Georgian–Abkhaz

Akhalgori Youth School: 'Forced to take a stand for the sake of our children's future'

In August 2008, after years of missed opportunities to secure a lasting peace, Georgian-South Ossetian tensions erupted into all-out war. The war lasted a matter of days, but people like Tamar – director of the Akhalgori Youth School – will be picking up the pieces for decades.

Post-election Georgia: working to turn the dream of peace into reality

The democratic election of the Georgian Dream coalition could signal a new departure for peace prospects in the region. Rachel Clogg notes that there are clearly many challenges ahead – a resolution of the conflicts will mean taking risks, accepting compromise, and finding the patience to build a step-by-step strategy.

Peacebuilding NGO communicates with conflict-affected communities on French, Russian and Spanish websites

Conciliation Resources has launched professionally translated websites in French, Russian and Spanish, in an effort to inform more people about conflicts affecting hundreds of thousands of individuals.

EU's role in conflict resolution: Georgian and Abkhaz perspectives

Mar 2012

Conciliation Resources' Georgian and Abkhaz partners carried out a series of focus groups in late 2011. Participants in seven locations across the conflict divide included teachers, businesspeople,  politicians, journalists and civil society activists. Their findings contributed to a policy brief on the Georgian–Abkhaz conflict, published by Conciliation Resources and Saferworld in March 2012 as part of the People's Peacemaking Perspectives project.

Politics and mediation: The Schlaining Process

Jul 2012

In these three chapters the authors describe the Schlaining Process: one of the few processes of unofficial diplomacy, involving work on conflict transformation with both Abkhaz and Georgian officials, politicians and civil society activists over 10 years. This section describes the interesting and complex process, which although essential, came up against a number of “realpolitik” obstacles.

Contents:

No peace without democracy

Nov 2008

The Georgian public is divided in its assessment of the August 2008 war over South Ossetia. Some question the government’s position that military action was necessary to prevent a Russian invasion. The events are assessed in various ways by the people in South Ossetia, the Georgian heartland, and Abkhazia. In all three regions, civil society activists see their future – whether together or apart – in the establishment of stable democratic structures. Without these, it is impossible to create long-term stability and peace.

From youth dialogue to youth action: It's not an event, it's a process

What role can young people play in shaping political culture and addressing social problems? Twenty young politicians and civic activists from the South Caucasus recently travelled to Edinburgh and London with the aim of exploring answers to this question. Mira Sovakar reflects on how they're working to build engagement and mutual trust.

Keeping conversations alive

Reflecting on the importance of dialogue and vibrant local media in building and sustaining peace, Jenny Norton gives an insight into a series of workshops held with a wide range of Georgians and Abkhaz. What role can journalists and social media play in breaking down conflict barriers?

Learning from the Balkan experience

In June, Conciliation Resources’ Caucasus team and a number of Georgian and Abkhaz partners travelled to Serbia to find out more about the work going on in the Balkans, to deal with the legacy of violent conflict in the 1990s.

Working together for peace: partnerships that transcend borders

The idea of human relations taking centre stage was prominent at a recent meeting of people from the seven different conflict contexts in which Conciliation Resources primarily works. As part of a Governance and Transparency Fund project, dozens of local partners and our staff joined together to exchange experiences and share learning on what works well and what's less effective when it comes to preventing violence and building peace.

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