The Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training (LOST) was representing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the PeaceLab 2016 conference in Berlin, Germany on October 5, 2016. The conference hosted a group of state and INGO actors to discuss a variety of ideas to construct a peace strategy that can prevent crises and promote stabilization.
LOST was invited to share its vision of peace building pertaining to the role Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), among other actors, can play in stabilization. As LOST is geographically located in the Middle East, the eye of the storm of several national and international conflicts, practically present in the heart of the civil work in Baalbeck-Hermel, Lebanon, and has an experience that exceeds 15 years in the region’s most critical periods, its vision is based on solid grounds.
LOST’s founder, Dr. Ramy Lakkis, gave a speech in which he presented a framework for the state’s relationship with the civil society as a key factor in peace building. He highlighted the importance of the state’s consideration of the CSOs’ positive role and the local impact they are ingraining. At the same time, Dr. Lakkis underscored how fruitful it is when the state engages CSOs in long-term programming and planning as these bodies work at the grass root level and are fully aware of critical needs that, when satisfied, peace is a step further to be built. A step further, “State can develop better relationship among CSOs’ partners,” he said.
LOST’s participation in PeaceLab 2016 reflects the appreciation of the German policy designers of its experience and the interest in knowing more about it, which gives the chance to voice the Lebanese CSOs’ vision and turning their understanding for peace promotion from the local sedate corner to an international plateau.
