Project Group
»Changing the Munich Security Conference« e.V.

Unsere Vision ist eine Münchner Konferenz für Friedenspolitik – Our Vision is a Munich Conference for Peace Policy

Activities

MSKv Side Event 2025 – Peace Experts as a Counterpoint at the MSC

Since 2015, we have been proposing side events as a space for reflection and learning for the international participants of the MSC. Our cooperation partners were or are in particular: forumZFD, APTE.

Our theme for 2025 is:

“On the Way to a Century of Tolerance: Don’t Shoot!
Nonviolent De-escalation and Peace Practice of the Global South”


We know that courageous civil society campaigns, especially in the Global South, have an impact even in mostly very complex situations of systematic violence, towards the emergence of resilient communities that renounce violence. The MSC participants from international diplomacy, politics, business and military, institutes and think tanks, as well as civil society are invited to engage with the successful practice of our guests and to learn how conflict resolution and de-escalation can be tested in their area of responsibility through empathy, healing and active nonviolence, and how humane, human security succeeds.

The following resource persons have accepted our invitation and will speak at the MSC:

Marie-Noelle KOYARA, Bangui, Minister of Defense (2022), Dialogue with the terrorist groups in the Central African Republic
Archbishop Martin KIVUVA, Mombasa, Chairman (2024) Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops, Prevention of ethnic-political street violence after the dismissal of the President
Dr. Sylvain KOFFI, Abidjan/Ivory Coast, international consultant in social and peace programs, founding member of the Pan-African Union of Peace Professionals, Secretary General of the African network and the political campaign “Rethinking African Security” (RAS).

Press release by MSKv and Sicherheit neu denken on the Side Event at the MSC 2025

MSKv Side Event 2025 – Peace Experts as a Counterpoint at the MSC Read More »

Our association’s conference observation at MSC 2025

Ralf Becker (sicherheitneudenken.de) and Alessia Neuner (Student of Peace and Conflict Research) will be our observers at the MSC this year.

Ralf Becker: Observer once again

As coordinator of the “Rethinking Security” initiative, I want to once again intensively observe as an observer – the atmosphere, the energy, the actors, and their way of moving and interacting within the MSC space. For me, this is the prerequisite and the key to discovering communication opportunities that we can gradually (further) develop, build up, and expand after the MSC. I
approach the MSC with a questioning attitude: How do I perceive myself in this space? What reveals itself to me? What scope for action emerges for shaping a cooperative global domestic policy? Where and how is encounter at eye level possible, where do opportunities arise to let go of the usual dominant stance of Western actors in the “great game” in favor of an encounter between actors from different cultural backgrounds at eye level? Where and how could the effectiveness of civilian security policy become perceptible and tangible? What kind of meeting spaces enable the establishment and expansion of trusting relationships?


Alessia Neuner: New observer

This year, I have the opportunity to participate in the MSC as an observer, marking my first visit to such a prominent political event. I am currently still studying Peace and Conflict Research, and I am therefore eager to see what impressions and questions the conference will leave and raise for me. The program’s focus this time seems to be on defense, world order, human security, sustainability, and technology. It will certainly be exciting to see how these concepts are addressed in the panels and discussion rounds. Which events, problems, and needs will be taken up? Which solutions will be presented? Which perspectives will be highlighted? And which voices might be missing from the large and small stages of the MSC? I also want to try to reflect repeatedly on how I perceive the Security Conference from my perspective as a person read and socialized as female. And above all, I hope for the opportunity to engage in dialogue with other participants to learn about diverse viewpoints on the event.

Our conference observers report – Information see here

Our association’s conference observation at MSC 2025 Read More »

International Munich Peace Conference

This year, the Peace Conference is titled ‘Foundations of Peace’. Renowned speakers, including Prof. Dr. Heribert Prantl, Prof. Dr. Hanne-Margret Birckenbach, Francesca Albanese, are expected.

Finding a suitable venue for the conference was particularly challenging this time. It is becoming evident that independent, dissenting opinions are being increasingly marginalized. For instance, LMU (Ludwig Maximilian University) cancelled another event planned for February 16th with Francesca Albanese on short notice. All the more reason to give the conference special attention again this year.

Details on the program, venues, and online participation can be found here: friedenskonferenz.info

International Munich Peace Conference Read More »

Peace demonstration on the occasion of the MSC

As in previous years, we support the AntiSiko demonstration as a signal of peace from civil society. In our own appeal, we elaborated on this: “With our participation in the demonstration, we aim to focus on creative and non-violent protest. We advocate for civil conflict resolution and for the reallocation of arms expenditures towards a sustainable, civil security policy, as currently described by the ‘Rethink Security’ campaign in its Positive Scenario 2025-2040 ‘The Role of Europe for Peace in the World’.”

The full call: Demo call MSKv

With our appeal as an invitation to all those who desire peace, we support the peace demonstration, which aims to (loudly) remind the MSC and the public of “Create Peace – Without Weapons.”

