News and Insight

Exclusion from decision-making, economic opportunity and access to basic services leads to inequalities that can be both a cause and effect of conflict.

The UK Government’s Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review, published this month, sets out the UK’s vision and approach to national security and international policy through to 2030. The Review includes some positive ambitions for peace and security, but there are already signs that words may not translate into effective action.

When opportunities to kickstart or re-start peace processes arise, knowing how to seize and sustain these moments is key. In this webinar, hosted with the United States Institute of Peace, we explore how and under what conditions diverse stakeholders to conflict - such as non-violent movements, mediation support actors and conflict parties themselves - can seize opportunities to build early peace processes in the midst of challenging conflict contexts.

Conciliation Resources has appointed six new members to its Board of Trustees: Christine Cheng, Nesta Hatendi, Dorothee Hutter, Jamille Jinnah, Liz Muir and Lucy Salek.

A new online database of women mediators has been launched today, designed to enable more women to play crucial roles in peace and mediation processes around the world.

It was witnessing the devastation of the Somalia conflict that convinced Florence Mpaayei she wanted to become a peacebuilder. Living in neighbouring Kenya, she felt the ripples of unrest that spread throughout the region in its aftermath, including the Rwandan genocide.

On 27 September 2020, an entrenched dynamic of escalation culminated in an all-out war between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the contested territory of Nagorny Karabakh. As many as 7,000 were killed in action on all sides. More than 170 civilians, a majority of them Azerbaijanis, were also killed. Some 130,000 were displaced from their homes, the majority of them Armenians in Nagorny Karabakh.

On 9 November, a Russian-brokered ceasefire declaration was signed, mandating the deployment of some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to the region. Through a series of interviews and articles, our South Caucasus Programme Director, Laurence Broers, analysed the developing conflict, the humanitarian crisis, the ceasefire declaration and what’s next for relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Peace and mediation processes have evolved rapidly over the past decade. How they are funded has a major impact on how effective such processes are. This webinar brought together peace practitioners with government and philanthropic donors to share insights, lessons and experiences of current practice for funding peacebuilding.

Conciliation Resources is saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Mohamed Yusuf Haji this morning in Nairobi. The organisation has worked closely with Senator Haji since 2012 in his capacity as the chairman of the Government of Kenya team, spearheading the peace talks between the Government of Ethiopia and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). Conciliation Resources was invited by the Kenya team to provide technical assistance to the peace process.

Conciliation Resources has appointed Diana Good, as the new Chair of its Board of Trustees. Diana has already served on Conciliation Resources’ Board for four years. She takes over from Dr David Donoghue, who will remain on the Board as a trustee.

In a rural village in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, Barbara Tanne is a leader for peace. Working with the village chief and other leaders she mediates conflicts within her community and prevents violence from breaking out. She is also an advocate for women – speaking out against gender-based violence and supporting women survivors. Recently, she was instrumental in helping ensure voting in the referendum happened peacefully.

Violent conflicts haven’t stopped for COVID-19. Neither have we. Throughout 2020 we have found creative ways to continue our vital work, and have adapted our peacebuilding efforts.