The inaugural GCCT newsletter

TransConflict is pleased to present the inaugural Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation newsletter, showcasing the work of the GCCT and its members.

To download the GCCT newsletter in pdf format, please click here!

Introduction
TransConflict is pleased to present the first bi-monthly newsletter, which provides a host of insights into the work of the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation (GCCT) and its members. The main purpose of this newsletter is to a) share information about the work of the GCCT and its members to a wider audience, and b) to strengthen co-operation and co-ordination between GCCT members themselves and with other interested parties.

Index

  • 1) New members of the GCCT – learn more about recent additions to the GCCT.
  • 2) GCCT Members in Focus – Never Again Rwanda (NAR) – each edition we will showcase a different member of the GCCT.
  • 3) GCCT Insight and Analysis – this section provides an overview of the insight and analysis produced by members of the GCCT on a variety of conflict and conflict transformation related topics.
  • 4) GCCT Research – showcases both academic and field research undertaken by GCCT members, either individually or in conjunction with other organizations/institutions.
  • 5) GCCT Activities – in future, this section will allow members to share insights into their conflict transformation activities and initiatives from the prior two months.
  • 6) Follow the GCCT and the TransConflict

1) New members of the GCCT

The GCCT was pleased to welcome a host of new members in the past several months, including:

  • 1) EUROCLIO, the European Association of History Educators – promotes a responsible and innovative teaching of history based on multi-perspectivity, critical thinking, mutual respect, and the inclusion of controversial issues. The Association advocates a sound use of history education towards the building and deepening of democratic societies, connecting professionals across boundaries of countries, ethnicities and religions. It seeks to enhance the quality of history and citizenship education through capacity building for educators and producing innovative teaching tools. EUROCLIO has been able to define and pragmatically refine a methodology building on the practical work it carried out. Its approach is process-orientation centred and believes in reinforcing professional talents as fundamental resources for innovation and change.
  • 2) Zanzibar Peace, Truth and Transparency Association (Tanzania) – ZPTTA’s  activities have been inspired by the resurgence of political misunderstandings between ruling and opposition political parties in every multi-party election since 1995, result in conflict that distorts the social fabric in Zanzibar. ZPTTA is committed to addressing those political misunderstandings in order to safeguard Zanzibar communities.  In this respect, ZPTTA brings together communities and co-operates with institutions to promote peacebuilding and conflict transformation through negotiation, reconciliation, dialogue forgiveness and building a culture of peace.
  • 3) NGO Support Centre (Cyprus) – supports dialogue which contributes to strengthening Cypriot civil society and reinforces links between Cypriot Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on both sides of the divide, as well as links with international CSOs. The Centre also works to encourage dialogue which will lead to the reunification of Cyprus, upholding the principles of conflict transformation through:
    • i. Dialogue – engaging in discussions with civil society organisations in Cyprus for greater understanding between the divided communities;
    • ii. Lobbying – engaging decision-makers to work with grassroots communities during the on-going peace talks in Cyprus, encouraging grassroots groups to share their ideas and concerns with politicians;
    • iii. Capacity Building – working to build a strong civil society which works together across the divide in post-conflict Cyprus;
    • iv. Trust Building – seeking to develop greater trust through sustained engagement and interaction with community groups and individuals.

2) GCCT Members in Focus – Never Again Rwanda (NAR)

Each edition we will showcase a different member of the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation. This edition’s featured organization is Never Again Rwanda (NAR).

Please click here to read more about Never Again Rwanda’s conflict transformation efforts!

3) GCCT Insight and Analysis

This section provides an overview of the insight and analysis produced by members of the GCCT on a variety of conflict and conflict transformation related topics:

  • 1) Former prisoners and conflict transformation in Northern Ireland – The changing dynamics of ‘post conflict’ political discourse, coupled with the emergence of a new generation who did not necessarily live through the thirty year conflict, requires a re-imagining of conflict transformation by former prisoners. They need to move beyond discourses which informed their journey to the prisons and re-evaluate their roles in the current socio-political context.
  • 2) Conflict transformation – a long-term, gradual and complex process?TransConflict is pleased to present contributions to the fourth Peacebuilders’ Panel, which is designed to stimulate debate about peacebuilding and conflict transformation, focusing on the principle that “conflict transformation is a long-term, gradual and complex process, requiring sustained engagement and interaction.”
  • 3) Addressing the culture of violence in Kenya TransConflict is pleased to present a two-part analysis of the drivers of conflict in Kenya, focusing initially on the need for restorative justice – particularly where land matters are concerned – in order to address the emerging culture of violence.
  • 4) Kenya – the quest for restorative justice –  One clear element is that violence in Kenya has to do with community identities, particularly where the young males of society are concerned.
  • 5) Conflict in Rwanda – definitions and drivers –  the sources of conflict in Rwanda – and in Africa’s Great Lakes region, in general – can be divided into three categories: its colonial heritage, chronic bad governance and conflict-generating political systems.
  • 6) Rwanda – working for sustainable peace – Rwanda has shown ingenuity in conflict transformation thanks to the policy of National Unity and Reconciliation, as well as to the participatory and innovative justice system known as Gacaca.

To contribute analysis and insight to TransConflict.com, please contact us at office@transconflict.com

4) GCCT Research

In this section, GCCT members are invited to showcase both academic and field research, undertaken either individually or in conjunction with other organizations/institutions.

Human security through civil society in post-war Kosovo

This research identifies and explores the challenges to building gendered human security through local and international NGOs in Kosovo’s post-war NGO boom period.

Abstract

Kosovo’s transitional period was not just post-war, but post-communist; it lacked not only basic infrastructure, but a functioning political system. The international community, development theorists and academics focused Kosovo’s post-war reconstruction and development efforts towards the creation of a strong civil society, as it was and is a necessary and “stabilizing factor, and an instrument to bring about social cohesion” (Nietsch 2006: 6). Civil society is lauded as representative of the interests of citizen groups, including the marginalized and disadvantaged, as capable of monitoring human rights, being a ballast to the government, and capable of building bridges between communities.

Civil society is a fundamental part of a healthy, secure, democratic society. It is comprised of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) which I divide into three categories: 1. International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs); 2. Local Non-Governmental Organizations (LNGOs); 3. Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Many development-focused CSOs aim to promote democracy, peace, stability, or human security through their interventions, especially in post-crisis situations. Transcending human rights, human security provides a more holistic way of looking at security for nations and individuals, because to focus on the “real security needs of living people” is to focus on the needs of a nation (Licht 2006: 201). As a major pillar of human security is the respect for women’s human rights, customized ways of responding to gendered human security is critical in a post-crisis/post-war context because of the unique set of challenges women face.

In a ‘donor boom’, newly-created LNGOs (at times formed from a parent INGO) must build gendered human security into their organizational design as much as into their projects. To have scalable and sustainable interventions, to create a longer-term positive impact and ‘do’ more effective development, organizations must engage with human security to thrive. But what must they do to survive? This research identifies and explores the challenges to building gendered human security through LNGOs and INGOs in Kosovo’s post-war NGO boom period, focusing on five principal areas that threaten the survival of organizations.

About the author

Elizabeth Zherka is a graduate student at the University of Washington, Seattle pursuing a Master of International Studies from the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and a Master of Public Administration from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs.

5) GCCT Activities

In future, this section will allow members to share insights into their conflict transformation activities and initiatives from the prior two months.

To submit information about your own organization’s activities, please contact the GCCT at gcct@transconflict.com.

6) Follow the GCCT and the TransConflict

Click here to add your name to TransConflict’s e-Declaration in support of the principles of conflict transformation

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