The UNPO was present at ‘A Struggle for Peace’ Conference in Utrecht organized by the Utrecht branch of the student organization for international relations and informed participants about the organization and its members.

On Saturday 9 June 2007 the Utrecht branch of the student organization for international relations (SIB Utrecht) organized ‘A Struggle for Peace – a Conference on Peace, Security and Development’. The conference featured debates, workshops, lectures and movies dealing with peace in the broadest sense of the word, ranging from the military and international law aspects of ‘peace’ to the coverage of the Middle East by Western media.

Amongst the speakers were representatives from War Child, the European Centre for Conflict Prevention, and Press Now. Furthermore, a number of key-speakers were present, including Dr Jan Pronk (former Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Sudan), Ms Femke Halsema MEP (Green Party in the Netherlands), Prof. Maarten van Rossem (columnist and Professor in history), and Prof. Geert-Jan Knoops (LLM specialized in International Law and International Tribunals).

UNPO was present at the conference’s information market, informing participants about the organisation, its history, and its members. Many participants to the conference showed interest in the diversity of UNPO members, offering the opportunity to inform the general public and student body about also the diversity of their challenges and aspirations.

It is hoped UNPO was able to promote a greater understanding of UNPO as an organisation, as well as its members, increasing awareness amongst students in particular, as they considered their role in the “struggle for peace”.