Abstract: Sudan’s humanitarian and protection crisis is the worst in the world.  The scale of the crisis poses risks stunning us into inaction against the scale of the catastrophe. Sudan is not only a battlefield – it has a deep history and capacity for leadership and dialogue.  Civilians are working to bridge divides, to find spaces to engage across the extreme polarisation and to counteract the militarization of the two sides perpetuating this war. 
The failure of the international community to come behind a real strategy for peace and a return to democratic civilian rule in Sudan is emblematic of the current fractures of the international system.  But Sudan matters – it matters more than “just” as a crisis of violence of historic proportions – it is a war against democracy.  The work of building a real peace process for Sudan is starting, with the leadership of Sudanese themselves, and Canada should be more involved. 
The Global Centre for Pluralism has been supporting these spaces for dialogue – rooted in the conviction that pluralist approaches, embracing Sudan’s complexity and diversity, is necessary for a peace process and a sustained end to the violence and democratic transition. 
With her extensive background in mediation in peace processes around the world and her current work leading the Global Centre for Pluralism, Meredith will discuss what it means to talk amid this war and reflect on the work of civilian leaders working to find spaces for connection and a path to peace. 
As polarization and anxiety continue to rise, pluralism asks us to try to see our differences in a different light, as something with constructive potential, that can help us respond to the challenges we see in our communities, in our societies, and around the world.  This is essential for civilian leadership for peace in Sudan, and for our own cohesion and connection in Canada.

Speaker's Bio: 
Meredith Preston McGhie is the Secretary General for the Global Centre for Pluralism.  She leads the Centre in their work to advance action for belonging globally, through education, governance and peace and conflict initiatives.  A peacemaker by background, Meredith previously served as the Africa Regional Director with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, including as an advisor to Kofi Annan during the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation.  Through more than 20 years across the African continent, she helped to establish and facilitate peace processes in Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan and elsewhere.  She contributes to policy discussions on peacemaking globally, including teaching on inclusion and peace process design.  Meredith began her career working with the Naga in North East India and ethnic minorities in Myanmar. 

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