Opening Rally:
Sat, February 15, 2025, 1:00 PM, Karlsplatz/Stachus. Followed simultaneously by a peace chain through the pedestrian zone and a demonstration march. Closing Rally: approx. 3:00 PM, Marienplatz.
Further information about the demonstration: Anti-Siko Demo

Peace demonstration on the occasion of the MSC Read More »

Praying for Peace (Sat, February 15, 2025) – with the MSKv Project Group

“We pray for the participants of the Munich Security Conference, high-ranking decision-makers and opinion leaders from around the world, that they may promote peace through dialogue. We ask for God’s assistance for those who, through no fault of their own, must endure great suffering in the world’s crisis regions. Bless us, God, so that we ourselves may live in peace and become true partners for our neighbors.”

The individual prayer times are organized by religious orders, aid organizations, spiritual communities, churches of the ACK Munich, associations, and initiatives.

Date for “Prayer Chain”: Sat, February 15, 2025, 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Prayer Hour by MSKv & pax christi: Sat, February 15, 2025, 5:00 PM

Location: Bürgersaal Unterkirche, Neuhauserstraße 14, Munich

Information and further offerings for “Living Peace – Prayer for the Munich Security Conference” can be found here: Praying for Peace

Praying for Peace (Sat, February 15, 2025) – with the MSKv Project Group Read More »

Peace Prayer of Religions

The Interreligious Prayer for Peace takes place on Sunday evening after the Security Conference concludes: Jews, Christians, Muslims, Baháʼís, and Buddhists pray for peace. A truly contemplative opportunity to find peace at the end of the Security Conference weekend.

Date: Sunday, February 16, 2025, 6:30 PM
Location: St. Bonifaz Parish Center, Karlstr. 34, Munich-Maxvorstadt (Königsplatz subway station)

Further information can be found here: Interreligious Prayer for Peace – Munich Peace Conference

Peace Prayer of Religions Read More »

Our Munich Peace Meeting 2024

The 6th Munich Peace Meeting (MPM), initiated and organized by MSKv, took place on November 29, 2024. The participants from the fields of peace science, peace movement, and peace work exchanged views with Dr. Benedikt Franke and other representatives of the MSC on current security and peace policy challenges.

Together, concrete proposals for the 2025 conference were developed. We are very excited to see what activities MSC has derived from this.

A brief report on the MPM 2024 can be found here: MPM_2024

Our Munich Peace Meeting 2024 Read More »

We mourn the passing of Mechthild Schreiber, the honorary chairwoman of our association.

 

 

 

Mechthild Schreiber was very closely associated with our association from the very beginning, even though she was not among the founding members.

At the general meeting on 2015-03-27, she was formally admitted as a member, and at the general meeting on 2017-03-27, she was elected to the association’s board. She then served on the board without interruption until the general meeting on 2024-04-13, where she was unanimously elected honorary chairwoman of the association.

Among her many important contributions to our association, I would like to mention just a few of her most recent ones: For the celebration of the 20th anniversary of our first “Call for a Change in the Security Conference” in April 2024, she played a significant role in the preparation and also moderated the event. Most recently, in July 2024, we were able to meet at her home for a pleasant evening of political discussions on her terrace. A few days ago, Mechthild passed away at the age of 94 – quite suddenly and unexpectedly for us.

Mechthild was – with her sociology studies and her intensive engagement with women’s research and feminism – a clever and widely informed woman. We lose a very credible pacifist, a courageous and upright fighter for the cause of peace. Her dedicated contributions will be greatly missed!

In February 2021, Mechthild wrote in one of her regular contributions to our annual project newspaper – which she had also very credibly presented in a conversation with MSC Conference Director W. Ischinger:
“I know what war means, as I experienced it painfully as a child: the wailing of sirens that tore us from our sleep, the thunder of the FLAK, the anti-aircraft guns, the anxious hours in the cellar during air raids: will it hit us this time? Or will we still escape? The incendiary bombs that one night actually destroyed our apartment in Berlin, the familiar home of my childhood; the loss of my father, who never returned from a trip to our pastor, and whose abduction and death in a Polish prisoner-of-war camp my mother and I only learned about two years later… For many years, the people said: ‘Never again war!’ And today it can only mean: ‘Si vis pacem para pacem!’ If you want peace, prepare for peace!”

Further information on Mechthild’s life and commitment can be found via the following links:

In memoriam Mechthild Schreiber, Peace Activist

forumZFD – Farewell to a Peace Fighter

Listen persistently

Cultural regulars’ table with Mechthild Schreiber

The members of the “Changing the Munich Security Conference” Project Group e.V. will always fondly remember their long-standing chairwoman and honorary chairwoman Mechthild Schreiber.

Mechthild, we will miss you!

Munich, 2024-10-11

Thomas Mohr
Chairman

We mourn the passing of Mechthild Schreiber, the honorary chairwoman of our association. Read More »

10/10/2024: “Rethinking Security” – a concept for peace capability instead of war capability.

As part of this year’s Munich Peace Weeks, the project group “Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz verändern e.V.” cordially invites you to a presentation followed by a discussion:
Thu. 21.11. – 7:00 PM, EineWeltHaus, Room 108

with: Erwin Schelbert, Gudrun Haas, Markus Brunnhuber, Hubert Heindl
Organizer: Project group “Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz verändern e.V.”

Further information can be found here:

 

 

 

 

10/10/2024: “Rethinking Security” – a concept for peace capability instead of war capability. Read More »

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