A broad coalition of former ambassadors, foreign policy experts and conflict resolution professionals – including former President Jimmy Carter, and UK peacebuilding NGO Conciliation Resources – has delivered a petition to US Secretary of State John Kerry, urging him to remove US federal restrictions on peacebuilding activities with organisations listed as ‘terrorist’.

US counter-terrorism policies currently make many forms of engagement with an armed group a crime, with the result that it discourages mediation, dialogue and other forms of support to peace processes.

This petition coincides with the third anniversary of the Holder vs Humanitarian Law Project ruling, when the Supreme Court upheld a federal statute that prohibits many forms of speech-based engagement with organisations designated by the US government as ‘Foreign Terrorist Organisations’.

The unintended and ongoing consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision are that it makes mediation and successful peace processes that much harder. The human costs of these missed opportunities are simply not being counted: civilian lives lost, divided communities, and prolonged violent conflict

Andy Carl, Executive Director, Conciliation Resources

As a result of these legal restrictions, offering training in negotiations or even teaching a course on humanitarian law to a listed terrorist group could land a peacebuilder in jail. Offering assistance with the express goal of encouraging an armed groups to lay down their arms could result in criminal prosecution.

At the recent G8 meeting held at Lough Erne in Northern Ireland,the 1998 Belfast Agreement was feted as a ‘blueprint’ for international efforts to end conflict. However, due to the restrictions imposed by the US and many other states, it would now be very difficult for today’s peacebuilders to support the kind of process that led to the Good Friday accord, as that involves talking to groups and individuals labeled ‘terrorist’

David Newton, Director of Policy, Practice and Communications, Conciliation Resources

Peacebuilding organisations are uniquely positioned to help mitigate and end violent conflicts around the world. Because they are independent from government, these organisations are able to act as neutral conveners to bring all parties of a conflict to the table. This can prepare the ground for negotiations in conflicts where political considerations can make it difficult for official government actors to engage with certain parties.

The US Secretary of State can, and should, exempt peacebuilding activities from legal restrictions on engaging with groups designated as ‘terrorist’.  He has the legal authority to allow peacebuilding groups to engage with all parties to a conflict, so long as that engagement does not support or promote violence.

An exemption would open the door for professional peacebuilders to fully engage in helping conflict-affected communities find their own paths to sustainable peace.

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Notes

Conciliation Resources is an independent UK-based peacebuilding organisation working with people in conflict to prevent violence and build peace. Since 1996 we’ve been assisting conflict-affected communities by providing advice, support and practical resources. In addition, we take what we learn to government decision-makers and others working to end conflict, to improve policy and practice worldwide. 

We focus our efforts on seven main conflict contexts: Colombia, East and Central Africa, Fiji, Kashmir, the Philippines, South Caucasus, and West Africa. We also share learning through the peacebuilding analysis series Accord: an international review of peace initiatives

Further reading

Press contacts

Clare Richards, Media & Communications Officer

crichards@c-r.org// 07436 102 514 // 020 7288 8397

David Newton, Director of Policy, Practice & Communications

dnewton@c-r.org// 07436 102 508 // 020 7288 8373