The Annual Conference is a one-day event that brings our vibrant community of practitioners, researchers, and policymakers together for a thought-provoking discussion. As in previous years, the Annual Conference brings together representatives from national and international governments and policy organs, think-thanks, journalists, INGO practitioners, activists, diplomats, and field researchers from around the globe. These diverse actors assemble with a singular aim: to present their latest projects and freshest ideas, and engage their peers to learn and improve security and justice policy and programs. This year, the Secretariat has chosen to investigate a number of gaps – as well as how we can work together to bridge them - under the theme ‘Bridging the Gap: Rhetoric and practice in security and the rule of law’. We hope this theme will challenge participants to interrogate the way the security and rule of law field is organized and framed, to contribute to the generation of new ideas, reward taking risks and successful innovation, and to forge promising and equal relationships to enable progress towards sustaining peace and strengthening the rule of law.   Video impression  Program and Timetable   Check back for the program and timetable   Practical information The Annual Conference will be held at the COMM - Museum voor Communicatie (Zeestraat 82, 2518 AD Den Haag) on 10 October 2019. The Conference is a full-day event. Add to your calendar Bridging the Gap: Rhetoric and practice in security and the rule of law Through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, all states have committed to fostering peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. It is incumbent on all states to implement this vision through concerted efforts and a commitment to the elements that make up the Agenda, acknowledging the importance of stability, peace and the (inter)national rule of law for sustainable development. However, ensuring the implementation of effective interventions and integrating the approaches of the various actors working on security and rule of law remains challenging. Despite efforts of states, civil society, and citizens to work together, there are persistent gaps in the ways that we think of and work on security and the rule of law. These include systemic gaps between the broad consensus on how we should be working, and the administrative and political structures that impede us from doing so – gaps between rhetoric and practice. In 2019, the Knowledge Platform’s Annual Conference will zoom in on some of these gaps. As ever, the Secretariat looks to the wealth of knowledge and experience within its vibrant community to devise ways to have an open and honest dialogue about these gaps, in an effort to try and begin to bridge them, and together work towards a culture of the rule of law, viable justice mechanisms, secure and stable environments, and sustainable peace and development. This year’s Annual Conference offers a forum to critically explore ways to bridge the gaps between rhetoric and practice, and capitalize on the expertise brought by the diverse audience drawn to the Annual Conference. As such, the Secretariat hopes to interrogate the way the current ecosystem is organized and framed, and to contribute to the generation of new ideas to stimulate learning, and reward taking risks and successful innovation, and to the forging of promising and equal relationships to enable progress towards sustaining peace and strengthening the rule of law.   Add to your Calendar