CROSS-REGIONAL DIALOGUES: LAUNCHING AN INFORMAL PLATFORM OF LOCAL PEACEBUILDING
By Marko Lehti, Élise Féron, Sebastian Relitz, Vadim Romashov
A major challenge to supporting the transformation of the protracted conflicts in Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Transdniestria is presented by the fact that the conflict settings have been solidified as a new normality, and the polarized division between neighbors and within societies has been institutionalized. Calling these conflicts “frozen” is not only misleading but also politically counterproductive. At the same time, formal peace processes at the Track-One level often remain stalled. There is therefore a need to rethink how mediation and dialogue formats might better address intractable conflict settings and support conflict transformation.
EARLY WARNING, CONFLICT PREVENTION AND WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS
By Élise Féron
How can the early warning and conflict prevention work undertaken by women’s organizations be effectively supported in protracted conflict situations?
THE IMPACT OF GRASSROOTS WOMEN’S PARTICIPATORY MEDIATION AND DIALOGUE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACE AGREEMENTS
By Sara Koopman
There is a strong international consensus on the importance of involving women as a key way to support peace processes, and a growing recognition by international actors of the importance of empowering internal mediators who use a variety of informal techniques including facilitation and dialogue.