A Legacy of Courage and Conversation: 40 Years of the International Peace Lecture
Launched in 1985, the International Peace Lecture continues to challenge, inspire, and convene voices for justice in its 40th year.
This October, the at The University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ celebrates 40 years of its International Peace Lecture. This landmark series has brought global changemakers and urgent conversations to campus since 1985.
The idea of a peace lecture at òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ dates back even further. Records show that the first such lecture was proposed on the eve of the Second World War, in 1939, at the University. However, it was not until much later, when former university lecturer and his colleagues secured institutional support and funding, that the series was formally established. The inaugural lecture was delivered by former Prime Minister , setting the tone for decades of thought-provoking contributions from speakers such as , and .
Churcher, a psychology Lecturer at the University, formed the Peace Lecture Appeal committee to raise the funds needed to launch the series. Prior to this, he had worked with colleagues to establish the òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ University Nuclear Disarmament Group (MUND), which collaborated with Greater òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ Council to assess and communicate the potential impact of a nuclear attack on the region.
Reflecting on the legacy, Churcher said:
A number of the lecturers have died, and a number of the people who I worked with to establish the lecture have died. But of course, what hasn't much changed is the amount of war in the world. It's got a lot worse, arguably. So, the series is still relevant, and I hope it is going to continue.
I thought it would be a good idea to try to establish something in the university that would have really broad support. It would be officially supported by the university, and it would last. It would be continuing.
The will take place on Wednesday, 8 October, featuring Madeleine Rees OBE, Secretary General of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. The latest lecture, organised by , Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies, will centre on Rees’s talk titled The Continuous Struggle: Women’s Rights in the Last Four Decades and the Backlash Against Progress, exploring the evolving fight for gender justice and the global forces resisting change.
Speaking on the series, Ramovic said:
For forty years, it has brought people together to confront difficult truths and imagine better futures. In a world where division is often louder than dialogue, creating space to discuss peace, justice, and human rights collectively is more vital than ever.
Over four decades, the International Peace Lecture has become a cornerstone of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ’s public engagement, amplifying voices from conflict zones, social movements, and international diplomacy. It continues to challenge audiences to think critically about the conditions for peace and the courage it takes to pursue it.
- Tickets are available for the hybrid event on .