Human Rights and Conflict Transformation: The Challenges of Just Peace
Berghof Conflict Research have just published the 9th handbook in their 'Dialogue Series', entitled Human Rights and Conflict Transformation: The Challenges of Just Peace. A series of authors look to see if they can go beyond "the polarising language of 'peace versus justice'". The entire dialogue can be ordered as a hardcopy or viewed as a series of pdf documents.
E-Discussion on local vs. national peacebuilding in Somalia
PRIO have posted an interesting discussion on the advantages of local and also national approaches to peacebuilding, focussing on the case of Somalia. Pat Johnson of Interpeace reflects on the richness of locally-led efforts for peacebuilding, and suggests some lessons that can be applied to national-level processes. In response, Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia argues that progress must be based on the development of a strong central government. Professor Ken Menkhaus also supplies comment.
The Global Peace Index and the Failed States Index
Two extremely useful overviews of conflicts around the world have been released this month. On their new look website, Vision of Humanity have released the 2010 Global Peace Index, which ranks all the countries of the world on 23 different indicators to create an overall ranking. The Fund For Peace have also published their Failed States Index, which uses 12 slightly different indicators.
2010 Yearbook on Peace Processes
The Escola de Coltura de Pau have released the 2010 Yearbook on Peace Processes, with detailed analyses of peace processes in conflict-affected countries.
African Civil Society Shines at the Review Conference of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
A short article from the Institute for Security Studies that argues that "Civil society has become a key driver behind global efforts to end impunity for grave international crimes", focusing on the example of African civil society organisations.
Ripples into Waves
Peace Direct believes that locally-led peacebuilding can operate on a large scale. Its concept paper, Ripples into Waves, uses four external case studies to show how local peacebuilding initiatives have succeeded on a national scale and made a real impact on violent conflict.
