What factors are eroding the conditions for peace in today’s societies—and what role can humanitarian organizations play in helping build it?
That question brought together leaders from across the IFRC network during the Peace Think Tank at Solferino 2026—a candid, participatory discussion that explored one of IFRC’s oldest commitments and one of its most urgent challenges.
Convened by the IFRC Solferino Academy, and bringing together National Society leaders, youth representatives and partners from every region, the session marked an important milestone in the IFRC’s renewed commitment to peacebuilding.
Rather than seeking definitive answers, participants examined how today’s humanitarian realities—from polarization and misinformation to protracted conflicts and declining trust—are reshaping the role of humanitarian organizations in fostering peaceful societies.
Giintare Guzeviciute moderates the discussion at the Peace Think Tank, Solferino 2026.
Reclaiming peace as part of the humanitarian mission
Opening the session, IFRC Under Secretary General for National Society Development and Operations Coordination, Xavier Castellanos, reflected on the growing fragmentation affecting communities around the world.
Trust in institutions is declining. Disinformation is spreading faster than facts. Violence is taking new forms—from within households to across borders—and humanitarian organizations increasingly find themselves responding to the consequences.
Yet, as Castellanos reminded participants, peace has always been embedded in the Red Cross and Red Crescent mission.
While the IFRC network has continued to save lives and support communities through countless crises over the past decades, he challenged participants to remember that humanitarian action does not end with responding to emergencies.
“We have done tremendous humanitarian work,” he noted. “But we have forgotten that peace is part of our mission.”
He called for the network to become more vocal in promoting peace—both externally, by engaging with communities and partners, and internally, by strengthening the ways humanitarian actors lead, communicate and build trust.
From conversation to action
The Think Tank also served as the official launchpad for Light in the Darkness, the IFRC’s new global campaign encouraging people everywhere to make a personal commitment to peace.
More than a symbolic act of lighting a candle, the initiative invites individuals to commit to concrete actions that strengthen peaceful communities whether through dialogue, inclusion, respectful communication or humanitarian service.
Building on the momentum of the Limitless youth programme, which has already engaged thousands of young people worldwide, the campaign aims to spark intergenerational conversations and inspire local peace initiatives across the IFRC network through 2028.
Participants were encouraged to become ambassadors for the campaign by inviting others to make their own commitments, creating a growing movement for peace that extends far beyond Solferino.
What does peace mean today?
Throughout the discussion, participants returned repeatedly to one central idea: peace cannot simply be understood as the absence of war.
Drawing on a historic Red Cross definition developed decades ago, speakers described peace as a dynamic process built on cooperation, justice, dignity, equality and the fair distribution of resources.
This broader understanding resonated strongly across the room.
Leaders reflected on how today’s conflicts are increasingly fuelled not only by armed violence, but also by inequality, exclusion, misinformation, shrinking trust and social polarization. In many contexts, humanitarian organizations are responding long before violence erupts and long after it ends.
Several participants stressed that humanitarian action itself contributes to peace by strengthening communities, protecting dignity and creating opportunities for dialogue.
One conversation, many realities
One of the strongest messages to emerge from the Think Tank was that there is no single pathway to peace.
Participants shared perspectives shaped by dramatically different realities.
Some represented countries experiencing active conflict, where humanitarian access remains a daily struggle and civilians continue to bear the greatest burden of violence.
Others came from relatively peaceful societies but warned that social cohesion, trust and inclusion cannot be taken for granted.
Leaders from fragile contexts described the delicate balance National Societies must maintain: promoting peace while preserving humanitarian neutrality and maintaining the trust of all parties.
Across these different experiences, participants agreed that local context must shape every approach to peacebuilding. What works in one country may not work in another, but the humanitarian principles that guide the network remain universal.
Young people at the centre
Youth voices featured prominently throughout the discussion.
Young leaders emphasized that peace cannot simply be designed for young people: it must be built with them.
Participants called for greater investment in youth leadership, practical peace education and meaningful opportunities for young people to influence decisions rather than merely participate in programmes.
Several speakers also highlighted the importance of intergenerational leadership, encouraging experienced leaders to create space for emerging generations to shape the future of humanitarian action.
As one participant noted, many children growing up today have never experienced peace. Teaching practical skills for dialogue, cooperation and conflict resolution is therefore becoming just as important as humanitarian response itself.
A changing conflict landscape
Participants also reflected on how conflict itself is evolving.
Today’s violence is increasingly fragmented and influenced by online spaces, harmful information and social media.
Digital platforms can deepen divisions as quickly as they can connect communities, making trust-building and responsible communication essential components of modern peace efforts.
This changing landscape reinforces the need for humanitarian organizations to adapt their approaches while remaining grounded in their principles.
Strength through partnership
Another recurring theme was collaboration.
Participants stressed that no single organization can build peace alone. National Societies must work alongside governments, civil society, educational institutions, communities and international partners.
Many speakers shared examples of peace education programmes, community dialogue initiatives and partnerships that are already helping strengthen social cohesion in their countries.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of solidarity across the IFRC network, using the network’s collective voice to advocate for humanitarian access, protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law.
The conversation continues
Rather than concluding with a list of recommendations, the Think Tank ended with an invitation.
Participants agreed that this should not remain a single conversation held during Solferino. Instead, it should become an ongoing process of learning, reflection and collaboration across the IFRC network.
The objective was never to leave with all the answers.
It was to ask better questions.
How can humanitarian organizations promote peace while preserving neutrality?
How can trust be rebuilt in increasingly polarized societies?
How can young people be empowered as peace leaders rather than future responders?
And how can every National Society translate the universal aspiration for peace into meaningful action within its own community?
Those conversations are only beginning.
With the launch of Light in the Darkness and a renewed commitment to peace across board, Solferino 2026 marked not an endpoint, but the beginning of a longer journey. The questions raised during the Think Tank will continue to shape conversations across the network in the years ahead—and many participants left with the conviction that the time may be right to come together again in a dedicated global forum to deepen the Network’s work for peace.
The IFRC Solferino Academy helps humanitarians find creative solutions to complex challenges.
La paix aujourd’hui ne signifie pas seulement l’absence de guerre. C’est un état où les personnes peuvent vivre dans la sécurité, la dignité, le respect et la justice.
La paix, c’est aussi :
Le respect des différences (ethnie, religion, culture, opinion).
Le dialogue au lieu de la violence.
La solidarité et l’entraide entre les communautés.
L’égalité des chances et le respect des droits de chacun.
La résolution des conflits par des moyens pacifiques.
Dans le monde actuel, la paix est mise à l’épreuve par les conflits armés, la désinformation, les inégalités, les discours de haine et les effets du changement climatique. C’est pourquoi chacun peut contribuer à construire la paix par de petits gestes quotidiens : écouter les autres, promouvoir la tolérance, aider les personnes vulnérables et encourager le dialogue.
Rétablir la paix dans le cadre de la mission humanitaire, c’est apporter de l’aide sans distinction, protéger les personnes les plus vulnérables, favoriser le dialogue et renforcer la confiance entre les communautés. Chaque geste de solidarité, de compassion et de respect contribue à bâtir une paix durable. La paix ne se construit pas seulement après les conflits ; elle se construit chaque jour par nos actions, notre engagement et notre volonté de servir l’humanité.