The ability to interact respectfully with other people despite different backgrounds, beliefs and opinions at political, societal & personal level is essential for peaceful coexistence. However, to successfully engage in dialogue, there must be a willingness to openly discuss with others and to consider their perspectives. This was the gist of SGM 2024 Annual Peace Lecture on ‘Promoting Dialogue for Conflict Prevention & Resolution’ by Her Excellency Betty Oyella Bigombe, High Commissioner of the Republic of Uganda to Malaysia.
Her Excellency Bigombe said, ”Dialogue as a tool that can be used to foster peace. It presents active listening and mutual understanding as a methodological approaches that can enable the transformation of conflict into mutual understanding in everyday life. Dialogue is a means of conflict resolution and the basis of peace building and human reconciliation efforts. Dialogue opens up a social space. Resolving a dispute ends the dispute by satisfying the interests of both parties and always seeks a solution based on mutual interests."
Her Excellency is a lady of outstanding achievements and had made great contribution to Uganda, the Eastern Africa region and the international community. She played a key role in conflict resolution in Africa and led the peace and humanitarian efforts in northern Uganda. She had also served as the Senior Director for Fragility, Conflict and Violence at the World Bank from 2014 to 2017. She is a member of the 2024 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development for interdisciplinary exchange among the international communities. (www.kualalumpur.mofa.go.ug)
The 2024 Annual Peace Lecture was organised by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM), a community-based organisation that promotes peace, culture and education centred on respect and education led by its President Johnny Ng. SGM has been organising various kinds of activities at respective state Culture Centres and public venues countrywide not merely to raise awareness on peace but also to embrace a conviction their action can bring about a change for peaceful environment. SGM is part of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a worldwide movement with members and volunteers from 192 countries committed in Building a Culture of Peace globally. (http://www.sgm.org.my; http://www.sgi.org)
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