Justice & Peacemaking : Working with mediators

What issues are involved in working with mediators?

The HD Centre's special niche as a mediator and working with mediators provides it with a unique opportunity to research and convey the principles of different aspects of justice with a special focus on the peacemaking community. Some aspects of the justice work, notably the report on justice issues in peace agreements, have been used as background materials for meetings with mediators.

What activities is the HD Centre undertaking to address this issue?

The HD Centre has engaged the justice community in dialogue with mediators on the place of justice in peace processes. As part of a specific attempt to improve the general understanding of the mandate of the International Criminal Court and its work, and to assess its impact on peace processes, the Chief Prosecutor of the Court has also addressed three of the HD Centre's retreats for senior mediators. More recently, a meeting was organised at HD Centre in Geneva on 11 March 2008 to discuss the impact of the International Criminal Court's activities on peace processes.

In June 2007,  the HD Centre co-organised a workshop on the topic of Negotiating Justice at the conference 'Building a Future on Peace and Justice' held in Nuremberg, Germany. The workshop, and conference, reached out to mediators, justice and development actors, as well as to others working on justice issues and peace processes.

The HD Centre's work has also focused specific topics in relation to justice and peace processes, including post-conflict reconstruction of the justice sector, and the role of  traditional justice systems in strengthening this reconstruction. Various reports on those issues have been produced and disseminated, including through in-country workshops with participation of the formal, informal and aid communities.