News and Insight

This month, a meeting of the global Mediation Support Network explored the roles mediation and mediation support can play, once a peace agreement has been signed. Felix Colchester outlines some of the challenges and opportunities for mediation in this phase of a peace agreement.

Despite being disproportionately affected by the conflict in Colombia, the voices of indigenous women are often not heard. Over the past year, alongside our Colombian partner CIASE, Conciliation Resources has been working to establish and support a network of indigenous women to play a fundamental role in the country’s peace process.

Julienne Mouala first learnt about child psychology when she started working as a young teacher at a school in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). Now she helps young people affected by the conflict.

A three-day meeting of representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Jammu, Kashmir and Azad Jammu & Kashmir; and prominent business leaders, Line of Control (LoC) traders and women entrepreneurs from the regions was convened by Conciliation Resources in Bangkok from 25 - 27 January. This meeting built on previous meetings that have been convened in the past.

Last week the Colombian government announced it is suspending peace talks with the country’s second largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said talks were suspended because of a ‘lack of coherence on the part of the ELN between its words and actions’ after attacks were carried out by the group in the north of the country. 

In the last ten years, around 7,600 people have been abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army. Our partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo are helping those returning from captivity to reconnect with their communities and lead local peacebuilding initiatives.

Conciliation Resources welcomed partners from across our global programmes to London in February for a three-day workshop to discuss the way we, and other peacebuilding organisations, understand and practice partnerships.

Pastor Marcelin Ndebalet Mesmin has more reason than most to want revenge. In 2002 his father was killed by rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR) - 11 years later his 16 year-old-daughter was also killed.

Talking to armed groups can be essential to ending violent conflict. Explore our infographic to find out why it is so important and how it can be done.