The public is invited to "Message from Bosnia: Refugee Crisis, Peacebuilding, and Human Rights" on Tuesday, April 2 at 7 pm at the Bennington Free Library. Guest speakers Vahidin Omanovic, executive director of the Center for Peacebuilding in Bosnia, and international human rights lawyer Andrea Galindo will discuss the international refugee and migration crisis, and rebuilding trust, fostering reconciliation and building peace in war-torn parts of the world.

Vahidin Omanovic, a professional trainer in nonviolent communication and conflict resolution, is co-founder of the Center for Peacebuilding in Sanski Most, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Prior to founding the Center in 2004, he earned his Master's degree in International Relations at Brattleboro's School for International Training (SIT). He participates in peace workshops and trainings throughout the world, and in 2011 received the Bremen Peace Award from the Threshold Foundation, which named him the year's "Unknown Peace Worker."

Andrea Galindo, who holds a law degree from Universidad de Buenos Aires, is the former Director of the Robert F. Kennedy Training Institute, a core program of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights based in Florence, Italy. She now predominantly works as a consultant, conducting trainings worldwide for activists, students and NGO human rights workers, as well as corporate executives and government officials.

The talk is presented by the Bennington Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) as the newest installment of the spring International Lecture series it began in 2006. Refreshments will be served following the program, providing time for meeting informally with the speakers.