Reporting on Conflict | Media Watch Blog

• News source:

The Network University is glad to announce two upcoming online courses in its conflict cluster.

Transforming Civil Conflict: 1 -27 March 2010. For more information, go to: www.netuni.nl/demos/tcc

Post-Conflict Politics: 14 May – 18 June 2010 For more information, go to: www.netuni.nl/demos/pcp

Information about the content, fees, planning and approach to the conflicts can be found in the demos courses. If you are interested in participating in one or more of these courses or if you have additional questions regarding course content and fees, please contact us at Claske@modop.org. There is a limited amount of partial scholarships available.

Information about the Network University or its partner Modus Operandi can be found on our respective websites www.netuni.nl and www.modop.org.

• News source:

“Christ at the Checkpoint: Theology in the Service of Peace and Justice”
March 12-17, 2010

Location: The Campus of Bethlehem Bible College
And the Intercontinental Hotel, Bethlehem

• News source:

International Peace and Development Training Center (IPDTC)
Peace Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR)

IPDTC is launching its 2010 academic year with a range of programmes addressing the core skills, knowledge and experience of practitioners working in the field of peacebuilding, conflict transformation, development work, humanitarian aid, gender, governance and other related areas.

SYSTEMIC PEACEBUILDING:
Enhancing Effectiveness and Impact in Policy and Practice for
Crisis Management and Prevention, Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding
15^th to 17^th of March, 2010 – London, UK
Developed to bring together key experiences and best practices in systemic peacebuilding – including policy and strategic frameworks, conflict mapping tools, and peacebuilding lessons learned and best practices – the program is designed to improve quality and coherence of policy and practice, and enhance impact and effectiveness of peacebuilding, violence prevention, post-war recovery and stabilization on the ground.

IMPROVING EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPACT IN THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACEBUILDING PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES
18^th to 19^th of March, 2010 – London, UK
The training programme takes participants step-by-step through a customized methodology designed to improve the design, development and implementation of their programs to increase the quality and impact of their work in conflict affected communities and countries. The programme transfers and develops together with participants effective tools which can be used both by themselves and their organizations in improving program design, program and project-based conflict mapping and analysis, strategic planning for peacebuilding and interventions in conflicts and crisis, and monitoring and evaluation of programs and impact.

ADVANCED MEDIATION AND PEACEMAKING:
Achieving Resolution and Transformation in Intractable and Complex Conflicts
17^th to 21^st of May, 2010, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Advanced Mediation and Peacemaking is specifically designed to address key issues and challenges in mediation for high-level policy makers, conflict parties, members of mediation and negotiation teams and professional mediators. As a five-days Advanced Certificate Programme, the AMP provides additional key space and time to go in-depth into the issues and challenges faced by mediation and negotiation processes, review case studies and lessons learned, develop practical tools that can assist in enabling effective mediation and peacemaking, and improve the design and support for mediation and negotiation processes.

DESIGNING PEACEBUILDING PROGRAMMES (DPP)
24^th to 28^th of May, 2010, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
DPP offers participants practical tools that can be used in their work. The methodology and format of the DPP enables participants to apply these tools directly to their programs and work in the field, customizing them for each participant and organisation. At the end, participants are provided with resource packs and access to a program specific web-site with all resources and materials from the program, including toolkits for each key aspect related to design, development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and assessment of peacebuilding programs. These materials may be shared within participants’ organizations and with partner organizations, enhancing and broadening the impact and benefits of the program for your work.

PEACEBUILDING, CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION AND POST-WAR STABILISATION, RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION (PCTR)
18^th to 22^nd of October, 2010, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
PCTR brings together a global group of practitioners, deployable civilian experts and policy makers from UN agencies, governments, donors and national and international organisations and agencies, helping to enhance understanding, coordination and coherence in peacebuilding and post-war stabilisation and recovery, in the field and between policy and practice. The program will address key issues facing those working with conflict and help them to improve the practical quality of their work and approaches to peacebuilding in the field, enhancing coherence, effectiveness and impact.

