Mediation as a tool for tackling natural resources challenges
Date:
Natural resources and the environment can be both a source of tension and a platform for cooperation between parties in dispute. Oil, minerals and timber generate vast wealth; land and water sustain life and livelihoods: all are of vital importance to societies and peoples around the world. Consequently, concern about natural resources is frequently a driver of violent conflicts that immeasurably damage both the natural and the social environment. These trends enhance the potential for natural resources to either contribute to conflict or cooperation depending on how these risks are anticipated, mitigated and managed.
On 4-6 December 2013 UN Women Multi-Country Office for Central Asia together with UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) conducted a three-day seminar on Natural Resources Mediation in Kayrakkum, Sughd region of Tajikistan. The seminar was aimed at building capacity of local governance institutions, local authorities, peace activists, civil society leaders, gender equality advocates and women’s organizations from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and providing them with programmatic, advocacy and policy tools for gender responsive prevention and resolution of disputes on natural resources (water, land, etc.). Participants gained deeper understanding of mediation as a tool for conflict prevention and resolution, learned about best practices and received practical knowledge and skills which they can apply in their respective work areas in the future.
The seminar was facilitated by the experienced international mediation experts: Mr. Michael Brown, Senior Mediation Expert, Standby Team of Mediation Experts, UN DPA; Dr. Jose Pascal da Rocha, Mediation Expert, UN Women; Ms. Irina Vigovskaya, Director, Kazakhstan Center for Mediation; and Mr. Oleg Protsyk, Peace & Development Adviser, UNDPA/UNDP, Tajikistan.
The participants agreed on the immediate steps and actions for effective application of the knowledge and skills gained at the seminar in order to promote the use of mediation as a tool for natural resources conflict prevention and resolution; to strengthen partnership and cooperation between various stakeholders involved in the natural resources management; and to improve institutional coordination to continue efficient exchange of the best practices and lessons learned in this area.
Access of new mediators in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to an international resource and knowledge database on effective mediation was pointed by the participants of the seminar as one of the key priorities which could be addressed by international partners who have expertise on mediation. They also highlighted the necessity to share practices and lessons learnt on regular basis through further networking of mediators at the local, national and regional levels.
On 4-6 December 2013 UN Women Multi-Country Office for Central Asia together with UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) conducted a three-day seminar on Natural Resources Mediation in Kayrakkum, Sughd region of Tajikistan. The seminar was aimed at building capacity of local governance institutions, local authorities, peace activists, civil society leaders, gender equality advocates and women’s organizations from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and providing them with programmatic, advocacy and policy tools for gender responsive prevention and resolution of disputes on natural resources (water, land, etc.). Participants gained deeper understanding of mediation as a tool for conflict prevention and resolution, learned about best practices and received practical knowledge and skills which they can apply in their respective work areas in the future.
The seminar was facilitated by the experienced international mediation experts: Mr. Michael Brown, Senior Mediation Expert, Standby Team of Mediation Experts, UN DPA; Dr. Jose Pascal da Rocha, Mediation Expert, UN Women; Ms. Irina Vigovskaya, Director, Kazakhstan Center for Mediation; and Mr. Oleg Protsyk, Peace & Development Adviser, UNDPA/UNDP, Tajikistan.
The participants agreed on the immediate steps and actions for effective application of the knowledge and skills gained at the seminar in order to promote the use of mediation as a tool for natural resources conflict prevention and resolution; to strengthen partnership and cooperation between various stakeholders involved in the natural resources management; and to improve institutional coordination to continue efficient exchange of the best practices and lessons learned in this area.
Access of new mediators in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to an international resource and knowledge database on effective mediation was pointed by the participants of the seminar as one of the key priorities which could be addressed by international partners who have expertise on mediation. They also highlighted the necessity to share practices and lessons learnt on regular basis through further networking of mediators at the local, national and regional levels.
For more information please contact:
Nargis Azizova
Programme Specialist, UN Women
Multi-country Office, Kazakhstan
E-mail: [ Click to reveal ]
www.unwomen.org and www.unwomen-eeca.org
Nikki Siahpoush
United Nations Department of Political Affairs
Policy and Mediation Division
Mediation Support Unit
E-mail: [ Click to reveal ]
https://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/undpa/mediation_support