Politicians, academics, journalists and peace negotiators from many countries, from the Basque Country to South Africa, from Ireland to Belgium, will share their experiences at the conference. The event aims to discuss international examples in the context of the Peace and Democratic Society Process announced by Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February 2025.
The conference will open with speeches by DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları and Veysi Aktaş, who was once held in Imrali Prison.
Day One: Experiences of Social Peace and Resolution
The first session will be held under the title “Perspectives on Social Peace.”
– Lawyer Özgür Faik Erol, from the DEM Party’s İmralı Delegation, will discuss Abdullah Öcalan’s role in the peace process.
– Prof. Louis Lemkow from the Autonomous University of Barcelona will address the socialization of peace.
– Politician Prof. Cihangir İslam will focus on “living together.”
– Middle East expert Assoc. Prof. Arzu Yılmaz will evaluate the regional effects of social peace in Turkey.
– Yemeni journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman will send a video message on “the role of women in peace.”
The second session will examine conflict-resolution experiences around the world:
– Mohamed Bhabha, who played an active role in South Africa’s democratic transition, will speak on peace law.
– Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney will present the Irish peace process.
– Former President of Catalonia Pere Aragonès will share insights from the dialogue process with Spain.
– Basque representative Igor Zulaika and politician Azime Işık will discuss the transformation of prison regimes.
– Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams will speak on militarism and post-conflict impacts.
Day Two: Democratic Nation and a New Social Contract
The first session of the second day will discuss “From Nation-State to Democratic Nation.”
– Dilshad Shaba, representative of the Kurdistan Region Presidency, will offer a regional perspective.
– Dr. Orhan Gazi Ertekin will speak about constitutional citizenship and a new social contract.
– Egyptian historian Prof. Mohamed Refaat will highlight the importance of historical experience.
– German lawyer and former MP Prof. Norman Paech will give a presentation on strengthening local democracy.
– Belgian MP Georges Dallemagne will discuss international contributions to peace.
– Journalist-writer Nadire Mater will address the role of press freedom in the language of peace.
In the second session, titled “Perspectives on Freedom, Peace and the Future,”
– Irish Marxist philosopher John Holloway will discuss the global dimensions of the Kurdish issue.
– Italian parliamentarian and human rights defender Laura Boldrini will evaluate Europe’s changing perspective on the Kurdish question.
In the final segment, Haydar Ergül will analyze Öcalan’s manifesto, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi will participate with a video message.
Joint Declaration
Following the two-day sessions, the conference will conclude with a closing forum where a “Joint Peace Declaration” will be announced.