From Dublin to Dhaka — a global day for peace
On October 29, more than 2,000 people from 68 countries came together online for the inaugural Peace Begins at Home Summit — a one-day global gathering asking a simple but radical question:
What if peace truly begins at home?
Produced by the Center for Partnership Systems (CPS) and inspired by Dr Riane Eisler’s groundbreaking Partnership vs Domination framework, the Summit united 26 speakers from 17 countries, aged 14 to 94, spanning every continent and generation.
Across seven broadcast hours, participants shared stories, research, and lived experience showing how the patterns we learn early in life ripple outward to shape our families, communities, and societies.
“Peace is not just the absence of war,” said Dr Riane Eisler, Founder and President of CPS. “It is a way of relating — to ourselves, to others, and to our planet. The first place we learn this is in the home.”
Highlights and insights from the day
Speakers from across continents and disciplines offered powerful examples of peace in action:
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, former UN Under-Secretary-General, called for education systems that teach peace, tolerance, and global citizenship “in every classroom, every curriculum, and every conversation.”
Ela Gandhi, peace activist and former South African MP, reminded participants: “First, we must learn unconditional love for all. Second, we must learn forgiveness — and always do what is right, no matter the consequences.”
Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid Ireland, noted that “many homes feel like war zones. Domestic abuse is everyone’s business — and together we can create safer homes and communities for all.”
Dr Richard Davidson, neuroscientist and founder of the Center for Healthy Minds, showed that compassion and empathy can be cultivated and measured like any other skill.
Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, reflected on her son Jesse’s courage during the Sandy Hook tragedy: “Peace is possible everywhere. Our personal power is in our ability to choose, moment by moment, how we respond.”
Dr Gary Barker, founder of Equimundo, shared that when men participate in care work, they live longer, experience better mental health, and help close gender and wage gaps.
The Voices of the Future segment featured six youth speakers from countries including Afghanistan and the DRC, whose honesty and energy underscored why peacebuilding must include the next generation.
A movement of partnership and care
For Summit Director Gina Miltiadou, the day was both humbling and transformative.
One message in the live chat captured the heart of it all. A young Afghan girl, who joined the full seven-hour broadcast despite enormous personal risk, wrote:
“Thank you for this inspiring Summit. As an Afghan girl, I will leave with hope, courage, and the dream of peace in my heart.”
“Thinking about what it took for her to watch — creating a safe space, using a VPN, trusting that it mattered — both humbles me and fills me with pride that she felt part of it,” said Miltiadou.
“It reminded me that peace can’t be imposed; it has to be built — through curiosity, listening, and remembering that everyone is having their own experience.”
The moment captured what the Summit was truly about: people in real circumstances finding connection and courage through partnership.
The day also highlighted how many around the world are leading extraordinary initiatives with limited resources but immense heart and determination. As youth speaker Mursalina Amin shared:
“You don’t have to wait until you have experience or permission to lead. Start where you are. Use what you have. Your voice can open doors — not only for you, but for others too.”
Turning insight into action
The Summit closed with a Solutions Showcase led by Diane Williams, Founder of the Source of Synergy Foundation, spotlighting practical initiatives that apply partnership and care in real-world settings — from education programs to community peace-building models.
In the coming months, CPS will release a Peace Begins at Home Handbook capturing the Summit’s key learnings and practical insights for educators, policymakers, and communities worldwide.
Honouring a lifelong vision
For Dr Riane Eisler, now 94, the Summit marked a milestone in a lifetime devoted to transforming systems of domination into cultures of partnership. A Holocaust child refugee, cultural historian, and systems scientist, her work shows that the way we relate in our homes and families sets the template for every system we build — from politics and economics to education and the environment.
Through her Partnership vs Domination framework, Dr Eisler has inspired generations of leaders, educators, and changemakers to see that peace is not a distant ideal but a daily practice — beginning in how we treat one another.
The Peace Begins at Home Summit brought her message to a new generation and a global audience, translating decades of research and advocacy into lived stories and practical insights that people everywhere can apply in their own lives and communities.
A Peace Begins at Home Handbook will share the Summit’s key learnings more widely — extending the reach of this work and ensuring that Dr Eisler’s vision of partnership and care continues to inspire conversations about peace and equality for years to come.
The Peace Begins at Home Summit may have concluded, but its spirit endures — proof that when we nurture peace at home, we truly can transform the world. 🌿