GEF2025 | Changing the Narrative, Preparing for Peace: A Multistakeholder Dialogue and Plan of Action
Globethics, in partnership with others, has been addressing the increasing polarisation and dehumanisation narratives through multiple initiatives that constitute a trajectory of collective engagement for inclusive peace. The Peace Track at Global Ethics Forum 2025 offers a next step in this journey.
On 17-19 February 2025, Wilton Park, in partnership with Globethics, the UN-OHCHR – Faith for Rights Initiative, and the British Embassy to the Holy See, hosted a major dialogue on The Role and Responsibility of Religious Leaders in Times of War, Atrocities and Polarisation. Participants agreed on the need to: challenge the political narrative of dehumanising ‘the other’, and to create innovative spaces for mediation, hope and healing.
They emphasised the imperative to: understand the deep roots of cyclical violence as a result of intergenerational trauma and seek to address this, and the importance of providing the space for women and youth to take on leadership roles and shape the future of peacebuilding. Read the full statement.
On 16 May 2025, Globethics with Faith for Rights hosted a strategic dialogue at the UN with Geneva-based peacebuilding organisations on: Living Together in Harmony: Rejecting Dehumanisation and Overcoming Polarisations. The event sought to revitalise the narrative of shared humanity and equal dignity and rights for all, and the role of societal actors in combating dehumanisation and hatred.
On 19-21 June 2025, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) convened the Second Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue: Strengthening trust and embracing hope for our common future, together with the Italian Parliament, and with the support of Religions for Peace. In this framework, Wilton Park and Globethics, co-organised with the IPU, a Closed-Door Discussion on Coexistence, Peace and the Role of Responsible Leadership.
The outcome document of the Conference encouraged parliaments, as places of representation, law-making and oversight, to counter hate speech, polarising and dehumanising narratives and the weaponisation of religion or belief, and to enhance parliamentary and multi-stakeholder diplomacy, including faith and civil society leaders and other societal actors, as recommended by the Pact for the Future (Action 55) to collaboratively promote peace and inclusion globally.
Building on this trajectory of multistakeholder engagement of faith leaders, civil society actors, and parliamentarians, the 2025 Global Ethics Forum provides a space to move from dialogue to building an impactful strategy, co-created by 30 to 40 faith and societal leaders and policymakers, with particular emphasis given to the participation and contribution of young people and women.
The group will offer strategic engagement plans to challenge prevailing narratives of dehumanisation and polarisation, prioritise the healing of intergenerational trauma as an essential prerequisite for creating societies that are cohesive, and cultivate narratives of peace which are grounded in the equal rights and dignity of each person.
A white paper will capture the outcomes of this action-oriented engagement, integrating the lessons learned, the recommendations, and the commitments made throughout the whole trajectory. This will be taken to the Assemblies and constituencies of the partners involved in the process, shaping their respective future agendas, partnerships, and engagements.
Discover what's on the programme (click Show by tracks to select the Peace Track and learn more about each session).