INTEGRATING GENDER AND PEACEBUILDING ACTION
25^th to 29^th of October, 2010, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
The 5 days will provide structured and informal opportunities for dialogue and relationship building with colleagues from around the world, working in gender and peacebuilding – to expand your global network of collegial support and mutual learning. Through interactive working group processes and intensive group dialogue and debriefings, the participants will gain first hand experience in applying the tools and methods chosen for this programme and make steps to adapting them for your specific needs.
EARLY WARNING, CRISIS PREPAREDNESS AND PREVENTION OF ARMED CONFLICTS
9^th to 10^th of October, 2010 – London, UK
This two-day intensive program designed for policy makers, aid and development workers, journalists, practitioners, and conflict specialists will provide a global overview of systems, tools and methods which can allow us to identify conflicts before they become violent (early warning) and successful lessons learned and policy options which can contribute to effective and comprehensive prevention. Concrete case-studies and examples will be used to illustrate lessons-learned and experiences in the field. Systems, tools and methodologies for early warning will be presented and reviewed, identifying strengths and benefits as well as shortcomings and challenges, and how these can be used by governments, national and international agencies, NGOs, local communities and the media to better identify conflicts, and escalating conflict situations and crisis, and prevent the outbreak of armed conflict.

PREVENTING POLITICAL AND ELECTORAL VIOLENCE
6^th to 8^th of December, 2010 – London, UK
Politics is at the heart of many conflicts. From state failure and collapse to authoritarian regimes and political systems which are unable to represent or meet the needs of all sectors of the community / country, political factors are often driving / causal factors of armed conflicts and violence. Elections themselves are frequently ‘triggers’ – moments of heightened / intensified competition which may lead to increases in violence and possibly spark large-scale conflict. This programme draws upon operational and practical experiences in preventing political and electoral violence, using real case examples and identifying practical policy and operational instruments and options for improving prevention.

For more information on course content, fees and application procedure, please see attachment or visit the IPDTC web-site: www.patrir.ro/training or write to training@patrir.ro

• News source:

Building Bridges, Crossing Borders: Gender, Identity and Security in the Search for Peace
Hosted by Menno Simons College and Global College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada ~ October 1-2, 2010

ANNOUNCING OUR 2010 CONFERENCE!

Building Bridges, Crossing Borders:
Gender, Identity, and Security in the Search for Peace

The 8th Annual Conference of the Peace and Justice Studies Association
October 1-2, 2010
Menno Simons College and the Global College
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

• News source:

UPEACE invites applications from women and men who have the equivalent of a four-year undergraduate degree (BA, BS) or similar from an accredited college or university. Students admitted in the past have done their undergraduate work in a variety of disciplines, including the social and natural sciences, humanities and legal fields. Some have an MA in related areas and are seeking supplemental training in peace studies.

Classes start in the third week of August. The deadline for receipt of applications is 15 March.

• News source:
• CoRe Clinic, UBC

2010 CoRe Clinic Speaker Series
Singleton Urquhart LLP, sponsors and host of the CoRe Speaker Series located at
1200 – 925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC

Vicki Trerise
“Disputes Between the Canadian Polity and Aboriginal Peoples: Is Neutrality Possible?”
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 – Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Nancy Cameron Q.C.
“Litigation, Dispute Resolution and the Brain: What do These Have to do with One Another, and with us as Practitioners?”
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 – Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Christine Mingie
“Online Dispute Resolution – A Quiet Revolution in Justice?”
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 – Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Sharon Sutherland and Carrie Gallant
“Improvisation and Mediation”
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 – Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

• News source:

Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education is pleased to announce the first recipient of the annual Equitas Award for Human Rights Education, Phil Fontaine. The award, which recognizes and celebrates exceptional contributions made in the field of human rights education, will be presented on March 18, 2010… in Montreal. The award recognizes Mr. Fontaine’s record of achievement in raising awareness concerning the importance of human rights to the lives of all Canadians. His work has transformed attitudes and reinforced human rights values within Canada’s Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.

