On the occasion of the International Week of Nonviolence, the Lebanese Association for Sustainability and Social Responsibility – LASSR, in cooperation with MUBS University, organized a cultural forum on social responsibility, the culture of nonviolence, and local peacebuilding. Wednesday, October 7, 2026 - MUBS University campus in Aley

LASSR and MUBS Organize a Cultural Forum on Social Responsibility, Nonviolence, and Building Local Peace

On the occasion of the International Week of Nonviolence, the Lebanese Association for Sustainability and Social Responsibility – LASSR, in cooperation with MUBS University, organized a cultural forum on social responsibility, the culture of nonviolence, and local peacebuilding.

The forum was held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the MUBS University campus in Aley, under the title:

“Social Responsibility and the Culture of Nonviolence: A Partnership for Local Peace.”

The event was attended by Ms. Sahera Matawea, Chairperson of the MUBS Board of Trustees and Vice President for Administrative Affairs; Dr. Hisham Ajib, representing MP Akram Chehayeb; Mr. Munir Barakat, President of the Lebanese Leftist Movement; Sheikh Riad Atallah, President of Al-Safa Sporting Club and member of the Druze Religious Council; Mr. Samir Chehayeb, President of the Aley Traders Association; Mr. Talal Mlaeb, Director of External Relations at MUBS; Sheikh Makram Masri, representing Al-Irfan High School – Soufar; Ms. Nawal Bou Ezzeddine, Principal of Abadiyeh Public School; and Dr. Soussan Chehayeb, Head of the Finance Department at the Lebanese University – Faculty of Business Administration and Management, Branch IV – Aley.

The event also brought together representatives of the University of Nonviolence and Human Rights (AUNOHR), 50/50, the Shamlan Social Welfare Foundation, the Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD), as well as a number of mayors, mukhtars, civil society and local associations, alongside MUBS administrative and academic staff and students, students from the Lebanese University – Faculty of Business Administration and Management in Aley, and a number of academic, social, community, and local figures and representatives of associations and institutions.

Following the Lebanese National Anthem, Dr. Firas Zeidan, Secretary of the Lebanese Association for Sustainability and Social Responsibility – LASSR, emphasized that peace is not merely the absence of violence, but rather a culture and a daily practice based on dialogue, respect, justice, and the ability to live with differences. He stressed that peace is a shared responsibility that begins with the individual and the family and extends to schools, universities, institutions, and civil society.

He also highlighted the importance of the partnership between LASSR and MUBS in transforming knowledge and dialogue into practical initiatives that serve the community. He reaffirmed LASSR’s belief that social responsibility begins with awareness, develops into participation, and ultimately creates a positive and sustainable impact that serves society, strengthens the culture of peace, and makes it a daily practice and a shared responsibility.

The forum opened with a presentation entitled “Reading Contemporary Violence: From Humans to Technology,” prepared by Rita Ziyada of the Cultural Educational Institute for Development and Research (CEIDR), which was launched by MUBS in January 2025. The presentation addressed the importance of scientific research in understanding contemporary transformations and promoting knowledge, awareness, and research partnerships.

Dr. Ogharet Younan: Nonviolence as a Culture and a Struggle for Peace and Justice

Dr. Ogharet Younan, researcher, academic, and founder of the Academy of Nonviolence and Human Rights – AUNOHR, addressed the concept of nonviolence as a human and strategic choice for building peace and justice, rather than simply a rejection of violence.

She emphasized the importance of developing plans, organizing community action, and creating effective means of achieving peace, while highlighting the role of youth, schools, universities, and civil society in establishing a culture of nonviolence.

Dr. Ramona Al Danaf: Social Responsibility as a Practical Foundation for Peacebuilding

For her part, Dr. Ramona Al Danaf, Founder and President of LASSR, emphasized that peace and sustainable development are interconnected concepts: there can be no sustainable development amid conflict, and no sustainable peace amid poverty, marginalization, and the absence of justice.

She stressed that social responsibility is a shared responsibility among individuals, institutions, and the state, and that universities and students constitute a key link in promoting dialogue, acceptance of others, and respect for differences, while transforming values into initiatives and practices that serve society.

Dr. Fadi Abou Allam: Nonviolence and Dialogue as Tools for Building Peace

Dr. Fadi Abou Allam, President of the Permanent Peace Movement, addressed nonviolence as a human and societal approach to addressing conflicts, based on respect for human rights and dignity, dialogue, understanding, and the search for sustainable solutions.

He highlighted the heavy human, social, and economic costs of wars, emphasizing that peacebuilding requires respect for rights and justice, as well as cooperation among the state, civil society, educational institutions, and the media. He also stressed the importance of using social media to promote a discourse of peace and counter hate speech.

Dr. Hatem Allami: The University as a Key Space for Building Citizens and Peace

The presentations concluded with remarks by Dr. Hatem Allami, President of the MUBS Board of Trustees, who emphasized that pluralism does not contradict unity; rather, it represents a source of richness for society when it becomes a space for dialogue and cooperation.

He addressed the transformations brought about by the digital age to the concepts of citizenship and identity, stressing that universities are not limited to providing knowledge and degrees, but also play a fundamental role in developing aware and responsible citizens and promoting a culture of dialogue, acceptance of differences, and peace.

He further emphasized that university students are not only the future of society, but also an integral part of its present and bear responsibility for shaping its future by transforming knowledge into behavior and initiatives that serve society locally and globally.

The forum concluded with an open discussion and Q&A session between the speakers and the audience, reaffirming the importance of sustaining dialogue and partnerships among universities, civil society, and local institutions in order to strengthen the culture of peace and social responsibility.