CONFERENCE: Building Confidence and Fostering Societal Dialogue: Insights from Armenia and Azerbaijan

The decades-long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has deeply impacted both countries. Thousands of lives have been lost, many were displaced, and people carry deep hostilities against “the other side”. While there have been intermittent negotiations and efforts to build peace facilitated by international mediators, these processes have struggled to address the deeply rooted mistrust between the populations of both countries.

Building confidence and enabling dialogue between and within Armenia and Azerbaijan is essential to address historical grievances, re-build trust, and foster reconciliation. In the last three decades, civil society organisations in both countries have increased their efforts to address these issues through dialogue at both the political and societal levels. However, the sustainability of these initiatives remains fragile. Without comprehensive confidence-building measures and deeper societal engagement, peace efforts risk being short-lived or limited to elite-level agreements in the future.

At our event, international experts will show how confidence-building efforts and inter- and intra-societal dialogues can bridge divides, cultivate a shared understanding, and support the region’s transition from a state of conflict to one of peaceful coexistence. During the event, we will discuss how bottom-up approaches can help Armenians and Azerbaijanis overcome past trauma, establish trust, and create the conditions necessary for long-term peace.