Conflict Prevention and Resolution
Senior 6 · History
Conflict Prevention and Resolution
Lesson 3 of 5
25 min
From 1977 to 1992 Mozambique was torn by civil war between the FRELIMO government and the RENAMO rebels. The talks that ended it were not hosted by a government but by a Catholic lay community in Rome, the Community of Sant'Egidio, working with Italian diplomats and a Mozambican archbishop. After more than two years of talks, the General Peace Agreement was signed in Rome on 4 October 1992, and Mozambique has held multiparty elections since 1994. How could a group with no army and no state power make peace? This lesson examines what non-governmental organisations can do, and what they cannot.
Definition
Non-governmental organisation (NGO): a non-profit organisation independent of government, formed by citizens to pursue a social, humanitarian or political aim.
Humanitarian organisation: an organisation that saves lives and relieves suffering in crises, guided by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.
International humanitarian law (the laws of war): the rules that limit the effects of armed conflict, protecting people who are not, or are no longer, fighting. Its core is the four Geneva Conventions of 1949.
Track 2 diplomacy: unofficial talks and contacts between parties to a conflict, often organised by NGOs, religious or academic figures.
Advocacy: public campaigning to change the policies of governments or international organisations.
Figure 3. Official and unofficial tracks of peacemaking. Drawn by Ganzaa.
| Role | Examples |
|---|---|
| Humanitarian protection and the laws of war | the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), founded in Geneva in 1863, visits detainees, reunites separated families and promotes the Geneva Conventions; national societies such as the Rwanda Red Cross help at home |
| Emergency relief | Médecins Sans Frontières (founded 1971) provides medical care in war zones and speaks out about what it sees |
| Early warning and analysis | the International Crisis Group (founded 1995) publishes reports and alerts on conflicts that risk getting worse |
| Monitoring human rights | Amnesty International (1961) and Human Rights Watch document abuses and press governments to act |
| Mediation and dialogue | the Community of Sant'Egidio (Mozambique, 1990–1992); The Elders, a group of former leaders founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007 |
| Media and peace education | Search for Common Ground (founded 1982) set up Studio Ijambo in Burundi in 1995 to broadcast programmes that brought Hutu and Tutsi journalists together |
| Peacebuilding in Rwanda | the Aegis Trust's peace and values education at the Kigali Genocide Memorial; Never Again Rwanda (founded 2002) runs dialogue spaces for young people; the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP) organises national dialogues on difficult issues |
| Strengths of NGOs | Limits of NGOs |
|---|---|
| trusted as neutral, so they can talk to all sides | no power to enforce agreements or protect people by force |
| close to communities; know local languages and needs | depend on donors, whose priorities can change |
| flexible and fast; can work quietly | may be blocked by insecurity or refused access |
| long-term presence after official missions leave | many organisations can duplicate each other's work |
| give voice to victims and gather evidence | may be accused of taking sides; must respect national laws |
In Rwanda, national NGOs register with the Rwanda Governance Board and international NGOs with the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, and they work alongside government programmes on unity, health, education and justice.
Analysis. NGOs rarely end wars alone, but they make the work of states and international organisations possible and more lasting: they warn early, keep channels open, protect civilians and help communities heal. The Mozambique talks succeeded because an NGO's neutrality and patience were combined with the backing of governments.
Warning
Do not call every international organisation an NGO. The UN, the AU and the EAC are intergovernmental organisations, created by states. NGOs, such as Médecins Sans Frontières or Never Again Rwanda, are created by citizens. The ICRC is a private Swiss association with a special mandate given by the Geneva Conventions.
Tip
Name the NGO and the role. "NGOs help peace" earns little. "The International Crisis Group gives early warning through published reports; the ICRC protects detainees under the Geneva Conventions" earns marks. Learn one example for each role in the table.
Important
Discuss. Why might parties at war trust a religious community or a humanitarian organisation more than a foreign government? What could make them stop trusting it?
International Committee of the Red Cross: "What are the Rules of War?" (about 5 minutes, an animated film). It explains the protection given to civilians, detainees and the wounded. List the groups the laws of war protect and one rule for each.
Practice
Sources and credits
Written by Ganzaa: the analysis, the diagram (Figure 3), the tables and the exercises.