• News source:

Competition Dates: May 23 – 28, 2010

Description

2010 Deadlines & Schedule of Events

• Registration Opens, Official Rules Available November 2, 2009
• Hypothetical Case Available December 7, 2009 (projected date)
• Clarification Questions on Hypothetical Case Due January 29, 2010, 5pm Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Answers to Clarification Questions on Hypothetical Available February 19, 2010
• Team Registration Deadline March 22, 2010, 5pm Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Team Memorial Due March 29, 2010, 5pm Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Observer Registration Deadline April 16, 2010
• Housing Registration Deadline April 30, 2010
• Judge Registration Deadline May 5, 2010
• Check-in and Opening Ceremony at American University Washington College of Law May 23, 2010 (Mandatory Attendance for Teams)
• Oral Rounds at American University Washington College of Law May 24 – May 28, 2010

Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition
Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
American University Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
Email: iamoot@wcl.american.edu
Phone: +1-202-274-4215
Fax: +1-202-274-4198

• News source:
• Cinergy Coaching

INTRODUCTORY CONFLICT COACHING WORKSHOP

Conflict coaching is a specialized niche in the field of coaching and conflict management. It is a one-on-one technique, in which a trained coach assists people to effectively prevent or manage specific disputes and to enhance their conflict management skills.

Conflict coaching has wide application, in the organizational context and for coaching individuals to participate in mediation, negotiation and relational conflict.

Content of the Introductory Conflict Coaching Workshop:
Among other things, this 4-day workshop includes the following topics:
o how conflict coaching is different from other types of coaching
o theory, principles and methods specific to the CINERGY® model of conflict coaching
o stages of conflict coaching
o logistics of coaching individuals about conflict
o skills of conflict coaches
o applications of conflict coaching
o ethical guidelines and standards of practice

Outcomes of the Introductory Conflict Coaching Workshop:
A 4-day workshop that includes the above content. The outcomes are that participants will gain:
o an introduction to and basic working knowledge of conflict coaching using the CINERGY® model;
o an understanding of the types of skills required to provide conflict coaching;
o experience of the coaching model as a coach, coachee and observer;
o knowledge about how coaching principles combine with conflict management principles and the application of this technique; and
o suggested documents and information about the logistics of conflict coaching.

This workshop has been approved for 26.5 hours of Continuing Coaching Education Units from the International Coach Federation (14 hours ICF Core Competencies; 6.25 hours Personal Development of the Coach; 1.25 hours Development of Coaching Practice; 5 hours Other Skills and Tools Directly Applicable to Coaching).

Methods Used in the Workshop:
Through self-reflection, skill-building exercises, discussion, simulations, demonstrations and skills practices, participants develop and practice conflict coaching techniques and skills.

Participants:
The training will be of specific interest to coaches, experienced workplace mediators and other conflict management professionals, who want to learn the fundamentals of a model for coaching conflict.

2010 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
Dates Location Registration Deadline
January 26-29 Toronto, Canada January 4, 2010
February 1-4 Lisbon, Portugal January 9, 2010
February 8-11 (French) Ottawa, Canada January 15, 2010
March 23-26 Ottawa, Canada February 26, 2010
April 6-9 Edmonton, Canada March 12, 2010
April 19-22 San Antonio, Texas March 26, 2010
May 24-27 Arlington, Virginia April 30, 2010
October 25-28 Ottawa, Canada October 1, 2010
Cost: The prices vary. Please contact us for further information.

ADDITIONAL DATES WILL CONTINUE TO BE SCHEDULED

To register and for further information on conflict coaching workshops including coordinating a workshop in your city or workplace and cost, contact Cinnie Noble or her assistant Laureen McNeill:
Phone: 416-686-4247, Toll free: 1-866-335-6466, Email: cinnie@cinergycoaching.com

CINERGY® Conflict Coaching = Peacebuilding, One Person at a Time

Cinnie Noble is a pioneer in the field of conflict coaching and the founder of the CINERGY® model of conflict management coaching. She is a lawyer-mediator, former social worker and certified coach. For further information on CINERGY®, feel free to visit www.cinergycoaching.com.

• News source:

University of British Columbia
Conflict Resolution, Arts and iNtercultural Experience (CRANE)

CRANE is pleased to sponsor an Interactive Symposium during which visionary leaders in conflict resolution will present on creative approaches to social change on divisive issues including race, climate change and crime.

