In his column for Serbestiyet, journalist Oral Çalışlar wrote about the recent event titled “The Importance of Language and the Role of Media in Peace Processes,” organised in Istanbul on 8 November by the Democratic Progress Institute (DPI) in collaboration with the Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DTSO).
Çalışlar reflected on the insights shared by journalists Brian Rowan and Owen Bowcott, who drew on their experiences from the Irish peace process. He emphasised that language is one of the most crucial factors in sustaining peace and that it is possible to develop a language of peace. At the same time, he noted that leaders and leadership mechanisms must be mindful of their own language.
Çalışlar also cautioned that social media can contribute to aggressive politics, underlining that accurate information helps safeguard peace and that journalists should remain aware of the destructive effects of hate speech.