Engaging armed groups in peace processes Accord issue 16 - Choosing to engage: armed groups and peace processes Policy briefing paper on engaging armed groups Non-state armed groups are central figures in today’s internal armed conflicts. Their objectives and use of violence spark deep controversy about appropriate responses to their actions, particularly in the context of the ‘war on terror’. Yet in the last two decades armed groups have participated in peace processes on every continent, resulting in a wealth of experiences of dialogue and peace negotiation involving an array of actors. The publication draws on these experiences to explore the case for engagement with armed groups and lessons learned from peacemaking practice. Highlighting both the opportunities and challenges, it suggests that the diversity of engagement options and potential interveners makes a strong argument for engagement by all stakeholders. With analytical overviews and twelve case studies the publication combines the voices of armed groups, governments and intermediaries for a rich and varied set of perspectives on five key issues:
Project news In July 2005, CR and Peace Direct held a public seminar at the Royal Court in London titled 'Engaging with terror: understanding the politically violent'. In March 2005 CR’s Accord programme convened a panel to discuss ‘From violence to voting: armed groups and peace processes’ at the International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security in Madrid. Read the summary of the panel discussion, or go to the official summit website. Versión Español - Spanish version A Spanish version of the publication has been produced by Indepaz in Colombia. Download Opciones de compromiso: Acercamientos con grupos armados en procesos de paz (PDF download, 1.2mb). Project People seeking a peaceful solution to violent conflict often face the need to engage with groups involved in armed struggle. This is difficult and controversial work - even more so in the context of the global 'war on terrorism'. Yet with many armed groups proving resistant to military defeat, governments, inter-governmental institutions and NGOs are often required to establish contact, engage in dialogue and sometimes embark on political negotiations with these groups. This Accord project will provide resources and support those confronting this challenge. It seeks to: - Engage with groups and institutions addressing such realities to try to understand the key issues and controversies faced - Work collaboratively to document examples of interesting and effective practice - Promote findings from the project to international policy-makers and practitioners and improve understanding and debate on these issues In July 2004 CR convened an international joint analysis roundtable workshop on 'Engaging armed groups in peace processes', attended by a range of government and armed group representatives, intermediaries and donors. Participants were able to exchange and reflect among people with direct experience of creating and implementing strategies to address the problem. Workshop report: html or 716kb pdf. Case study primers Resources 'The politics of peacemaking' by Celia McKeon, published in The Liberal, issue 4, 2005 Concept paper: Engaging armed groups in peace processes (99 kb pdf) Reading guide with links to online resources External links The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue International Campaign to Ban Landmines
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