APPRA Conference 2024 in Sri Lanka
The Asia-Pacific Peace Research Association (APPRA) International Conference for the year 2024 will be held at Vavuniya University from 7-10 March 2024. This conference, held every two years in various countries, will be held in Sri Lanka for the first time in 2024. The Gate Foundation, UK, is a partner of this conference.
A press conference to explain this conference was held on the 28th of August 2023 at Vavuniya University under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Thambu Mangal Eswaran.
Professor Mangaleswaran said it was an honour that Vavuniya University’s Harmony Center has been chosen to host the APPRA 20204 conference, which will be attended by more than 100 academics, researchers and experts from various countries. He said that the title of this conference, “Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence for Sustaining Peace and Democracy”, is very relevant and important for today’s times.
Expressing that The Gate Foundation, UK, is happy to organise this conference in collaboration with Vavuniya University, its CEO, Dr Senthan Selvarajah, said that it is topical and timely that this conference explores how digital technology and artificial intelligence can contribute to strengthening communities, democracy, socio-economic development and peace in the present era, where technology is dominating all the sectors exponentially.
Stating that this conference will significantly contribute to achieving the objectives of the Harmony Center of Vavuniya University, the convener of the conference and Director of the Harmony Center, Senior Lecturer Mrs Mathivathani Sasitharan, said that arrangements have already been made to host this conference at a very high standard following international standards. “This conference will enable the reciprocation of experiences with other experts in the field. A lot of invaluable knowledge is expected to be gained from these scholars while gathering their thoughts on how AI can contribute to sustaining peace and democracy,” she further stated.
Applicants can submit their proposals on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:
- Impact of Blockchain on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law and peace.
- Innovations and ways of promoting peace and justice.
- Digital Platforms and AI in promoting transparency and accountability.
- Digital Technologies and AI on the media and the public sphere
- Digital transformation to promote economic development and reduce inequality.
- Ethical considerations of using technologies in peacekeeping and conflict resolution practices
- New technologies and Artificial intelligence on democratic processes and institutions
- The challenges and opportunities of regulating AI to promote peace and democracy
- Technological advancements and commitment for Minimization of Ecological Footprint and sustainable practices
- The potential of digital technologies to enhance citizen participation in democratic processes.
The conference also aims to address some of the cross-cutting themes:
- Arts, Performance and Creative Methods to Promote Peace
- Climate Justice, Just Transition and Sustainability
- Conflict Resolution, humanitarian aids, and disaster response on Peace Building
- Dynamics of migrations and mobilities of people
- Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and reconciliation for sustaining peace and Harmony
- Entrepreneurship and Peacebuilding
- Existing challenges to Peace in Asia-Pacific regions
- Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights, and democracy for sustaining peace and reconciliation processes
- Media, Human Rights and Peacebuilding
- Peace journalism, human rights journalism, communicating with communities (CwC) and nonviolent communication.
- Shifting power structures and world orders in international Relations.
Please submit your submission via Online Form [Click Here]
