Signing of agreement between two local leaders Sahel region - 2013, © Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

First Oslo Forum Peacewriter Prize awarded to essay on the Korean Peninsula

What we do

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue’s (HD) mission is

to prevent, mitigate and resolve armed conflicts,

through dialogue and mediation.

{:en}Mediation and dialogue are the most effective, and cheapest, tools for preventing and resolving armed conflicts. They are the core business of HD, a globally connected private diplomacy organisation that operates discreetly to help conflict parties settle their differences.{:}{:fr}FR Mediation and dialogue are two of the most effective, and cheapest, tools for preventing and resolving armed conflicts. They comprise the core business of HD, a globally connected private diplomacy organisation that operates discreetly to help conflict parties settle their differences.{:}

Mediation Expertise

Providing effective support to mediators can increase the chances of successfully preventing, mitigating and resolving conflicts and of sustaining peace after an agreement is signed. HD offers this support by giving mediators access to the latest conflict resolution expertise and experience.

Oslo Forum

The Oslo Forum is the leading international network of conflict mediation practitioners. Co-hosted by the Norwegian Government and HD, the Oslo Forum convenes conflict mediators, peacemakers, high-level decision-makers and key peace process actors in a series of informal and discreet retreats.

Humanitarian Mediation

As part of its conflict mediation and dialogue activities, and where political dialogue may be difficult or impossible, HD undertakes mediation on a humanitarian basis. Humanitarian mediation enables the parties in conflict to address key issues, such as safe access and protection of civilians, the special needs of women and children, displaced populations and any affected minority groups.

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Where we work

For almost two decades, HD has supported peaceful settlements around the world. The organisation is currently involved in more than 40 dialogue and mediation initiatives in over 25 countries.

Nigeria

Tunisia

Close up photo of MILF fighter. © Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

Philippines, Mindanao

Men search for survivors at a site hit by heavy shelling in the Douma neighborhood of Damascus. © Reuters/Bassam Khabieh

Syria

Former Seleka soldiers prepare to drive to a village, where residents say was attacked and a mosque burnt the night before by anti-Balaka militiamen - © Reuters / Siegfried Modola

Central African Republic

Who we are

HD is a Swiss-based private diplomacy organisation

founded on the principles of humanity, impartiality and independence.

About

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a Swiss-based private diplomacy organisation founded on the principles of humanity, impartiality and independence. Our mission is to help prevent, mitigate, and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation.

Foundation Board

As a Swiss non profit Foundation, HD is supervised by a Board, which serves on a voluntary basis. It sets the mission and the general policy of the Foundation and provides overall supervision of the development and implementation of the organisation’s programme and administration, as managed by the Senior Management Team and staff.

Staff

{:en}HD’s team has grown from a small group of 6 people in 1999 to more than 140 from over 40 different nationalities today, supervised by a 9 member Senior Management Team. The organisation is made up of individuals driven by meaningful objectives who find creative approaches to “getting things done” and are dedicated to making a difference in peace and mediation efforts. {:}{:fr}Mi, FRENCH, culla anisquos resti ut liquia verit vel inciur saessum auta sed qui alique molorem. Aximi, que videbit aut pro duntiossin nam quia sum est atibus incimus aut exeratur mos dolore velenis ma que et autem reicidunt, con ressimus, odigniet vendend ebitatur, quo et peria delit maiorate modit.{:}

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Latest updates

First Oslo Forum Peacewriter Prize awarded to essay on the Korean Peninsula

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is pleased to announce that the inaugural Oslo Forum Peacewriter Prize has been awarded to Dan Leaf’s essay, An urgently practical approach to the Korean Peninsula.

The winning essay, released today on HD’s website, argues in favour of a ‘federated’ approach to one of today’s most difficult and dangerous challenges to international security: the crisis between South and North Korea. In his piece, Dan Leaf suggests that the range of contentious issues linked to this crisis should be dealt with separately, removing the interdependencies – particularly with regard to denuclearisation – which currently preclude even small successes in the region.

Dan Leaf is an independent consultant on security matters relating to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. He has lived and travelled extensively throughout the region for over 16 years, working with leaders of almost every nation. His areas of focus have included conflict resolution, effective governance, strategic leadership, and Women, Peace and Security. Dan Leaf served as Director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies for five years, having previously worked as a defence industry executive. This followed a 33-year military career which culminated in serving as Deputy Commander of the United States Pacific Command.

HD launched the Oslo Forum Peacewriter Prize in January 2017. This essay competition seeks to encourage bold and innovative responses to today’s peacemaking challenges. The winning essay was published as part of the briefing material for participants at the 2017 Oslo Forum. Co-hosted by HD and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Forum is the leading international network of conflict mediation practitioners. It regularly convenes conflict mediators, peacemakers, high-level decision-makers and key peace process actors in a series of informal and discreet retreats. The Forum aims to improve the practice of conflict mediation by facilitating open exchanges and reflections across institutional and conceptual divides, providing informal networking opportunities, and allowing space for conflict parties to advance their negotiations. Past participants have included John F. Kerry, Federica Mogherini, Kofi Annan, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Juan Manuel Santos, Gerry Adams and Fatou Bensouda.

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The Oslo Forum Peacewriter Prize – An urgently practical approach to the Korean Peninsula is available as a free download from HD’s website at https://www.hdcentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Peacewriter-Prize_An-urgently-practical-approach-to-the-Korean-Peninsula.pdf

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