About Minorities for Peace
The Minorities for Peace initiative is a collaborative effort that aims to foster a culture of peace and dialogue in Eastern Europe and beyond. Anchored in regions affected by the ongoing war, the project focuses on empowering minority and indigenous communities among refugees from Ukraine and exiles from the Russian Federation as active agents of peacebuilding in their communities. The project framework can be also replicated in other regional contexts.
Minorities for Peace is being implemented by the “NEVER AGAIN” Association, a human rights organisation based in Warsaw, Poland and Exult! Solutions, a peacebuilding and leadership development organisation in India. The initiative has also been supported by other collaborators in its early stages, including Rotary International through its Institute for Economics & Peace Partnership.
Our approach
Minorities for Peace integrates the framework of Dealing with the Past (DwP) and the pillars of Positive Peace, promoting reconciliation and sustainable peace through inclusive dialogue, systems thinking, and skill-building in mediation and conflict transformation. By addressing the legacies of historical injustices and equipping participants with the tools required to lead peace initiatives, the project also fosters resilience, promotes healing, and strengthens social cohesion. The phrase ‘Dealing with the Past’ does not refer solely to history, but also to more recent conflicts. The process strengthens communities’ capacities to deal with such conflicts.
What we do
- Training sessions: In 2024, the project engaged indigenous and minority leaders from diverse communities, including the Buryat, the Itelmens, the Jews, the Roma, the Saami, the Songols, the Tatars, the Udmurts, and the Yezidis through a series of online and in-person sessions in Poland and in Moldova.
- Skill development: Participants gain expertise in mediation, dialogue facilitation, and systems thinking, which enables them to address conflicts and to create collaborative solutions.
- Knowledge exchange: Through interactive workshops and discussions, Minorities for Peace facilitates cross-cultural learning and the sharing of best practices in peacebuilding.
- Publications and recommendations: Minorities for Peace develops resources and actionable recommendations for promoting Positive Peace, as well as addressing the unique challenges of minority and indigenous communities in doing so. These are based on the pillars of minority rights, which ensure that the dignity and rights of minorities are safeguarded throughout the process of DwP.
Why it matters
The ongoing war in Ukraine has impacted minority and indigenous communities across the region, exacerbating existing inequalities and creating new challenges. By addressing these issues holistically, Minorities for Peace not only empowers leaders to transform their own communities, but also contributes to the construction of a broader network of global peacebuilders who are committed to creating a sustainable future.
Join us as we work together to enable dialogue, foster reconciliation, and build lasting peace.
