On the 10th of January, 2019 Peace Dialogue will celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Did you know that the first initiatives of this organization started in August of 2008? At that time, before receiving the official registration, the founding members were working on developing the vision of the organization, its mission, strategic goals and were designing the first activities derived from that strategy.
Since then:
Over 80 eventswere organized in various cities and towns across Armenia on topics of Human Rights, Democracy building and Peace building.
The organization’s activities cover 7 thematic areas: Human Rights in Military Forces, Democracy, Conflict Transformation, Gender, etc. Over 30 regional and international events were implemented in Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Hungary, Germany and Austria. Representatives of 15 countries attended different projects and activities of the organization. More than 6500 people were involved in seminars and workshops organized by Peace Dialogue. More than 150 people received pro-bono legal assistance.
On the anniversary of Peace Dialogue’s formation, many partners express their appreciation and share their best wishes
Hildegard Weigert ifa/zivik, Berlin, Germany
“Congratulations for 10 years of commitment to peace and justice – ifa/zivik appreciates the work of Peace Dialogue in the Caucasus region.
The funding programme zivik has been supporting Peace Dialogue for several years with grants provided by the German Federal Foreign Office for international projects in crisis prevention, conflict resolution and stabilization.
We recognize and highly value Peace Dialogue’s professional work and creative tools for peace and conflict transformation. Since 2011, the beginning of our funding relationship, we have been benefiting from exchanges with the organization’s reliable and committed team.
Go on working for the people and contributing to a more peaceful world!”
Kerem Çiftçioğlu Hafiza Merkezi, Istanbul, Turkey
“I first found out about Peace Dialogue, not through an in-person meeting, but when I came across their amazing online database on the rights of conscripts in Armenia. At the time, I was also involved in a similar initiative in Turkey and it was our common aspiration with Edgar (Edgar Khachatryan, the president of Peace Dialogue NGO) to carry out a regional event on the human rights of conscripts in Armenia and Turkey. That dream didn’t come true then, but later, we found a way to collaborate through other means. During my role as the Communications Officer in Hafiza Merkezi, I was fortunate enough to develop a strong relationship with Edgar and Peace Dialogue, who have been one of the most dedicated members of the Regional Network for Dealing with the Past and Historical Dialogues (RNHDP). Having had the chance to see more of Peace Dialogue’s work, my fascination grew bigger, particularly by their use of visual aids and technology.”
Maria Karapetyan Imagine Center, Yerevan, Armenia
It is with the happiest of hearts that I learned about Peace Dialogue’s tenth year of adamantly advancing values of peace and democracy in our societies! As part of the Imagine Center’s team, I have had the pleasure and the honor to work with you and witness how committed and professional your team is. In the growing community of peacebuilders and human rights advocates in the South Caucasus, Peace Dialogue stands out with its transparent organizational ethics and courage to be outspoken about topics that remain tabooed.
Congratulations on your tenth anniversary and let there be more and more Peace and Dialogue in and between our societies!
Nouneh Sarkissian Managing Director of Media Initiatives Center, Yerevan, Armenia
One of the goals of our organization, Media Initiatives Center (former Internews Armenia) is to promote freedom of expression, media discussions related to social, economic, human rights issues, and peacebuilding. We are very glad to have a like-minded partner in this field with Peace Dialogue. Our 10 year old colleague is always investing in free, responsible and professional media with their everyday activity, which is not easy, not always appreciated, but very important for our future free and happy existence. We extend congratulations on behalf of Media Initiatives’ team. We wish you real results on your social change mission.
Guido de Graaf Bierbrauwer Senior Programme Officer Peace Activism 2.0 & The Activist Hive PAX, the Netherlands
Ten years ago I witnessed the birth of Peace Dialogue, and already then I knew it would have a great future! I’m very happy that I as peace activist from the Dutch peace organization PAX have been part of this future, with great, important and brave projects that Peace Dialogue developed, such as Safe Soldiers for a Safe Armenia and the international Arena Project. From a local grassroot activist organization in Vanadzor, Peace Dialogue developed into a force to be reckoned with nationally, and internationally, without forgetting about its roots, as the developments in Armenia this Spring showed. Armenia is on the crossroads again, and thankfully it has Peace Dialogue to point out the right direction! I congratulate Peace Dialogue with its tenth anniversary, and I wish them a lot more positive work in the next ten years and beyond!
OWEN e.V. Berlin, Germany
The idea of dialogue as a way to understand the world surrounding us in order to change it from below has been the base for founding “Peace Dialogue”. One of the first steps was to look at Vanadzor and its global context through the eyes of young people, taking pictures and talking about them. The work of Peace Dialogue developed over the years but the initial spirit of deep analysis and creativity always survived and makes this organization very special!
Questioning the logic of nationalism and militarism this organization is not only important for Armenia but also for the peace in Europe and beyond. Thank you for ten years of partnership and mutual learning!
We wish Peace Dialogue to have another fruitful ten years and more!
Gegham Baghdasaryan, Stepanakert Press Club, President
I have worked with Peace Dialogue NGO and its president Edgar Khachatryan within the framework of numerous regional programs and learned about the important mission that this organization has. On behalf of Stepanakert Press Club (SPC), I congratulate Peace Dialogue NGO and wish the organization a future full of interesting work. I will be glad to continue our cooperation.
