Quiet Diplomacy: Connection and Community
Tuesday 24 March 2026
19:00-20:30 (UK time)
Laurel Townhead
Woodbrooke and the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) working in partnership.
Is there a spiritual dimension to international relations? How does quiet diplomacy happen in practice and does it work? This session will explore how the Quaker United Nations Office fosters human connections in service of peace and justice, drawing on the values of the Quaker faith.
As global tensions rise and crises escalate, this 90 minute session will consider why Quaker witness at the United Nations in Geneva emphasises dialogue and how this can be relevant in other situations.
For QUNO, quiet diplomacy is an approach to supporting change that focusses on active listening, dialogue and finding common ground. It is a core part of how QUNO Geneva works.
We will hear from QUNO Geneva staff about how they approach quiet diplomacy. There will be time to explore the tools used to build trust and create safe and brave spaces and reflect together on how Friends can apply this approach in other situations.
The session will seek to answer:
• How does QUNO enable dialogue?
• Why quiet diplomacy, and why now?
• Is this in tension with speaking loudly and prophetically?
• What challenges arise from engaging in this way?
• How does Quakerism underpin this approach?
• How can we apply elements of this in other political contexts and our everyday lives?
This course will involve:
Accessibility info:
On the booking form, there is a chance for you to let us know about any accessibility or communication adjustments that will enable you to participate more fully in the course. Automated Zoom closed captions are available for all live sessions but if you feel you require more accurate closed captioning please email us directly in addition to booking.
See more courses in this category: Peace & Social Justice
