Peacebuilding for all? LGBTQ+ Genocide and Invisibilization (with Q+A)

Описание: Genocide also happens long before physical violence becomes overt, for example when any given group of people is denied the right to be seen, named, or even accounted for. This presentation examines the historical targeting of LGBTQ+ people using Stanton’s Ten Stages of Genocide as a base, however proposing a critical eleventh stage: invisibilization. This concept refers to the structural erasure of LGBTQ+ individuals through the historical denial of personhood, exclusion from legal frameworks, deletion from collective memory, and lack of access to protection mechanisms. The research upon which the presentation is based suggests that Invisibilization is not a passive omission but an active condition that legitimizes further harm.

The session bridges genocide studies with peacebuilding practice, highlighting both successes and failures in addressing queer communities. Case studies supporting the hypothesis above range from inclusive initiatives such as Colombia’s Gender Sub-Commission and Kosovo’s queer action plan to missions where LGBTQ+ people were entirely absent, such as Haiti’s MINUSTAH, Sudan’s UNMIS, and broader UN SEA (Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) protocols.

The goal is to map these practices thematically, raising visibility of how dominant peacebuilding paradigms narrowly address gender. The argument is that unless invisibilization is confronted, peacebuilding risks reinforcing erasure. This session contributes to Peace Week’s theme by calling for conflict-sensitive development and inclusive security that recognize LGBTQ+ rights as central to sustainable peace.

Speaker: Fernando Palacio, PhD

Dr. Fernando Palacio is a scholar and practitioner in peace and conflict studies with extensive international experience in higher education, humanitarian work, and human rights protection. He currently lectures at Doshisha University and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, teaching courses on peace and conflicts, civic engagement, and university social responsibility.

He holds a PhD and a master's in Peace and Conflict Studies from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, and a Master’s in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a Graduate Certificate in Mass Atrocity and Genocide Prevention from George Mason University’s Carter School. His current research focuses on genocide prevention, with particular attention to LGBTQ+ experiences and the role of universities in building cultures of peace.

Dr. Palacio has worked with UNICEF, UNESCO, and human rights organizations in Southeast Asia on child protection, refugee support, and documenting human rights violations. He also advises universities and networks on social responsibility, engaged research, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bridging academic inquiry with advocacy and practice.