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2026 Thematic Direction

2026 Thematic Direction

CHOOSE PEACE

 

Across the world, the foundations of peace are under growing strain. Armed conflicts continue to devastate communities, geopolitical tensions are reshaping global relations, and new risks, from climate pressures to digital disruption, are transforming how insecurity emerges and spreads. At the same time, inequality, exclusion, and declining trust within and between societies are weakening the social fabric that sustains peace.

These challenges are increasingly interconnected. Humanitarian crises, economic shocks, environmental pressures, and rapid technological change are creating complex environments where traditional responses to conflict are no longer sufficient. In this context, dialogue, cooperation, and preventive action are more important than ever. Sustainable peace requires inclusive governance, respect for human rights, economic resilience, and renewed commitment to multilateral solutions.

Geneva plays a unique role in advancing these efforts. Beyond hosting a diverse ecosystem of international organisations, diplomatic missions, civil society actors, and academic institutions, the city actively contributes to shaping multilateral responses to global challenges. Geneva is a place where norms are negotiated, partnerships are built, and practical solutions to global problems are developed.

The Geneva Peace Week reflects this spirit of collaboration. Each year, it brings together practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and communities from across the world to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore practical approaches to sustaining peace.

While the challenges facing the international community are significant, they do not define our collective future. Peace is not simply the absence of conflict, it is the result of deliberate choices, sustained effort, and shared responsibility.

In a world marked by uncertainty and division, the international community still has agency. Governments, organisations, communities, and individuals can choose dialogue over confrontation, cooperation over fragmentation, and prevention over crisis response.

In 2026, the Geneva Peace Week becomes the Geneva Peace Forum and invites participants to make that choice.

Choose Peace.


 

2026 KEYWORDS

Organisations are invited to submit applications under one of the following six thematic keywords. To help guide discussions, the consortium has identified a number of suggested sub-themes for each keyword. Applicants are welcome to propose additional topics, provided they clearly fall within one of the thematic areas.

1. Conflict Prevention & Sustaining Peace

  • Early warning & risk analysis

  • Preventive diplomacy & mediation

  • Addressing structural drivers

  • Local peace infrastructures

  • Peace agreement implementation

  • Compliance with international law

  • Disarmament and trust-building

2. Inclusive Governance & Political Processes

  • Inclusive political dialogue

  • Women’s meaningful participation

  • Youth participation in decision-making

  • Foreign interference in governance and social movements

  • Civic space & accountability

  • Democratic institutions & legitimacy

  • Electoral integrity & peaceful political transitions

3. Social Cohesion, Justice & Human Rights

  • Transitional justice & dealing with the past

  • Access to justice & rule of law

  • Protection of civilians & human rights defenders

  • Community reconciliation & trust-building

  • Countering discrimination & exclusion

  • Human rights as foundations for sustainable peace

  • Safeguarding fundamental freedoms in times of crisis

4. Climate, Environment & Resource Governance

  • Climate-related security risks

  • Natural resource management

  • Environmental cooperation

  • Disaster risk reduction & resilience

  • Climate adaptation in fragile settings

  • Impact of militarism on the environment

  • Climate justice & peacebuilding

5. Economic Resilience & Peace Dividends

  • Livelihoods & job creation

  • Tackling economic inequality

  • Social protection systems

  • Post-conflict recovery

  • Pipelines of harm

  • Humanitarian–development–peace nexus

  • Responsible investment in fragile and conflict-affected settings

6. Global Cooperation, Technology & Future Risks

  • Peace architecture

  • Sustainable financing for peace

  • Regional & cross-border cooperation

  • Digital governance & emerging technologies

  • Countering disinformation & hate speech

  • Countering escalating military spending

  • Data, foresight & evidence for peacebuilding

APPLY FOR GPW26

Before applying to the Geneva Peace Forum 2026, please carefully review the application requirements.


 


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