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Third Annual International Working Group

add to outlook calendar add to gmail calendar December 8 - 10, 2020
Conducted Virtually from Washington, D.C.
Sponsored by the Embassy of Qatar | Hosted by TAPS International

The Third Annual International Working Group for Organizations Caring for Families of Military/Conflict Deceased will offer leaders of organizations engaged in the care of grieving military families the chance to come together, learn from each other, and share best practices.

 

Welcome Message from H.E. Meshal Al Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United States
 

 

 

Mission Statement

This third annual gathering of organizations caring for families of military/conflict deceased recognizes the extraordinary efforts of leaders around the world offering hope and healing to these survivors, creating opportunities for economic empowerment, peacebuilding, reconciliation, security and stabilization for future generations. During these three days, delegates will convene to share their experiences, gain knowledge and create a global community of peer leaders.

 

Delegate Representatives

  • Afghanistan
  • Angola
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Colombia
  • Cote d'Ivoire
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Egypt
  • Georgia
  • India
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Kenya
  • Kurdistan
 
  • Libya
  • Nepal
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Spain
  • Turkey
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America

 

Schedule

December 8 - Day One

0900 GMT

Welcome to the International Working Group Delegates
Bonnie Carroll, President, TAPS International
Embassy of Qatar, Welcome Message

1000 GMT

Session Two | Hope and Opportunity in Afghanistan
Deputy Minister Yousufzada, Afghanistan Deputy Minister of Defense (Kabul)
Salma Seraj, Director, Afghanistan Programs, TAPS International (Washington, D.C.)
Bushra Farkish, Manager, Afghanistan Programs, TAPS International (Kabul)

1100 GMT

Session Three | Cultivating Leaders for Peace
Annika Hilding Norberg, Head of Peace Operations and Peacebuilding, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (Geneva)

1200 GMT

BREAK

 

1300 GMT

Session Four | Delegate Nation Program Updates
Asia Delegate Program Updates - Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Philippines

1400 GMT

Session Five | Love Wins: Choosing Hope and Healing
Sahale Eubank, Humanitarian, Free Burma Rangers (Syria)

1500 GMT

Session Six | Building Resilience With Psychological First Aid
Ea Suzanne Akaasha, Technical Advisor, IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (Copenhagen, Denmark)


December 9 - Day Two

0900 GMT

Session One | Shared Studios; Bringing Survivors Together
Augustine Achu, Curator, TAPS International Shared Studios (Washington, D.C.)

1000 GMT

Session Two | Delegate Nation Program Updates
Australia & Europe - Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom

1100 GMT

Session Three | Youth Mentorship for Stable Societies
Tessy Ojo, CEO, The Diana Award (London)

1200 GMT

BREAK

 

1300 GMT

Session Four | Delegate Nation Program Updates
Europe Delegate Program Updates - Georgia, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine

1400 GMT

Session Five | Delegate Nation Program Updates
Middle East Delegate Program Updates - Israel, Iraq, Kurdistan

1500 GMT

Session Six | Building Community for Peace
Dr. Anne Brodsky, Professor and Chair of Psychology, University of Maryland, Community and Resilience (Baltimore, Maryland, USA)


December 10 - Day Three

0900 GMT

Session One | The Way Forward
Delegate Discussion and IWG Declaration Review

1000 GMT

Session Two | Delegate Nation Program Updates
Africa Delegate Program Updates - Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, Cote d'lvoire, Uganda

1100 GMT

Session Three | Women and Economic Empowerment
Dr. Ana Belén Perianes Bermúdez, Postdoctoral Researcher
The University Institute General Gutiérrez Mellado-UNED (Spain)

1200 GMT

BREAK

 

1300 GMT

Session Four | Delegate Nation Program Updates
Africa (continued) & Americas Delegate Program Updates - Canada, Colombia

1400 GMT

Session Five | Women Peace and Security
Michelle Quinn, International Stability Operations Association, Women Peace and Security (Washington, D.C., USA)

1500 GMT

Session Six | Helping Children Cope with Grief
Dr. Tina Barrett, TAPS Advisory Board (Missoula, Montana, USA)
Andy McNeil, TAPS Youth Programs (Washington, D.C., USA)

1545 GMT

Closing Session | Review and Ratification of Declaration
Next Steps and Farewell


For questions or media inquiries, please email global@taps.org.

Declaration of the Global Community of Families of Military Deceased

Be it known by all, we the families of those who have died in the cause of freedom, stand together in the light of justice against all those threatening the peace of our world. We unite with great purpose and with pride in our heroes’ selfless service. 

We pledge to continue as their living legacies in honor of their sacrifice to heal our hearts and raise future generations in peace, freedom, and stability.

The families of our deceased military are hereby united as a global community interdependent upon one another. We commit to go beyond our borders, rise above political or religious differences, transcend language barriers and unite with one voice in hope and healing.

We recognize the need for a solid and sustained network of support and to maximize resources offered to all who are grieving the death of a military loved one.  We stand together in our acknowledgment of the universality of grief, our respect for all who have served and died, and our dedication to peace.

In honor of our fallen heroes, our military deceased, and our martyrs, we will raise our voices as one global community, representing the families of all those who have given their lives in the cause of freedom.

For the support of this Declaration, we mutually pledge to each other our honor for those who have served and died and our care for their families.