Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality will host the “Societal Peace and Freedom Forum” from 12 to 16 May. The Forum will take a multi-dimensional look at the obstacles to societal peace and freedom, current constraints, and possible avenues for solutions.
With the support of local and international solidarity networks, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality will convene the “Societal Peace and Freedom Forum” in Diyarbakır on 12–16 May 2026. The Forum aims to bring together diverse sections of society to foster a shared discussion and develop a common roadmap.
The Forum is planned to be held with the participation of academics from the city, the wider region and international circles, alongside civil society organisations, activist institutions and groups, and artists.
A wide range of themes to be addressed
In a statement on the Forum, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality said that the programme will explore how societal peace and freedom can be built across all areas of life—from homes and neighbourhoods to local authorities and civil society.
Within the programme, sessions and workshops are envisaged on a broad range of topics, including: education and research; children’s rights; youth and women’s work; gender equality; psychosocial support; law, justice and human rights; forced migration; enforced disappearances; language and literature; culture, arts and media; history and memory studies; ecology and agriculture; labour and the economy; health; sport; and religion and belief.
The statement underlined that societal peace and freedom can become possible when different groups can mutually express—and understand—one another’s problems, perspectives and proposed solutions.
Participation and application process
As part of the Forum, applications will also be accepted for workshops and volunteering. The deadline for workshop applications has been announced as 5 March, and for volunteer applications as 21 March. It was noted that applications and further details can be accessed via: https://peaceandfreedomforum.com/.
Aiming for “a shared roadmap”
The statement said the Forum aims not only to discuss challenges, but also to develop a concrete roadmap for local authorities and civil society. In the statement, it was said: “We can build societal peace and freedom only by explaining—and understanding—each other’s problems, our perspectives on these problems, and our proposed solutions,” and a call was made for participation from all sections of society, especially residents of Diyarbakır.
