The UAB to host the conference "Communication in a world in conflict: narratives and resistance"

24/03/2025

The event will be attended by journalists and communication professionals who work on the frontline in the defense of human rights through decolonial narratives and resistance in conflict situations. The conference will be a unique opportunity to connect with experts and explore ways to reduce the impact of hate speech and misinformation and to make communication a tool for social justice.

The conference is organised within the framework of the UNIACT! (Universities in Action for Transformative Cooperation) project, promoted by all public and private universities in Catalonia. Led by the University of Girona and the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation, it includes significant participation of the UAB, UOC and UPF.  The conference is organised by the Fundació Autònoma Solidària with the support of the Faculty of Communication Studies of the UAB.

Highlights of the event

The opening ceremony will be attended by Juan José Perona, dean of the Faculty of Communication Studies of the UAB; Andrea Costafreda, general director of Development Cooperation of the Generalitat de Catalunya; and Esther Zapater, general secretary of the UAB.

The first presentation will be an inaugural dialogue on peace journalism and struggle, with Xavier Giró, journalist expert in conflict coverage, and Patricia Simón, reporter and researcher specialised in human rights. Moderated by Mònica Figueres, lecturer in the Department of Communication at the UPF and researcher in the JOVIS research group. The dialogue will discuss how journalism can promote peace narratives against the justification of war and how future professionals can contribute.

The second dialogue will focus on decolonial and feminist communication, with Florencia González Brizuela, researcher in interculturality and feminisms, and Santiago Giraldo, expert in conflict communication in Latin America. They will analyse how decolonial, feminist and anti-racist narratives contribute to a more just communication that respects human rights. The moderation will be in the hands of Montse Santolino, journalist and communicator of Lafede.cat.

One of the round tables will address hate speech, disinformation and power. Nereida Carrillo, expert in disinformation; David Bou, journalist of La Directa; and Carles Pont, specialist in risk and crisis communication, will discuss how these phenomena are spread through the media and social networks, and the role of artificial intelligence in their amplification. Sonia Herrera, expert in feminist studies, peace journalism and educational communication will moderate.

The protection of journalists at risk will also be discussed, with the participation of Alfonso Bauluz, president of Reporters Without Borders Spain; Isabel Pérez, expert in the Palestine/Israel conflict; and a journalist from the programme Barcelona Protegeix Periodistes by the Barcelona City Council and the Taula per Mèxic association.

Practical workshop and registration

In the afternoon, attendees will be able to participate in a free practical workshop to learn how to design a transformative communication campaign, with concrete strategies to combat misinformation and defend human rights. This workshop is especially designed for students and young professionals who want to acquire practical and applicable tools for their professional future.

The activity is free, but places are limited. For this reason, prior registration is required. For those who cannot attend in person, the first part of the day will be broadcast live.

For more information and to register to attend, please visit this link.