March 26, 2008, 12:30 – 4:30 pm
The Coach House, Green College, UBC

Please RSVP at craneevents@gmail.com

• News source:

The 2010 International Summer School will run from 7th – 11th June.

* Evaluation in Conflict Prone Settings
* Interpersonal Reconciliation after Violent Political Conflict
* Peacemaking and Peacebuilding: Exploring the Lessons Learned from Northern Ireland

• News source:

CANADIAN SCHOOL OF PEACEBUILDING 2010

Join local, national and international practitioners and students of peace, justice and development at the second annual Canadian School of Peacebuilding to be held at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg, MB, June 14 to July 2, 2010. Three 5-day sessions, each with two or three courses running concurrently, will be offered for academic credit or for training for practitioners. For more information or to apply, go to www.cmu.ca/csop or e-mail csop [at] cmu.ca.

SESSION I – JUNE 14-18

Poets, Prophets and Music of Social Justice
Instructors: John Bell, with Irma Fast Dueck

Our Contested Food System: Cultivating a Just Peace
In collaboration with Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Istructors: Cathy Campbell, Martin Entz, Kenton Lobe and Ray Vander Zaag

A Cree Perspective on Non-Violence
Instructor: Ovide Mercredi

SESSION II – JUNE 21-25

Agents of Change in Intractable Conflicts: Lessons from Middle East Peacebuilding
Instructor: Marc Gopin

Peace Skills Practice
Instructor: Karen Ridd

Mennonite Approaches to Peace and Justice
In collaboration with Mennonite Central Committee Canada
Instructor: Harry Huebner

SESSION III – JUNE 28-JULY 2

International Perspectives on Restorative Justice
Instructor: Howard Zehr

Thriving in a Firestorm: Congregational Peacebuilding
In collaboration with Congregational Peacebuilding Partners
Instructor: Lois Edmund

Please feel free to pass this information on to individuals, organizations or networks who might be interested in the Canadian School of Peacebuilding.

• News source:

The first ever Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival will be held in Silver Spring, MD (just outside of Washington D.C.) from April 23-25, 2010. This multi-venue, multi-media event will bring together artists, local businesses and politicians to use socially transformative art to raise awareness of human rights and justice issues, as well as the important work of Amnesty International.

• News source:

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Internship: International Research Project « Searching for Peace in Iraq »,
Department of Peace Operations

Recruiting organization / institution: Romanian Peace Institute (PATRIR)
Position: Internship (Possibility to develop into full employment following performance review)
Application Deadline: 03 May 2010

Summary of Position / Engagement : Intern, Department of Peace Operations Director’s Unit

The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) of the Peace Action, Training and Research Institute Romania (PATRIR), based in Cluj-Napoca, is searching for a highly motivated and committed individual for the position of Intern in the research team of the « Searching for Peace in Iraq » project of the Department. The role will require research for the project and general support to the work and coordination of the international research team. The position is unpaid and open for starting between February – May 2010 (earlier start is preferred). A 20 hour per week minimum commitment is required. The internship duration is a minimum of 3 months and we prefer candidates who can stay for 6-12 months. The selected intern needs to work on his/her personal laptop.

About the Peace Action, Training and Reearch Institute Romania – PATRIR

The Peace Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR) is recognized as a leading organisation in the fields of peacebuilding, conflict transformation, violence prevention and post-war recovery. The Institute, founded in 2001, is a completely independent, non-governmental institute engaged in peace operations, training, and policy development. Organisationally PATRIR is made up of: the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), the Department of International Development Cooperation (DIDC), the International Peace and Development Training Centre (IPDTC) and the National Department. PATRIR works with governments, national and international organisations, and conflict parties to promote peacebuilding and the constructive transformation of conflicts, and is committed to the promotion of peace by peaceful means.

