Building a Culture of Peace Through Dialogue: Highlights from the Antwerp Peace Forum

True peace isn't just the absence of conflict; it is a community-driven value built on understanding, inclusion, and active citizen participation.

On May 22, 2026, a vibrant and essential conversation took place at KdG University in Antwerp, Belgium. Co-hosted by HWPL and the International Youth Peace Group (IPYG), the forum marked the 13th anniversary of the Declaration of World Peace. Under the theme "Building a Culture of Peace Through Citizen Dialogue," the event tackled some of the most pressing challenges facing modern European society today.

Shifting from Lectures to Active Listening

In a world facing growing social imbalances, migration challenges, and cultural friction, this forum chose a different path. Instead of the traditional, top-down lecture format, the event was designed as a citizen-participatory program.

Gathering around discussion tables, university students, international law experts, and religious leaders sat side-by-side to address a core question: “Why do cultural differences lead to conflict?”

This wasn't just a theoretical debate. It was an active exercise in bridging gaps, where participants analyzed the root causes of social discrimination and brainstormed practical peace activities that anyone could implement in their local neighborhoods.

The Strength of Diversity

The forum brought together distinguished voices who shared profound insights on how a community should embrace change.

Serhiy Samoylov, Youth Program Director of the UN Soldiers for Peace International Association (SPIA), noted the hidden cost of social division, stating, "Discrimination deeply harms the confidence, education, and sense of belonging among youth." However, he reminded the audience of the flip side: "Diversity is actually a society's strength, driving mutual cooperation and understanding. Today’s open dialogue proved how essential these conversations are for social integration."

Adding to this sentiment, Maroun Karam, Representative of the Central Maronite Council of Europe, reflected on the warmth of the gathering, calling it "a meaningful time where we embraced diversity through the lens of peace and mutual respect, regardless of social backgrounds."

Expanding the "DNA of Peace" Globally

The impact of the Antwerp forum doesn't end in Belgium. The event also served as a launchpad for upcoming global youth initiatives, introducing:

• The 'Peace Talk' Online Program (Coming this June): A digital space for global citizens to continue these essential dialogues.

• The 2026 One Korea Peace Camp (This September in South Korea): An international youth gathering focused on coexistence and the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula.

Many attendees expressed an eager desire to join these future projects, showing that when you give people a platform to speak and listen, they naturally want to stay connected.

A Journey That Starts with Citizens

As an HWPL official beautifully summarized, peace is a living, breathing value made real through solidarity. By empowering the youth and civil society to take ownership of these dialogues, we ensure that the future is built on empathy rather than fear.

When we sit at the same table and look past our differences, the boundaries that separate us begin to disappear. The Antwerp Peace Forum reminded us all that peace begins the moment we choose to truly converse with one another.

Source: https://vo.la/9I6T0eK