18 Oct 2004

Conference on Pacific Security pleased to hear voices of those caught up in conflict

8:30 am on 18 October 2004

One of the organisers of conference on conflict resolution in the Pacific says it has been important to hear the voices of those who have experienced violence.

The conference held at Canterbury University looked at the possibility of setting up an agency to be able to react quickly to emerging trouble.

The Securing a Peaceful Pacific conference attracted 250 delegates from throughout the region.

Dr Karen Nero of the University's MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies says says the highlight was the presence of people with first hand experience of conflict in the Pacific

"People who have working together to meet with elders, respected leadrs in the region to develop ways forward for fidning peace. We have peoples here from Fiji, from the Solomons, West Papua .."