Europe

In Europe, PAX works with local partners on inter-group dialogue, strengthening local governance, and memorialization. In all programmes, we combine community work with lobby and advocacy. We work in the following countries: Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (with a focus on Srebrenica) and Ukraine. We also have a European-wide programme, to advocate for positive, inclusive peace within Europe.

PAX Activist Academy

Working Towards Peace and Recovery for Ukraine with Giro555

Eastern Ukraine State Building and Accountability (EUSTAB)

The project aims to foster stability in Eastern Ukraine from the bottom up through legitimate and responsive governance and inclusive political and public participation processes at the local level.

A culture of dialogue and constructive engagement in Ukraine

The project served the need to create a culture, skills and structures of dialogue and reconciliation on the road to a durable transformation of the Ukrainian society and political systems.

Youth Peace Tour Ukraine

Together with fifteen youth leaders we travelled through Ukraine and reflected on political and personal development. The tour was aimed towards skills development to make a change in society based on respect for diversity.

Creative Cooperation for Resilient Communities in Donbas

PAX has gained a lot of experience working in countries dealing with non- or partly recognized entities (Georgia, Moldova and Kosovo). Through inclusive community-building, creation of expert networks, policy advice and analytical work, lessons learnt from other conflict areas in Eastern Europe can contribute to a policy dialogue between different actors within Ukraine (local and national government, civil society and academia) and international actors (civil society and politicians from other conflict areas, OSCE, EU) leading to the development of adequate, effective and inclusive policy and practical mechanisms of dealing with and engaging the non-government controlled areas (NGCA) in the east of Ukraine.

Gender Pilot Ukraine 2018

In 2017, PAX’s Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) team established a Gender Pilot Fund to encourage PAX country programmes to implement actions that underpin, boost, and further develop PAX’s focus on gender. The aim was to generate lessons and insights to deepen conceptual and practical awareness of gender-related issues across the organisation and to increase the gender-sensitivity of the different programmes.

Kosovo

PAX works with local civil society to bring citizens together to address challenges of common interest such as poor governance, a weak rule of law and the unresolved legacy of violent conflict.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Srebrenica)

PAX supports the survivors of the Srebrenica massacre and the next of kin of those who perished. It supports their campaigns for truth and justice, joins in the annual commemoration in Srebrenica and supports were useful dialogue between former Dutch battalion members and Srebrenica survivors and widows, to increase feelings of recognition, foster mutual understanding and to help to deal with traumas on all sides. The Srebrenica Memorial Center is an important partner in all this work.

Inclusive Memorialization

During the last few years PAX has focused on memorialization and shared narratives in the Western Balkans (Kosovo, Serbia, BiH and Croatia). Inclusive Memory Initiatives are increasingly important for the Western Balkans, as they directly challenge the dominant ethno-nationalist narratives that the political elites continue to promote.