The Annual Conference brings together the brightest minds in the security and rule of law community and beyond to critically engage with the most pressing questions in the field. Through interactive exchanges in workshops, debates and discussions, the Platform aims to extract lessons and best practices that will help to shape security and rule of law policy. The content of the Annual Conference is split between sessions conceived and organized by the Secretariat and the sessions that result from this call, submitted by members of the Platform network. In 2017, more than 200 people from 20 countries attended the Annual Conference, ranging from academics to policy makers, and from artists to entrepreneurs. The Annual Conference is a platform for you to open yourself to new ideas, connect with peers from across the globe, and help to build a cutting-edge body of knowledge in our field. Practical information The Annual Conference will be held at the Bazaar of Ideas (Hoefkade 9, The Hague) on 13 September. The Conference is a full-day event. The program for the day will be available shortly. Check back soon to find out about this year's sessions! Registration for the Annual Conference will open soon. Inequality Often when we discuss violence and injustice, we find - at its core - it is a story about inequality: unequal protection, unequal access, unequal treatment, unequal opportunity. Inequality in the security sector drives some into violence and others into vulnerability. Inequality in the justice sector undermines the rule of law and dissolves public trust in institutions. Inequality and exclusion in the political sphere has, time and again, left states unprepared to meet the needs and aspirations of all their citizens and leaves them without a say in their future. These imbalances, if left unattended, can tip communities, states and entire regions into long-lasting conflict and fragility. And while inequality is certainly not the only driver of violent conflict, reducing inequality is an essential part of sustainable peace. This year’s Annual Conference will focus on these many faces and facets of inequality. Discussions around ‘inequality’ often focus on economic inequality, which is only one side of the issue. By shedding light on the broader spectrum of inequality and injustice, we hope to deepen the discussion around, and the commitment to, addressing inequality as a central tenet of strengthening security and rule of law in fragile and conflict affected settings.