialogues is an important forum for sharing best practices. This year, the speakers will be, among others, Hailemariam Dessalegn, former prime minister of Ethiopia, Yasser Abdullah Al-Raeeini, minister responsible for the implementation of National Dialogues in Yemen, Salem Avan, Director responsible for cyber security, data analytics and technological innovations at the UN Headquarters, and Achol Jok Mach, Specialist at Peace Tech Lab in Kenya.

A range of new tools will be needed for conflict prevention and conflict resolution. National dialogues’ strength lies in that they bring together various actors and organisations in society to explore avenues for sustainable peace. Finland wants to promote better opportunities for participation for women and youth and help them play a role in society. Permanent solutions to conflicts can only be achieved by addressing the underlying political, economic and social problems.

The Conference on National Dialogues is organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs together with the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), Finn Church Aid (FCA) and the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (Felm). Felm will serve as this year’s conference secretariat.

Inquiries: Hannele Tulkki, Programme Coordinator, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, hannele.tulkki(at)felm.org, tel. +358 40 186 1440, and Suvikki Silvennoinen, Counsellor, Unit for UN and General Global Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 351 325

The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.