Margarita Quihuis to speak at SXSW New Technology for Conflict Prevention Panel
Can a peace SMS change the course of a conflict? Explore how peace-building practitioners leverage new technologies to build social cohesion. With Anne Kahl, Patrick Meier and Margarita Quihuis.For decades, conflict prevention practitioners have searched for creative ways to bring about human connections that bridge opposing positions. Public information campaigns, reconciliation conferences and exchanges between groups all provide the reflective space for alternative narratives.
As online and mobile connectivity increases, new ways to connect people and build social cohesion are emerging. Peace messages delivered via SMS can have a wider and more timely reach. Reconciliation conferences can be supplemented with online collaborative formulation of peace agreements, drawing on one-texting practices. Exchange visits can be augmented by online interactions, building on existing social networks. Platforms for collaborative design and funding of community projects can be used to identify and deliver “peace dividends.”Panelists include:
- Anne Kahl, Programme Specialist, Conflict Prevention, United Nations Development Programme
- Helena Puig Larrauri, Peacebuilding Consultant, Change Assembly
- Margarita Quihuis, Co-Director, Stanford Peace Innovation Lab
- Patrick Meier, Director of Social Innovation, Qatar Computing Research Institute & PeaceTXT
This panel will explore how peace-building practitioners leverage new technologies to create virtual adaptations of traditional conflict prevention activities.Listen to the panel discussion here