Semarang, May 15, 2025 — The Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Diponegoro University, held an international guest lecture titled “War and Peace in the Modern World” in collaboration with Oorlogsgravenstichting (OGS) Indonesia, also known as the Netherlands War Graves Foundation. The event featured two prominent international speakers: Colonel Norbert Johannes Moerkens, the Dutch Defence Attaché for Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, and Ms. Eveline de Vink, Director of OGS in Indonesia.

Held at the PKM Hall, Building D of FISIP Undip from 09:00 to 12:00 WIB, the event was attended by students from various cohorts, particularly those enrolled in the courses War Crimes, Peace Crimes, and International Politics and Human Rights (PIHI).

The lecture was opened by Dr. S. Rouli Manalu, Vice Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at FISIP Undip. In her opening remarks, she emphasized the importance of raising student awareness of humanitarian issues, as well as deepening their understanding of transnational crimes and humanitarian advocacy amidst the complexity of global conflict.

The discussion was moderated by Palupi Anggraheni, M.A., a lecturer in the Department of International Relations and initiator of the lecture’s core theme. The lecture focused on the moral dilemmas of warfare, including real-world cases such as the use of child soldiers in armed conflicts.

One of the most engaging moments of the session was the interactive segment using the Mentimeter platform. Participants were asked to respond to ethical dilemmas such as: “As a soldier and peacekeeper, would you shoot a child soldier in a direct confrontation?” Two participants from each response—“yes” and “no”—were then invited to debate their positions live in front of the audience. The high level of student enthusiasm made the event feel far from a conventional academic seminar.

Colonel Norbert Moerkens shared his insights on the role of the Dutch Defence Attaché in fostering international military cooperation, including partnerships between the Netherlands and Indonesia. He also highlighted the presence of Indonesian-descendant special forces in the Netherlands, as well as bilateral collaboration in defense industries and conflict victim support.

Meanwhile, Ms. Eveline de Vink elaborated on the OGS’s mission of maintaining over 50,000 war graves around the world—including seven sites in Indonesia, which are the resting places of approximately 25,000 victims, comprising 75% civilians and 25% military personnel. She emphasized the importance of remembrance and peaceful dialogue as essential foundations for post-conflict reconciliation.

This guest lecture not only served as a space for critical reflection but also marked a milestone in collaborative engagement between Undip and OGS. Beyond that, it strengthened the Department of International Relations’ commitment to fostering global awareness and analytical capacity in understanding the dynamics of war and peace among its students.