Peace Mediation Essentials
The Peace Mediation Essentials is a series of concise guidance notes for mediators. It aims at introducing into a topic related to peace mediation processes. Senior mediators may also use the Peace Mediation Essentials as refresher, source of inspiration or simply reference for further reading. The Series is funded by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs' Political Affairs Division IV.
Business Actors in Mediation Processes
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Title: Business Actors in Mediation Processes Authors: Damiano Sguaitamatti, Andrea Iff, Rina Alluri, Simon J A Mason Year: 2010 Publisher: Mediation Support Project (swisspeace / CSS ETH-Zurich) |
This Guidance Note aims to help mediators to assess the potential and limitations of engaging with business actors in peace processes. It provides mediators with an overview of different possibilities of how to include business actors in mediation processes, be it to mobilize the wider community, harness financial or logistical support to the process or to bring the business actors' knowledge to the process.
Decentralization, Special Territorial Autonomy, and Peace Negotiations
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Title: Decentralization, Special Territorial Autonomy, and Peace Negotiations Author: Nicole Töpperwien (State Concepts) in cooperation with MSP and the UN Mediation Support Unit Year: 2010 Publisher: Mediation Support Project (swisspeace / CSS ETH-Zurich) |
Power-sharing can be a key to peace: A lack of self-rule at the regional or local levels can be among the root causes of conflict, particularly in deeply divided societies. Future power-sharing arrangements, including decentralization and special territorial autonomy, can become necessary parts of peace negotiations and of developing a vision of the future organization of the state.
Dealing with the Past in Peace Mediation
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Title: Dealing with the Past and Peace Mediation Author: Political Affairs Division IV and swisspeace (in consultation with UN Mediation Support Unit) Year: 2009 Publisher: Mediation Support Project (swisspeace / CSS ETH-Zurich) |
Dealing with a legacy of gross human rights violations is one of the greatest challenges facing post-conflict societies. Experience suggests that there is a relationship between the ability to address this legacy in a comprehensive and inclusive manner, including initiatives to address root causes of conflict, and the potential to develop sustainable peace. This document was written by swisspeace and the Political Division IV of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. It was edited and published by the Mediation Support Project in consultation with the UN Mediation Support Unit
Federalism and Peace Mediation
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Title: Federalism and Peace Mediation Author: Nicole Töpperwien (State Concepts) Year: 2009 Publisher: Mediation Support Project (swisspeace / CSS ETH-Zurich) |
In order to reach a peace agreement, it may be necessary to develop a vision of the future state organization. In many conflicts, especially conflicts with an ethno-political component, a lack of power-sharing is amongst the root causes of conflict. Thus, future power-sharing arrangements, including federalism, can become a part of the agenda for peace. This "Peace Mediation Essential", which was written by State Concepts, in collaboration with the Mediation Support Project and in consultation with the UN Mediation Support Unit, gives an introduction to federalism. Mediators will have to consult additional resources for further details.
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Title: Gender and Peace Mediation Author: Cordula Reimann (swisspeace) Year: 2008 Publisher: Mediation Support Project (swisspeace / CSS ETH-Zurich) |
Without taking the gender-specific context of conflict and peace- building into account, negotiation processes lack substance and legitimacy and this may jeopardize their sustainability. This imperative is mirrored by the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on ÇWomen, Peace and SecurityÈ, which calls for the stronger participation of women in peacebuilding, the prevention of gender-based violence and protection of the rights and needs of women and girls during and after armed conflicts, and a gender-sensitive approach to peacebuilding. While bearing in mind all three components, this guidance note takes a gender-sensitive perspective to the specific context of peace negotiations.
