This half-day conference will bring academics and practitioners together to discuss the role of languages in conflict and reconciliation. The panels will explore the role of languages not just as markers of cultural or political identity that may be central to particular conflicts but crucially also their role in developing deep levels of cultural understanding of the conflict zones themselves and in building relationships with key participants (combatants, politicians, NGOs etc.). We will also consider the part languages can play in conflict resolution, reconciliation and peace-keeping. There will be two panels, one focusing on Northern Ireland and Ukraine (both of which are central to the MEITS project) and one on other contexts in Africa, South America and Asia.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Mícheál Ó Mainnín & Deirdre Dunlevy (MEITS, QUB)
• Hilary Footitt (University of Reading)
• Linda Ervine (Turas, East Belfast Mission)
• Alison Phipps (University of Glasgow)
• Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh (Glór na Móna)
• Michael Semple (Senator George J. Mitchell Institute, QUB)
• Rory Finnin & Ivan Kozachenko (MEITS, University of Cambridge)
• Patrick Colgan (Senior Advisor, Government of Ireland)
• Natalia Kudriavtseva (Kherson National Technical University)
• Olena Rozskazova (International Renaissance Foundation)

The conference is funded by MEITS, with support from the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice and the Modern Languages Core Disciplinary Research Group (School of Arts, English and Languages).

It is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.