| MEDIATION
Peacebuilding is essentially about long term processes of changing the structures, attitudes and behaviours which drive and sustain conflict and instability. However, there are critical junctures in conflictual situations where agreement needs to be reached amongst the conflict parties to resolve and collectively address key issues. In many settings, the conflict parties can be motivated, assisted and financed by third parties to sit down together to talk through these issues. If accepted, the third parties can provide important support through mediation and expert advice.
Mediation and dialogue processes and their professional application can increase the likelihood for sustainable peace. Their application ranges from both the official level between political elites to a societal level. At best, mediation processes are embedded and/or complemented through dialogue processes. Techniques and methodologies applied and substantive approaches can vary according to the underlying and contextual issues that have driven the conflict. Whilst mediation and dialogue processes might differ in terms of contextual issues, there are nevertheless some key principles as well as techniques that form the backbone of its practice.
Despite the potential of mediation and dialogue facilitation to be a key mechanism for conflict resolution and peacebuilding for the EU more generally, they are still underutilized and not yet fully understood. This IfP cluster, therefore, seeks to deepen the understanding and sensitivity of policy makers and practioners of the European Union institutions as well as non-state actors involved in mediation and conflict resolution through research, case studies, thematic papers and dialogue between experts and practioners. The work will cover country-specific settings in Europe (Kosovo, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia), Asia (Nepal and Aceh) and Africa (DRC and Sudan) and will draw out thematic issues and challenges (such as transitional justice, gender and DDR). The ultimate aim is to increase the capacity of the EU, as well as non state actors and the field, to conduct and/or offer more effective support to mediation and dialogue processes.
The IfP partners collaborating in this work are Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), European Peacebuilding Liason Office (EPLO), International Alert, International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and Partners for Democratic Change International (PDCI).
Cluster coordinator: Antje Herrberg
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