ABOUT GPC

The Global Peace Convention (GPC) is an annual gathering of peace builders from around the world. It began as a result of the excitement and positive impact of the Global Peace Festivals (GPF) held throughout since 2007. The Convention is an opportunity to exchange information and learn from best practices to improve the quality of all peace-building projects. The Convention brings together key leaders in the realms of politics, civil society, and religion to discuss creative approaches to pressing global issues.

Woven into the Convention schedule are a variety of educational seminars and workshops, cultural events, optional recreational activities and a fact-finding tour to Mindanao. The Convention runs several interconnected program tracks based on the three Global Peace Festival pillars of interreligious cooperation, fostering a culture of service, and strengthening marriage and family.

The Interreligious Track:

Stepping out of the box

We live in an unsettled world. At times, mere differences in perspectives can lead to devastating conflict. Therefore, rather than dwelling on the doctrinal disagreements between religions, GPF focuses on our common denominator. The true interfaith experience is a celebration of the universal principles, values and aspirations that bind all people together as one family.

As part of that global family, all human beings are fundamentally spiritual & moral in nature; all major religions place importance on maintaining healthy families; and we all wish for a more peaceful world. Based on this premise, GPF advocates constructive dialogue and joint action inclusive of all cultures and traditions.

The Conventions Interreligious track has been purposely designed to give participants an opportunity to hear from influential leaders in their field and study successful programs as well as share their own experiences.

The Interreligious track includes sessions titled:

• Religions and Peace:
  “From Dialogue to Shared Commitment and Cooperation”

• Interfaith Councils:
  “Developing Interfaith Councils, Addressing Social Issues”

• Interactive Plenary Session
  Mindanao Peace Initiative

• Reconciliation and Leadership:
  “People of Faith as Leaders of Reconciliation”

• Defenses of Peace:
  “Educating for Peace and Interreligious Understanding”

• Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges:
  “Bridging Religious Differences through Service”

To read session summaries or read more about the schedule and program please visit the program section by clicking here.

The Service Track:

Service is the essential building block of peace

Service a selfless act which benefits others and enables people to connect despite their differences. It also builds character and helps to grow one’s ability to love and respect others. Therefore, the Global Peace Festival promotes volunteerism and peaceful cooperation around the world.

Many communities and nations are being transformed through efforts to build a culture of service rooted in the peace philosophy of “Living for the Greater Good”.

The Convention Service Track has been developed by the Global Peace Service Alliance (a service initiative of the GPF). Participants will have ample opportunity to network and share best practices as well as hear from prominent figures in the field of service.

The track will also highlight some very successful ongoing programs inspired by the GPF.

The Service track includes sessions titled:

• Serving Together for Peace:
  “Empowering Partnerships and Youth in an International Service Corps”

• Culture of Service:
  “Corporate Philanthropy and Civil Society”

• Volunteering and Peace:
  “Role of Volunteering in Peace building”

• Poverty and Peace:
  “Innovative Models of Poverty Reduction”

• Disaster Response and Peace building:
  “Innovative Models and Tools for Volunteer Response Programs”

• Service Partnerships of the Americas:
  “Connecting Americans across the Hemisphere through Service”

• The Next Generation Peace builders:
  “Youth Empowerment and New Media in Service and Peace building”

To read session summaries or read more about the schedule and program please visit the program section by clicking here.

The Family Track:

The school of love We seek solace and comfort in a family. To describe the closeness of any relationship, we use familial terms such as, “This person is like my brother or sister”. The family should be the school of love where we learn to love all humanity in its richness and diversity.
The GPF addresses the importance of the family defined as the immediate three-generational family we grow up in, as well as the global family including people from all nations.

The Conventions Family track has been designed to uplift the universal values of marriage, parenting, support among siblings and gratitude for the older generation. Peace and stability in society can only be sustained with proper understanding of the role of parents, responsible sexual ethics, importance of marital commitment, and the needs of children. The Family track will give participants an opportunity to learn about the significance of marriage and family as instruments of peace. Participants will also have a chance to contribute their ideas and share best practices.

The Family Track includes sessions titled:

• The Family and Social Transformation:
  “Marriage, Family and Peace building”

• Family and Peace:
  “Building Peace, One Family at a Time”

• Faith, Family and Peace:
  “Family as the School of Peace”

• Parenting Education:
  “A Review of Parent Education Programs and Practical Skills”

• Smarter Relationships:
  “Relationship Education for Young People”

• Stay Married, Be Happy:
  “The Importance of Marriage and Relationship Education”

To read session summaries or read more about the schedule and program please visit the program section by clicking here.

Additional Program elements

The Convention will also feature several plenary sessions, cultural performances, a “Short Film for Peace” competition, as well as an elaborate exhibition.

If you would like to apply for an Exhibition booth click here.

A variety of specialty sessions will also be available to participants with topics such as:

• New Media and Social Change:
  “How to use the New Media Momentum to Promote a Culture of Peace”

• Sports for Peace:
  “Harnessing the Unifying Power of Sports”

• How to do GPF:
  “Capacity Building - Planning and Operations”

To read session summaries or read more about the schedule and program please visit the program section by clicking here.

Mindanao Fact-finding Tour
Explore the Mindanao Peace Initiative

(December 14^th)

As an optional program of Convention, participants will see first-hand how the Mindanao Peace Initiative (MinPI) has been improving living conditions and helping mobilize community resources to bring about peace on Mindanao, the second largest island of the Philippines.

Mindanao is a place of mixed faiths, cultures and beliefs. In recent times, violence and conflict have come to scar this beautiful island. MinPI is working to reconcile historical grievances with the imperative to resolve differences without armed conflict. Progress in Mindanao is hoped to become a model for other conflict zones around the world. Therefore the Convention is highlighting Mindanao as a case study for international leaders to come discover the creative peace-making approach of the MinPI.

The fact finding tour will include a visit to the Kapatagan peace village in Northern Mindanao as well as a local GPF program. The tour is a one-day trip and does not include an overnight stay.

Please click here for more information on Optional Programs.