International Seminar & Conference on Transitional Justice & Conflict Resolution

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

JUNE 15 – July 5, 2009

Applications are still being accepted.
Online registration forms:
Training Seminar
Conference Only

Global Majority, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg, will facilitate a three-week international training seminar, and concluding three-day international conference, which includes an informal Track II Negotiation. Global Majority and its sponsors aim to build the leadership capacity of civil society activists and emerging leaders in transitional justice, conflict resolution, and peace-building. Therefore, a symposium has been designed in order to introduce American, southern African, and international students to the discipline of conflict resolution, to expose participants to current political and policy issues in southern and South Africa, and to take an active role in building peace internationally. The training program will provide either a certificate or four units of transferable undergraduate/graduate credit, granted by the University of Johannesburg, and will take place from June 15th through July 5th, 2008.

*photo courtesy of Randy OHC*

Project Description

Global Majority has developed a three-part model for PPTDSA, consisting of a training and educational seminar, an international conference, and a facilitated “Track II Negotiation.” The third component will build upon the effective model Global Majority used when successfully conducting PPTD in Costa Rica as well as twice in the Middle East. The goal of the project is not a single-instance training, conference or convening of region leaders, but rather a dissemination of conflict management and peace-building techniques and skills. The lessons learned at the event will continue to be applicable in the future to various conflicts. Components: The program commences with Global Majority conducting a three-week training course in negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution for up to 60 international and regionally-based students. This section of the course introduces a pedagogical system designed by the Harvard Law School known as “Interest-based Negotiation.” Through this we teach effective negotiation skills aimed at developing win-win solutions. Participants will practice the theories that they study through a series of role-playing simulations, negotiating their way through increasingly complex conflicts relating to southern African tensions. The course will also include presentations by a number of regional and international subject matter experts on the history of southern Africa and on specific challenges that confront policy-makers. The experts of various methods of conflict resolution will be drawn from Global Majority’s International Advisory Board (IAB), all of whom have extensive experience in various aspects and case studies of conflict resolution. Second, to conclude the three-week training, Global Majority will present a three-day conference covering transitional justice and the use of Interest-based Negotiation and NVCR strategies to address conflicts in the Sub-Saharan Africa. The conference will include a mixture of approximately 250 state leaders and civil society members (including the seminar students) from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), universities, think tanks, and the media. Conference activities will include moderated panel discussions, group sessions, and discussion forums for real-time dialogues among representatives of African state and non-state actors who are currently faced with conflict situations. These dialogues will result in a civil society call to action, a “Johannesburg Declaration” which will be disseminated through the global media. This coordinated international campaign is meant to pressure decision makers to come to the negotiation table to address conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa, to promote dialogue and understanding, and to pursue nonviolent conflict resolution. Conference Panels will focus on:

• Background to South African conflicts
• Cultural aspects of transitional justice and conflict resolution • Gender aspects of transitional justice and conflict resolution
• Case studies of various protracted conflicts
• Migration, Prejudice, and Violence
• Government Accountability
• Chosen Trauma and Rebuilding Communities in Transition
• Governance and Transition
• The Role of the Media in Conflict Resolution
• Elements of a Peace Agreement

Objectives

The training seminar is designed to provide global leaders of tomorrow with the skills they will need to successfully address local and international conflict. The participants will gain an insight into how conflict can produce positive change, lead to unity and promote collaboration. Ultimately, participants in the seminar will come away understanding conflict prevention and resolution techniques, and how to begin and continue community redevelopment in post-conflict situations. The specific seminar objectives are to: 1) Gain practical training and experience in mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution; 2) Gain experience in traditional conflict resolution techniques unique to southern African societies: 3) Explore social and political perspectives on human rights and transitional justice in South Africa; 4) Identify best practices and lessons learned in the area of conflict resolution and transitional justice from the South African experience that can be applied to other conflicts; and 5) Network with students and practitioners in the field of conflict resolution. The international conference is designed to provide a forum for international civil society to come together to discuss conflicts confronting the world (with emphasis on conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa) and make recommendations for their resolution. The specific conference objectives are to: 1) Explore specific aspects of conflict resolution and transitional justice, how they worked in South Africa and how they could work in other countries; 2) Provide a networking opportunity for students and practitioners in the field of conflict resolution; 3) Promote dialogue across national, ethnic and religious divides; 4) Encourage partnerships between and among local and regional NGO’s, companies, and the public sector; 5) Demonstrate the will of civil society to pressure that their leaders use nonviolent conflict resolution techniques in place of violence; and 6) Develop and issue specific policy recommendations for conflict resolution and human rights in the form of a declaration, to be distributed and promoted worldwide as a follow-up to the conference.