About

The International Center for Dialogue and Peacebuilding focuses on peacebuilding and conflict prevention, supporting and advancing work on: early warning; disarmament; climate, water and food security; empowerment of women and girls; indigenous rights; and the promotion of youth led civic engagement.

The Center convenes leaders from government, international organizations, business, and civil society to dialogue and take action around drivers of and solutions to conflict—providing a space for building sustainable local, national and international peace and security. With an office in the U.S. and Norway, the Center is working on building easily accessible physical site that would provide an optimal environment conducive to national and  international dialogue, mediation, and advanced learning.

The Center emerged as the legacy project of the United States’ and Minnesota’s bid to host the 2023 World’s Expo. The Center’s leadership has continued to advance a vision of a site and center of peace and mediation located in the Twin Cities.

Leadership

Gina Marie Torry

Director, International Center for Dialogue and Peacebuilding

Gina Torry is an international peace and security expert specializing in the protection of civilians and support to mediation and peace processes. For almost two decades, she has worked extensively with the United Nations and its Member States, including the United Nations Security Council and the Department of Peacebuilding and Political Affairs Mediation Support Unit, where she provided support to UN mediators and technical support to the drafting of ceasefire agreements.

Ms. Torry is the author of the United Nations “Guidance for Mediators: Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Ceasefire and Peace Agreements.” She played a role in the drafting of the 2013 ceasefire agreement in Central African Republic – the first ceasefire agreement to contain robust provisions for addressing conflict-related sexual violence. In 2009, she worked with members of the United Nations Security Council, particularly the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, to adopt Security Council resolution 1889 – requiring the financing of women’s peacebuilding and security needs and the development of indicators to measure the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

During her tenure as Coordinator of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, Ms. Torry helped lead advocacy efforts that resulted in the adoption of the first United Nations Security Council resolution addressing and recognizing conflict-related sexual violence as a threat to the maintenance of international peace and security – Security Council resolution 1820. In 2007, Ms. Torry was invited, as Coordinator of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, to address the United Nations Security Council in an Open Debate.

Ms. Torry holds a Bachelor of Arts from the American University of Paris and a Master of Science from the London School of Economics.

Ingrid Stange

Chair, International Center for Dialogue and Peacebuilding

Ingrid Stange has been a leading force in the effort to foster a greater culture of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility in Norway.

She serves on the board of directors of a number of organizations promoting social innovation, developing sustainable business in challenged countries, and meeting climate challenges. She serves on the advisory board of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, the Sahara Forest Project, and the IIX (Impact Investment Exchange, Singapore). She has founded the Norwegian NGO Partnership for Change focusing on empowering women and youth to build economic independence through education and business development.

Ms. Stange is associate fellow at the World Academy of Art and Science and she is a board member of Queen Sonja’s International music competition. She has focused on social business and venture philanthropy for the past 25 years, introducing the Montessori School system in Norway and establishing several foundations focusing on dignity for challenged children and youth.

Partnership for Change US is transitioning into the International Center for Dialogue and Peacebuilding.