Berkley Center

Key actors in the religious peacebuilding space are partnering for a series of virtual conversations focused on religion, conflict, and COVID-19. The events are invitation-only roundtables following Chatham House rules to enable richer discussion and target participants from a specific region, and they focus on specific conflict-related issues or themes at the nexus of religion, conflict, and COVID-19. Overall, the series highlights how multi-faith action by religious actors and supporting organizations is responding to the conflict dimensions of the pandemic. Prior conversations were held on April 7 and June 4.

The focus of this roundtable was on youth and youth-led action online and offline to prevent conflict during the COVID-19 pandemic. This conversation provided a space for youth between 18 and 30 years old to share their country- specific analysis and discuss key concerns and areas for further action with wider interreligious peacebuilding practitioners. The countries in focus included Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Key questions discussed were: What are the key concerns from youth in peace and conflict dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic? How does religion or other identity markers play a role in this? How are youth already preventing conflict online or offline in COVID-19 time? How is interfaith work playing a role in this? What are the needs for further action, support, or collaboration?

This event was hosted by the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers in partnership with the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University; United States Institute of Peace; Religions for Peace; World Faiths Development Dialogue; KAICIID; and United Religions Initiative.