Ph.D student, Jihad (Rosty) Othman, joins global leaders at the 4th UN Global Peace Summit

Jihad (Rosty) Othman is a Ph.D. student from the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Manitoba, supervised by Dr. Lori Wilkinson, a St John’s College fellow. Recently, Othman participated in the prestigious Global Peace Summit in Bangkok, hosted by Humanitarian Affairs Asia. The summit brought together over 400 delegates from more than 40 countries, all united with the mission to advance peace, justice, and sustainable global harmony. 

Othman’s journey to the summit began with an invitation from the Head of the Sociology and Criminology Department. His passion for peacebuilding and social justice guided him to apply. In his application, Othman was asked to define peace and share how he could contribute to peacebuilding efforts. 

Peace is not merely the absence of war or violence, but the presence of cooperation, justice, well-being and respect for all. Peace can only be sustained in a community of justice. If you don’t have justice, you don’t have peace.

– / 5

For Othman, peace has a deeply personal significance. Having lived through the devastation of war as a child in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, his perspective on peace is shaped by his early experiences of hardship and displacement. He emphasizes that an individual’s measurement and standards of peace are influenced by their lived experiences.

When I started working in Canada at one of the local agencies supporting people who have mental health and addiction issues, many people would tell me it was a dangerous job to do here. It didn’t feel that dangerous because I’ve encountered more precarious situations back home.

At the summit, Othman was surrounded by like-minded individuals, all eager to share their experiences and contribute to global peacebuilding efforts. Delegates from around the world shared personal stories of survival in the face of unimaginable atrocities, highlighting the resilience and hope that can emerge from even the darkest circumstances.  

The stories were emotional, but they showed how resilient we are as human beings — how healing and recovery can take place, and how justice can be achieved.

One of the highlights of the summit for Othman was a study from an Australian scholar on the concept of a “peace index,” which aims to measure global peace and understand its complexities. He was also inspired by a Palestinian-American humanitarian activist who has been helping those displaced by conflict in Iraq, underscoring the importance of addressing gendered discrimination in peacebuilding.

Fleeing to a new country is never an easy journey, and for many participants at the summit, the challenges of adapting to a new life were only part of the struggle. Several shared how, even after escaping conflict and violence, they still grappled with feeling invisible in their new environments. Despite seeking safety, many found themselves marginalized and overlooked. Moreover, speaking out about issues like racism, discrimination, and hate often came at a personal cost.

Reflecting on the impact of the summit, Othman believes the lessons learned will influence both his research and his future work. “I’ve already started discussions with fellow delegates on how to implement the lessons from the summit into local peace initiatives,” he shared. Othman also integrates what he learned into his Sociology and Criminology classes. 

Othman’s experience at the summit reinforced his belief that peacebuilding is both a personal and collective responsibility. Whether addressing systemic injustices or healing from trauma, the journey toward peace is ongoing and requires the efforts of all individuals and communities. 

Loraine Remetilla