Transitional justice in contemporary conflict resolution

This month, Wilton Park and the International Nuremberg Principles Academy brought together the fields of Transitional Justice and conflict resolution to explore how they could reinforce each other.

Taking the changing nature of the international order as a starting-point, the group looked at the trajectory of post-conflict justice and accountability around the world. This touched on Wilton Park’s own story of post-WWII reconciliation with German PoWs, and our history of dialogue on international justice.

In particular, we looked at the MENA region as both a zone of multiple, complex conflicts, and home to several prominent conflict resolution actors. With deep-dives on the role of faith, the complexities of conflict-related sexual violence, and the nascent Transitional Justice process in Syria, this event looked forward to conflict resolution agreements that provide justice for victims, accountability for perpetrators, and deterrence for future conflicts and atrocities.

“In situations where mass atrocities have been committed, our traditional mechanisms and tools to achieve justice are simply not sufficient any more.”

Watch Anna Myriam Roccatello of the International Center for Transitional Justice speak on the courage shown by victims of mass atrocities as they wait for redress.

Local currency finance: what works, what scales, what’s next?

At last week’s dialogue, we were delighted to witness the signing of two Letters of Intent (LOIs), marking a significant step forward in advancing local currency finance across emerging and developing economies. The first was the Unlocking Local Currency Initiative between Crown Agents Bank and TCX, and the second was the Deliverable Currency Initiative between TCX and Frontclear.

The signings address a critical challenge in development finance: much of the investment flowing into developing economies is provided in foreign currencies, while businesses and projects earn revenues in local currencies. This creates significant foreign exchange risk, leaving borrowers exposed to currency fluctuations that can increase debt burdens and deter investment. Local currency finance helps by matching financing with local revenues, reducing volatility and creating more resilient conditions for investment – with particular benefits for SMEs, climate infrastructure and women-led businesses.

The three-day dialogue brought together governments, multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, investors and market experts. The LOIs demonstrate a shared commitment to moving from discussion to delivery, and we are proud that Wilton Park provided the trusted space for these practical collaborations to take shape.

Upcoming events

Bridging the Millennium

Marking our 80th anniversary, in August we will convene historians, Wilton Park alumni, academics and other experts to explore Wilton Park’s history and legacy within the broader context of British foreign policy, reflecting on themes spanning the years from our foundation in 1946 and looking ahead to 2026.

The dialogue will examine the rationale for establishing and maintaining Wilton Park and engage in this historic context to draw lessons on Wilton Park’s continued importance in trust-based dialogue and as a multilateral facilitator.

In partnership with the Institute of Historical Research’s History and Policy Network, and the Heinz Koeppler Trust.

Adapting NATO’s deterrent to the new geopolitical landscape: 17th annual conference on extended nuclear deterrence and assurance

The 17th iteration of our annual conference on NATO deterrence will explore how NATO can and should adapt to the new geopolitical landscape. Key questions will be:

What is NATO’s deterrence strategy?

What impact has recent turmoil within and outside the Alliance had on it?

What are the main components of NATO’s deterrence posture and the relationships among them?

With US and allied commitments now in place to modernise and adapt that posture, what next steps are both necessary and possible?

Sport for development in the Global South: advancing female empowerment, inclusion and accessibility

Despite compelling evidence that participation in sport improves confidence, mobility, leadership capacity, educational outcomes, employability and wellbeing, women and girls still face systemic barriers that limit their ability to engage fully and safely in sporting environments. These challenges can be intensified for those from marginalised groups, including women and girls with disabilities, who encounter additional obstacles to access, visibility, and opportunity.

This dialogue, in partnership with Qatar Foundation, aims to catalyse collaboration, generate practical insights and shape the global policy agenda on inclusive sport for development.

Read more

Global Impact Group Roundtable

This month, the Global Impact Group Roundtable will explore how the UK Government can accelerate AI adoption among businesses. With AI tools holding the potential to add up to £550 billion to the UK economy by 2035, and the UK ranked second only to the US for productivity gains from AI, the stakes are significant — yet currently only 17% of SMEs, which make up 99.8% of all UK businesses, are embracing the technology.

The session will bring together participants to hear updates from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Business and Trade on digital adoption progress, examine the barriers holding SMEs back, and draw on international best practice to identify what successful AI adoption looks like. The outputs will help shape recommendations for Government as it pursues AI adoption as a national mission.

Securing elections in a rapidly evolving threat landscape

In September we will welcome a range of democratic allies to analyse the evolving threats and responses to election security. Across democracies worldwide, economic, social, and technological trends are causing the landscape of election security to evolve rapidly, requiring proactive and persistent knowledge-sharing and coordination. In this dialogue, the UK’s Joint Election Security Preparedness Unit will share its own approaches while inviting participants to contribute their own learning and innovation.

Recent events

From Declaration to delivery: towards a more resilient urban Commonwealth

This one-day event brought together Commonwealth High Commissioners and key Commonwealth stakeholders ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Drawing on the findings of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Coalition (CSCC) pilot, this dialogue will strategically advance implementation of the Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation, enabling discussion and development of the CSCC as a support for delivery of the Commonwealth Strategic Plan.

Working together on transitioning away from fossil fuels

Held on the margins of London Climate Action Week, this event provided an opportunity to explore country-specific priorities and needs as fossil fuel-producing countries in the Global South navigate pathways towards economic diversification and reduced reliance on fossil fuel revenues. The discussions built on recommendations being developed through the COP30 Presidency Roadmap on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in a Just, Orderly, and Equitable Manner and explored how international support could be better aligned to national needs and processes.

In partnership with the UK Government and Government of Brazil, with support from Climate Emergency Collaboration Group and E3G.