Opportunities for peace in Colombia

In this interview with Diario 15 (Bucaramanga, Colombia) Kristian Herbolzheimer, Director of Conciliation Resources' Colombia programme, reflects on opportunities for peace in Colombia based on international trends and developments. He suggests the need to acknowledge and build on multiple and parallel paths to peace that can and need to work even in the absence of a formal negotiating table.

United Nations Guidance for Effective Mediation

The United Nations Guidance for Effective Mediation was issued as an annex to the report of the Secretary-General on Strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution (A/66/811, 25 June 2012).

Colombia: New hope, old challenges

It’s 10 years since the last negotiations between the Government of Colombia and FARC. Following the recent announcement of upcoming talks between the two, Kristian Herbolzheimer reflects on this lost decade and some of the challenges that must be confronted now in order for all Colombians to have a stake in future peace.

Politics and mediation: The Schlaining Process

In these three chapters the authors describe the Schlaining Process: one of the few processes of unofficial diplomacy, involving work on conflict transformation with both Abkhaz and Georgian officials, politicians and civil society activists over 10 years. This section describes the interesting and complex process, which although essential, came up against a number of “realpolitik” obstacles.

Undermining the LRA: Role of Uganda's Amnesty Act

Societies faced with intractable conflict have to seek ways of breaking out of cycles of violence. For as long as war has existed, amnesties have been used for encouraging armed groups to abandon their fight. Barney Afako examines amnesty in relation to the Lord’s Resistance Army conflict. Where to now that the Amnesty Act has lapsed?

From youth dialogue to youth action: It's not an event, it's a process

What role can young people play in shaping political culture and addressing social problems? Twenty young politicians and civic activists from the South Caucasus recently travelled to Edinburgh and London with the aim of exploring answers to this question. Mira Sovakar reflects on how they're working to build engagement and mutual trust.

Lebanon: a fate beyond its control?

In the face of social concerns within the country and a confessional system that favours entrenched elites, where does ownership of Lebanon's post-war situation and future lie? Capturing a snapshot of Beirut during the launch of issue 24 in our Accord series, Zahbia Yousuf asks how peacebuilders can meaningfully engage with those who have a stake in the status quo, and those who are hungry for change.

Building structures for peace

Where in the world does an armed revolutionary group and the standing government of the day join together to develop the leadership and management capacity of the armed group for its own future? In Mindanao, in the Republic of the Philippines, through the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute.
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