The fifth GCCT newsletter

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

Introduction

TransConflict is pleased to present the fifth 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.

Download the GCCT newsletter in pdf format

To read previous versions of the GCCT newsletter, please visit:

1) New members of the GCCT

The GCCT was pleased to welcome a host of new members in the past several months, including (click on the links below for further information):

  • Centre for Research, Documentation and PublicationKosovo – advocates for transitional justice through the development of objective memory and the promotion of initiatives that normalize community and regional relationships. The Center’s long term vision is to develop methods for Dealing with the Past that may be helpful in constructing a history of Kosovo that dispels the two opposing victim-only myths. In doing so, CRDP will be the central advocates of Dealing with the Past issues in Kosovo, including economic losses, and documentation and archives.
  • Samadana/mSri Lanka – works to achieve a multi-ethnic and peaceful society in which people have the ability, courage and willingness to manage their own conflicts in a non-violent way by providing the necessary knowledge and skills, whilst creating a safe, neutral space for differing parties to discuss their problems. The situation in Sri Lanka bears testimony to the need to promote a culture of non-violence. Leaders and the community at large, however, remain unconvinced about the liberating and transformational power of non-violence.
  • Advocates for Youth and Health DevelopmentNigeria – a youth led organization engaged in peace promotion, conflict resolution, human rights and economic development, primarily through capacity-building, advocacy, research and documentation. AYHD’s vision is to create a Nigerian society in which every Nigerian, young or old, works towards peacebuilding, intercultural harmony, social and political integration, justice, economic and health development. AYHD’s mission is to work diligently, hand-in-hand with all stakeholders – parents, teachers, students, policymakers, community leaders etc. – to empower youth in the fields of peacebuilding, political participation, human rights, justice and economic development.
  • Building Community InitiativesUgandafocuses on building “self-reliant communities” in the Karamoja region. A flourishing community offers a peaceful and humane existence in which people are not only able to make their voices heard, but can also make use of the opportunities for self-fulfilment. BCI upholds the principles of conflict transformation by promoting non-violence; clearly understanding conflict stages and interventions; working with all parties to peacefully address conflict in the community; and understanding that everybody has a role in conflict transformation.

2) GCCT Members in Focus – Movement Against Violence and Impunity in Africa (MAVIA)

Each edition will showcase a different member of the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation. This edition’s featured organization is the Movement Against Violence and Impunity in Africa (MAVIA) from Liberia.

Learn more about the work of the Movement Against Violence and Impunity in Africa (MAVIA) from Liberia

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 (click on the links below to read the entire article):

  • On reconciliation in Kosovoby Nora Ahmetaj – The Balkans, in general, and Kosovo, in particular, will not come to terms with the past without real political determination and recognition. The process of reconciliation cannot be taken as a separate process in Kosovo, since the legacies of the armed conflict affected all countries in the Former Yugoslavia, and thus needs to be addressed as such.
  • Local peacebuilders demand an end to conflict in Kashmir – by Zafar Iqbal – As the Kashmir peace process falters, cross-border skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani forces are becoming more frequent, and innocent people are being caught in the crossfire. Local peacebuilders are demanding this change and the peace process be brought back on track.
  • A waiting game – Syria through the lens of conflict transformationby Kirra Hughes – Looking at Syria through the lenses of a few selected Principles of Conflict Transformation can offer new suggestions for peaceful actions as the fatigue of violence continues to grow.
  • Kashmir – an integral part of what?by Shams Rehman – The dispute over Jammu and Kashmir has long been discussed from an Indian or Pakistani perspective, ignoring the views of those Kashmiris who feel that they have been denied their right to self-determination for over six decades.
  • Two roofs over one schoolby Martino Bianchi – The evolution of the protests over the school in Konjević Polje seems to be the product of more profound social and political dynamics in Bratunac municipality, and indeed in the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Palestine (and Syria) and Kosovaby David B. Kanin – Regarding existential, zero-sum struggles it matters which side has more options.
  • Addressing human rights violations in the Armenian armed forcesby Edgar Khachatryan – With human rights violations in the Armenian Armed Forces having become a taboo subject, Peace Dialogue used simulations to raise awareness about the situation faced by soldiers, thereby helping breakdown the culture of silence that prevailed.

