Centre for Escalation of Peace

ABOUT The Centre for Escalation of Peace (“CEP”) takes the view that peace is not just the absence of war. Peace cannot be taken for granted; constant effort is required to enhance it as an anchor in a sea of rapid and far-reaching strategic and socio-economic change. As such, peace must not merely be sustained, but escalated through various strategies & tactics akin to the pursuit of victory during war. With that in mind, the CEP has continuously sought to create platforms and establish programs that encourage the free exchange of ideas across borders, with a distinct focus on empowering young minds. Its dialogues & activities revolve around three ‘pillars of calmness’, namely (i) Youth and Education; (ii) Trade & Sustainable Development; and (iii) Society & Culture. ONGOING INITIATIVES Over the past five years, CEP has been convening various activities as a part of The Thimphu Seminars, which is the name of its engagement with Bhutan. Its ongoing India-Bhutan Dialogue (Track 1.5/2) is held every six months at a bilateral level. In January 2016, the CEP coordinated a two-week SOLA-VVS Immersion Programme for Afghan Girls in New Delhi in partnership with the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) and the Vasant Valley School (VVS), India. The India-Bhutan Cultural Exchange and Art Camp, which is a unique platform for artists of both countries to exchange ideas during artistic collaboration, was organised by the CEP for the first time in 2016/17 with participation from leading artists from both countries and the support of the India-Bhutan Foundation. In 2017, the CEP launched the Asia-Pacific Schools Initiative - a platform comprising of multiple annual programmes targeted at both school students & teachers that collectively aim at creating a network of future leaders for the region, developing and nurturing in each one of them the capacity to exercise “Leadership through Serene Strength”.