News and Insight

Reimagining Victory is a digital series, developed by Conciliation Resources in partnership with the IWM Institute. The series sees leading journalists, peacebuilders, artists and academics discuss the concept of victory, and look at some of the most pressing issues surrounding conflict and peacebuilding in today’s world. As we mark 75 years since the end of the second world war, what does it really mean to ‘win’ a war today?

The Covid-19 pandemic has not paused conflict around the world – despite calls for a global ceasefire, researchers have found.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not paused conflict around the world – despite calls for a global ceasefire, researchers have found. The data comes from a new digital tracking tool developed by the University of Edinburgh, with support from Conciliation Resources and our strategic partners mediatEUr.

From North America to South Asia the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated societal conflicts promoting a rise in militarised responses from governments. But behind the headlines and stark images, community leaders, including women peacebuilders are stepping in to mediate and deescalate tensions.

If we want to see societies win the peace we need a concept of victory that is about justice and reconciliation, inclusion and equality.

For the second year running, mediatEUr assisted the Mediation Support Team of the European External Action Service (EEAS) to convene its Community of Practice on Peace Mediation through its Framework Contract for Mediation Support.

Across Nigeria, the Sahel and other parts of Africa, many communities seem locked in a worsening cycle of herder-farmer violence. The pain, suffering and loss from herder-farmer conflict is immeasurable and on a devastating scale.

2020 marks the 75th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day when the Allied nations celebrated victory over Nazi Germany and Japan. Today, as on-going conflicts descend into drawn out endgames, what does it really mean to ‘win’ a war and what challenges are faced when it comes to peacebuilding, and post-conflict healing? These are the questions central to Reimagining Victory, a new digital series that explores the state of war and peace in relation to twenty-first century conflict.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread rapidly through the highly militarised region of Jammu and Kashmir, the need for sustained communication and collaboration across the Line of Control has become more important than ever. Rather than distracting from the divisions caused by conflict, the pandemic is deepening them. But can a collaborative response to COVID-19 become a tool for peacebuilding in this divided region?

Yesterday the UK announced the merger of the Department for International Development (DFID) with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This move presents real risks but also potential opportunities for the UK’s contribution to reducing conflict and supporting peace overseas.

Throughout May and June 2020, mediatEUr, in consultation with its former members and now Associates of Conciliation Resources, identified and developed its key priority points and recommendations for the current revision of the