Steps to Peace

The international Peacewalk, a symbolic journey for peace, has begun its Slovenian leg in Ljubljana on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The walk, which started in January 2026 on the island of Finisterre in Spain, symbolically marking the “end of the world”, is set to conclude in Jerusalem by summer 2027. The entire route spans 24 countries, with multiple branches converging in October in Sarajevo. The main path follows the Jerusalem Trail, one of the longest pilgrimage and peace walks in the world. Organizers describe the walk as more than just a physical journey, it is envisioned as a school of peace, a traveling festival, and a campaign aimed at transcending cultural, religious, and national divides. Their response to polarization, wars, and growing social divisions is simple: walking together for peace. They emphasize that the walk is not a political project. It is not organized as a mass departure. Instead, it is a path that can be joined anywhere and at any time. The diversity of people who join the walk is considered one of its key features by Eve Marn, coordinator of the Balkan section of the journey. The Peacewalk was also inspired by the genocide in Gaza. However, organizers stress that their purpose is not merely expressing opposition or anger. “We did not want to be only against. Criticism is important, but we wanted to express something positive too,” explains Eva Marn. Thus, they see the Peacewalk as part of a broader desire for peace and as a space where alternative ways of responding to conflicts can be explored. The choice of walking as a method is also deliberate. Walking slows down the pace of life, gives time for reflection, and allows individuals to step away from daily routines into a different mode of living. “When you walk, you cannot be angry. That is the time when you can calm down,” adds Marn. Walking can be therapy, and above all, it is a process that encourages patience, listening, and meeting others. The decision to end the journey in Jerusalem is not accidental. The city has historically been a center of conflict and also a place where different religions and traditions have met. The path toward it is also an opportunity to reflect on what peace truly means. Marn attempts to understand peace broadly, not just as justice, but as addressing the causes of global inequalities, relationships between people, and the possibilities for coexistence among diverse communities. In Slovenia, the walk will take place from August 25 to September 2. Participants will travel from Ljubljana through Vrhnik, Logatec, Postojna, Pivka, Matavune, Trbošćica, and Kopar, ending in the community of Solčak in Hrvoje, from where the journey will continue toward Croatia. The journey toward Jerusalem also raises practical and security concerns, particularly crossing Syria, which has been largely closed in recent years. Many activists are heading to Peacewalk, driven by a shared vision of unity and hope. As the walk continues, it remains a powerful symbol of collective effort and peaceful resistance.