The European Platform on Conflict Prevention and Transformation
- Issue 10 Issue 10: Editorial – humanitarianism under threat
- 1 Échange Humanitaire No.10 : Bulletin d’information
- 2 Conflict resolution training in another culture: lessons from Angola
- 3 Sierra Leone: an attack on humanitarianism
- 4 Challenges to humanitarian agencies in the field: considering the options
- 5 The recruitment of emergency personnel: different agency perspectives
- 6 Policy and practice: developments around aid agency security
- 7 Assistance strategy for Afghanistan: UN 'business as usual' or a new model of partnership in complex political emergencies?
- 8 The Ottawa Convention and the Nobel Prize: two victories in the fight against anti-personnel mines
- 9 The European Platform on Conflict Prevention and Transformation
- 10 Project for a humanitarian security network
- 11 Sphere Project Progress to Date
- 12 Cambodia (February 1998)
- 13 Congo-Brazzaville (February 1998)
- 14 Sri Lanka (February 1998)
- 15 Liberia (February 1998)
- 16 Kosovo (February 1998)
As attacks on humanitarianism grow and the spotlight has been turned on the role of NGOs in fuelling conflict, so NGOs are increasingly looking towards advocacy at the level of policy making as a means of addressing human rights abuses which they are powerless to tackle in the field. Set up following the European Conference on Conflict Prevention (February 1997) hosted by the National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO) in Amsterdam, the European Platform on Conflict Prevention and Transformation seeks to coordinate NGO action and support for conflict prevention policy making at EU level.
The 1997 Conference resulted in the Amsterdam Appeal, an action plan for European leaders which highlighted key concerns for an effective EU approach to preventing conflict and outlined key advocacy issues for NGOs. The Appeal recognised the need for multiple actors and coalition building in strengthening pressure on EU governments. The Platform was a direct result of this expressed need, seeking to: facilitate networking; support the establishment and functioning of national platforms; encourage cooperation and exchange of information in advocacy and lobbying activities; and act as a catalyst for innovative activities. Three main areas of activities for 1998 are scheduled to include:
identification of relevant actors, experts, publications and events in the field of conflict prevention and resolution resulting in an updated version of the 1996 Prevention and Management of Conflicts: an International Directory first published by NCDO
the Directory, together with findings from basic surveys of prevention activities in the main international conflict areas, will be made accessible through a dedicated website which will also offer a monthly bulletin and calendar of events
education and awareness raising aimed at the public, media, formal education systems, NGOs and churches in the form of television documentaries, field trips for journalists and the development of an educational rapid response system; advocacy and lobbying, initially focused on the British Presidency of the EU.
The Platform is guided by a Steering Committee composed of representatives of the Life and Peace Institute, Sweden, Saferworld and International Alert, UK, Flemish NGO Consultation on Conflict Prevention, Belgium, German Network on Civilian Conflict Transformation/Berghof Research Centre, Germany, Centre for Applied Studies in International Negotiations, Switzerland, and the Foundation European Centre for Conflict Prevention, The Netherlands, and the secretariat is based at the European Centre for Conflict Prevention.
It will be interesting to see how the initiative develops the recent focus on conflict prevention activities is still the subject of considerable debate, raising questions such as: whether the existence of conflict as a motor of change is always bad and therefore always to be prevented; how much donors are reaching towards NGOs to fill a gap in their own foreign and diplomatic policy without real analysis of their comparative advantage; and whether without real coordination, NGOs as peace-makers will confuse more than they clarify. However, the establishment of a forum for debate of such issues is perhaps encouraging if such questions are raised. The objective of providing concerted pressure on EU governments (and it is to be hoped the EU itself) is certainly to be applauded. It remains to be seen if such a wide coalition of interests can achieve the sort of coordination and cooperation necessary to make such an initiative work.
Prevention and Management of Conflicts: An International Directory, 1996/NCDO-Amsterdam
The directory is comprised of two parts. Part I offers an introduction to the subject with chapters contributed by K. Rupesinghe, P. van Tongeren, A.J. Jongman and A.P. Schmid and a typology of conflict prevention activities. Part II lists African, American, Asian, Australian and European initiatives and intergovernmental organisations and gives case studies of their work.
The European Platform on Conflict Prevention and Transformation
PO Box 18184, 1001ZB
Amsterdam
tel: +31 (30) 253 7528
fax: +31 (30) 253 7529
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