About the Department of Peace Operations – DPO

Launched in 2007, the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides expert support for the development, design and implementation of mediation and peace processes with experience working across Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe in cooperation with national governments, UN agencies, and international, national and local organisations. A capable and experienced team and global roster of experts and practitioners provides key support for violence prevention, peacebuilding, mediation, and post-war recovery through strengthening capacities and infrastructures for peace operations. The DPO provides a wide-range of peace support operations with key expertise in the areas of designing peacebuilding programs and processes, mediation, gender and peacebuilding, conflict mapping and analysis, engagement strategies, confidence and security building, comparative lessons-learned and best practices, institutional development and organizational strengthening, and program assessments. Importantly, the Department works only upon request. Its mandate is to support the development of peace processes, violence prevention and post-war recovery and to assist local, national and international capacities for peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

About Searching for Peace in Iraq – SfP

Searching for Peace in Iraq is a major international research project which aims to produce a practical tool for Iraqis and international organisations and agencies working in peacebuilding and conflict transformation in Iraq.
The project will be implemented throughout 2009 and 2010, and will develop three major research outputs which will be compiled together into a final report in February 2011.
The research team is composed of Iraqi researchers from South, Central and North Iraq and research teams in Romania and Spain under the auspices of the DPO of PATRIR and in cooperation with NOVA-Center for Social Innovation in Spain.

About the Position

The selected intern will work in the Romanian-based research team of the project under the direction, supervision and guidance of the Deputy Director and Director of the Department.. The research work will include the reading of selected material following the research methodology already established and support the writing of the different outputs of the project.

Intern duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Conduct research on topics related to the « Searching for Peace in Iraq » project;
Contribute as requested / required to fundraising, including development of funding proposals;
Support development of relevant Departmental Publications and Reports on the SfP project;
Assist with administrative tasks related to the support and maintenance of the DPO SfP research unit.

Benefits for the intern :

Opportunity to gain professional experience working in a leading peacebuilding organisation;
Deepening knowledge about methodologies and strategies used in peacebuilding;
Practical experience of being part of an international research teamt;
Gaining research material well valid for a MA or PhD thesis;
It is the aim of PATRIR to offer proven interns a full employment assumed the necessary funding can be provided.

The ideal candidate will exhibit:

Interest in and knowledge of conflict transformation and peacebuilding;
MA student or PhD candidate;
Demonstrated knowledge of the Middle East;
Proven research skills;
Mature, pleasant and honest manner;
Superb writing, editing, and communication skills;
Strong attention to detail and ability to handle multiple tasks in an organized way;
Arabic language proficiencies is a plus but not necessary ;
Ability to work independently and with and in support of a team;
A self-starting, enthusiastic and flexible attitude;
Comfortable in the dynamic environment of an active NGO.

Interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume and two letters of recommendation to:
Nik Engel, Deputy Director of DPO at engel@patrir.ro

In your cover letter, please clearly state why our program is of interest to you, what you can bring to it and what you hope to gain from the experience. Also, please include the dates of your availability and the number of hours per week to which you can commit.

Note: The internship duration is a minimum of 3 months and we prefer candidates who can stay 6-12 months. Please also note where you found this internship posting.

Str. Ion Ghica 1918, Nr. 30; Cluj-Napoca, 400306, Romania
Tel/ Fax: + 40 264 420 298
www.patrir.ro
info [at] patrir.ro

• News source:

Peace and Collaborative Development Network
Calendar of Events

Alliance for Peacebuilding
Events Calendar

Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR ) monthly calendar
http://www.acrnet.org/webcal/month.php

peace.ca calendar of events
http://www.peace.ca/upcoming.htm

mediate.com’s calendar of events: upcoming events in peace studies, conflict resolution and related fields
http://www.mediate.com/calendar/

Conflict Resolution Conferences Worldwide
http://www.conferencealerts.com/peace.htm

US Institute of Peace Events
http://www.usip.org/events/

• News source:

ISJR’s next biennial conference will take place in Banff, Canada from August 21 – 24, 2010.

Intentions to Submit are due October 9th. See the Conference website
for details, athttp://wcmprod2.ucalgary.ca/isjr2010/.

• News source:

Human Rights Day is 10 December.

Links to UN and UN System sites: http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/humanrights/