4) GCCT Research and Activities

Global Operational Peace Support (Global OPS) Launched

Global OPS is the world’s only platform providing customized professional support for professionals, practitioners and policy makers in the field. Global OPS provides on-line and on-site modules offering customized technical assistance, coaching, mentoring and communities of practice to support leadership and practitioners in the field to improve the quality, impact and effectiveness of your work and the programmes of your agency and mission.

Background

Global OPS has been created to respond to a specific need in the field: to ensure that practitioners, policy makers and professionals working on key conflict issues have the support they need and the latest up-to-date access to key lessons, resources, materials and guidance for effective programming, practice and implementation.

Vision and Mission

Global OPS works to improve Peacebuilding, Peacekeeping and Peacemaking Impact and Effectiveness through targeted, customized support and assistance to professionals in the field.

  • Vision – For practitioners, agencies, organizations and governments dealing with conflict situations, peacebuilding, peacemaking, peacekeeping, prevention and post-war recovery to be able to improve their practice, policies and impact by having available to them the breadth of knowledge, expertise, and lessons available in the field – customized for their needs, realities and context – and linked to a world-wide community of practice.
  • Mission – To ensure that practitioners, policy-makers and professionals in the field receive customized support, coaching and assistance to improve the quality, impact and effectiveness of their work.

How Global OPS works

Global OPS modules are delivered both on-line and on-site. A customized on-line platform has been created to host on-line modules which address specific professional areas (topics) and provide participants with:

  • State of the art professional knowledge, training and expertise on that issue
  • Direct coaching, technical assistance and support to assist you in a) the work you are doing on the ground, b) the programme/mission of your organisation, ministry, agency, and c) implementing your mandate/terms of reference.

They are specifically designed for busy, full-time professionals working in the field. Modules are delivered to enable you to participate while working. They provide the specific benefit of giving you a framework of support, coaching, assistance and professional development on your exact thematics/areas of work.

In partnership with the International Peace and Development Training Centre (IPDTC), Global OPS also provides on-site programmes at IPDTC’s Global Academy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania and Executive Leadership Programmes in London.

Agencies, Ministries, Missions and Organisations may also request customised Global OPS modules to be delivered exclusively for their staff, partner organisations and specific stakeholder/participant groups.

Impact

Global OPS is about impact. Its aim is to improve the impact of peacebuilding, peacemaking, peacekeeping, prevention and post-war recovery in the field. OPS has been created to help you – and your agency, mission, organization or ministry – to improve your capacity to achieve real impact and change.

Too much policy and practice to address key conflict issues in the field has little – and sometimes no – impact (or negative impact). Anyone working with conflict issues has seen the challenges of poorly designed, poorly planned, and poorly implemented missions and programmes. At the same time, the challenges – the complexity of the issues we’re dealing with and the sometimes difficult contexts and realities we’re facing in addressing them – can be significant. Global OPS is designed to serve the needs of professionals and their agencies, ministries and organizations. It has been built to help you achieve greater, real impact. Each OPS Module will be customized to your needs as practitioners, policy makers or professionals in the field. Through the chosen modules, you will engage with leading experts with in-depth practical experience and knowledge of the field – whose purpose is to be there to assist you in the actual work you are doing. Your fellow participants are practitioners, policy-makers, diplomats and professionals coming from across relevant agencies, institutions, organizations, ministries and missions. Support will be customized – designed to help you in the actual work and specific contexts you are involved in. OPS is not abstract, theoretical or ‘pre-packaged’, as many on-line and many on-site courses available today. It has been designed by experienced policy makers and practitioners, for experienced policy makers and practitioners. It is a professional service. Module Leaders are leading practitioners and experts in their field. Participants are practitioners in key positions, addressing the topic of the module. Through the module, you will have the opportunity to take up the real / actual issues you are facing on the ground, in your context, in your work, and receive coaching, guidance and technical assistance to improve your policy and practice, and to improve your impact as a professional in the field.

OPS is about changing the way we do peacebuilding in the world today. It’s about bringing the best of our global experience and lessons developed in a wide-range of contexts and making them immediately available to practitioners and policy makers. It’s about creating a professional community of practice, and ensuring that people in key positions have the support they need to do peacebuilding better.

5) GCCT Advocacy

This section provides an opportunity for GCCT members to raise awareness about particular advocacy and lobbying campaigns they are pursuing.

With human rights violations in the Armenian Armed Forces having become a taboo subject, Peace Dialogue used simulations to raise awareness about the situation faced by soldiers, thereby helping breakdown the culture of silence that prevailed.

Learn more about addressing human rights violations in the Armenian armed forces

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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