What's Being Done On . . . Democracy NGO Participation in Formal Peace Negotiations?

Introduction General Resources Women's Organizations Resources Democratic Republic of Congo: A Short History of the Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo Profile of La Ligue des Electeurs Liberia: A Short History of the Conflict in Liberia Profile of the Mano River Women's Peace Network Sri Lanka: A Short History of the Conflict in Sri Lanka An Interview with the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka Chechnya: A Short History of the Conflict in the Chechen Republic An Interview with the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society in Europe

General Resources

The following is a compilation of Web sites, publications, declarations, and manuals that may be useful to others wishing to find out more about democracy NGOs and peace negotiations. The peace agreements that ended the wars in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the 1997 Russian-Chechen peace agreement, are included. If you wish to suggest additional resources for consideration for inclusion, please write to the World Movement for Democracy.

Web sites:

Conciliation Resources (CR) offers a wide variety of information and training materials on peace processes and civil society, including the "Accord" series, consisting of a variety of research projects that include detailed narrative and analysis on different peace processes and themes, such as public participation in peace making. In addition, CR has links to policy briefings and a peace agreement index. www.c-r.org

International Crisis Group (Crisis Group) produces analytical reports detailing conflict zones, and publishes "Crisis Watch," a monthly bulletin that provides a regular update on the state of conflict or potential conflict around the world. It features conflict profiles, research resources, links to other NGOs and research institutes, speeches, articles, and interviews. www.crisisgroup.net

United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has links to the full texts of agreements signed by the major contending parties ending inter- and intra-state conflicts around the world since 1989. USIP also regularly publishes an array of comprehensive analysis and policy recommendations on the prevention and resolution of conflict. www.usip.org/library/pa.html

Congonline.com offers information on the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) history, politics, geography, economics, events, culture, tourism, and current affairs. It also acts as a host to various Congolese NGOs and newspapers. In addition, the site has a link to an "Inter-Congolese Dialogue (ICD) Special" that provides access to a variety of important documents and newspaper articles pertaining to the ICD. www.congonline.com; www.congonline.com/DI/ (In French)

European Center for Conflict Prevention (ECCP) compiles lists of key publications in the field of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Every three months, a new list that includes all the latest publications that ECCP knows of appears on its Web site. ECCP also publishes the "Conflict Prevention Newsletter," of which the December 2002 edition focuses on the role of civil society in conflict prevention and peace building. www.conflict-prevention.net

International Conflict Research (INCORE) addresses the causes and consequences of conflict in Northern Ireland and internationally, and promotes conflict resolution management strategies. It offers a wide variety of information related to the role of civil society in peace processes, and includes links to publications, research projects, and papers, as well as to an ethnic conflict research digest and conflict profiles. www.incore.ulst.ac.uk

International Alert (IA) is an organization that works directly with people affected by violent conflict and with governments, the EU, and the UN, to shape both policy and practice in building sustainable peace. IA's Web site features information on the role of the business, development, and humanitarian aid communities in building peace, and on the importance of gender and security issues in post-conflict reconstruction. www.international-alert.org/

International Peace Academy (IPA) facilitates exchange among academia, governments, NGOs, and international organizations, focuses on Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and deals with thematic issues such as state building and U.N. reform. IPA produces a variety of publications, ranging from major, multi-author studies to monographs, policy papers, and meeting reports. www.ipacademy.org

Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy (IMTD) is an NGO that works to promote a systems-based approach to peace building and to facilitate the transformation of deep-rooted social conflict through education, conflict resolution training, and communication. It regularly publishes occasional papers and a newsletter on its Web site. www.imtd.org

International Peacebuilding Alliance (Interpeace) acts as a link between local and national actors and the international community, and operates in both post-conflict and ongoing conflict situations. It has projects in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. Its publications include country-specific and thematic papers. www.interpeace.org

Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies (Kroc Institute) conducts research, education, and outreach programs on the causes of violence and conditions for sustainable peace. Its Web site is host to an extensive list of policy briefs and occasional papers that pertain to a wide range of conflict resolution topics. www.kroc.nd.edu/

United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), established in 2003, was mandated to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, humanitarian and human rights assistance, security sector reform, and the implementation of the peace process. The Mission's Web site contains UN documents, media summaries, press releases, weekly press briefs, and the UNMIL Focus Magazine, which details current peace-building activities in Liberia. www.unmil.org

United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (MONUC), established in 1999, is currently concentrating on the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement, and reintegration process in DRC. Its publications include UN documents, maps of DRC, and literature on DRC's national politics. The Web site also includes a profile of DRC, multimedia resources, links to related sites, and news items related to MONUC's activities. www.monuc.org

Publications:

"A Nation Long Forlorn: Liberia's Journey from Civil War toward Civil Society." J. Peter Pham, International Journal of Non-Profit Law, 2004.

"Beyond Mediation: The Integral Role of Non-Governmental Approaches to Resolving Protracted Ethnic Conflicts in Lesser-Developed Countries." David Baharvar, Journal of Peace and Conflict Resolution, 2001.

"Civil and Uncivil Actors in the Guatemalan Peace Process." Roman Krznaric, Bulletin of Latin American Research, 1999.

The Politics of Conflict Resolution in the Democratic Republic of Congo: The Inter-Congolese Dialogue Process. Kasaija Phillip Apuuli, 2002.

From Civil War to Civil Society: The Transition from War to Peace in Guatemala and Liberia. The World Bank and Carter Center, 1997.

"Building Peace in Sri Lanka: A Role for Civil Society?" Camilla Orjuela, Journal of Peace Research, 2003.

"Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations in Sri Lanka: Peacemakers or Parasites?" Neil DeVotta, Civil Wars, 2005.

Managing Global Chaos-Sources of and Responses to International Conflict. Chester A. Crocker, Fen Osler Hampson and Pamela Aall, 1996.

Dialogue National en RDC: Dialogue 'léonin' ou dialogue 'd'existence'? Jean-Pierre Lindiro Kabirigi, Institut Interculturel dans la Région des Grands Lacs, 1999.

U.N. Declarations and Peace Agreements:

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities: www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/d_minori.htm

Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Liberia and the Liberians United for Reconcilitation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) and Political Parties, August 18, 2003: www.usip.org/library/pa/liberia/liberia_08182003_toc.html

Final Act of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, April 2, 2003: www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2003/ic-drc-2apr.pdf

Peace Treaty and Principles of Interrelation between the Russian Federation and Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, May 12, 1997: www.chechnya-mfa.info/legal/1.htm

Manuals:

Democracy and Deep-Rooted Conflict: Options for Negotiators provides practical advice on how to broker peace in countries emerging from deep-rooted conflict, and outlines options negotiators can draw upon when trying to build or rebuild democracy. The handbook analyzes actual negotiated settlements from places like Bosnia, Fiji, Northern Ireland, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and South Africa. It is available for free in Burmese and Bahasa Indonesia, and for a fee in English and Spanish. www.idea.int/publications/democracy_and_deep_rooted_conflict/index.cfm