The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held a seminar on Monday titled “Enhancing Dialogue and Local Mediation in Arab Countries” at the headquarters of the UNDP’s Heart of Amman youth initiative. The event aimed to strengthen the skills of young people in entrepreneurship and volunteerism.

The seminar, organized in observance of the International Day of Peace, is part of the activities of the Regional Network of Insider Mediators, which operates in Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, and Jordan. The network promotes security, societal peace, and a culture of dialogue and tolerance to address community issues.

Susanne Dam-Hansen, Director of the UNDP Regional Office in Amman, said the International Day of Peace is an opportunity to honor those who work to bridge divides and foster dialogue to promote peace within their communities.

Baker Hiyari, UNDP Jordan’s Senior Governance Program Advisor, noted that the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace underscores the imp
ortance of building peaceful societies as part of sustainable development efforts.

He highlighted that supporting Jordan in addressing development challenges goes beyond project financing and focuses on capacity-building programs to promote dialogue and community peace.

The seminar, held in cooperation with Search for Common Ground and I Dare for Sustainable Development, brought together local mediators from Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen, along with civil society partners.

It included presentations on the objectives of the project to enhance dialogue and local mediation, with a focus on resolving community issues through tolerance and understanding.

Source: Jordan News Agency