More than 190,000 people have been killed and over 3 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries as conflict tears Syria apart and destabilises its neighbours. International efforts to achieve a political solution have stalled.

Syrian NGO Madani, the London School of Economics and Political Science and Oxfam GB, will present a new report: Hungry for Peace: positives and pitfalls of local truces and ceasefires in Syria| at this House of Commons discussion.

The report is an in-depth academic analysis of local peace initiatives, which are beginning to attract international attention. If properly implemented and supported, such efforts potentially offer hope to civilians in desperate need of aid and may provide a foundation for broader peace efforts.

Panel speakers will discuss the on-going dynamics of the Syria war, the possibilities for a home-grown peace process and the elements needed for this to happen. In the process, they will attempt to make a series of recommendations for an integrated framework that could support the achievement of sustainable peace in Syria.

The panel will then take questions from the audience.

Speakers include:

Alistair Burt MP, Member of Parliament for North East Bedfordshire (Chair)

Dr Rim Turkmani, report co-author and Research Fellow, LSE

Camilla Jelbart-Mosse, Syria Campaign Manager, Oxfam GB

Mina Al Oraibi, Assistant Editor in Chief at Asharq Al-Awsat

This event is free and open to all but please allow 30-45 minutes for security screening.

The Entrance to the House of Commons Committee Rooms is via Cromwell Green:
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/facilities/maps/colmap.pdf|

For all media enquiries and responses, please contact the LSE Press Office at pressoffice@lse.ac.uk|