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BERGHOF NEWS

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Dear friends, partners and colleagues,  

After violent conflicts, the past remains present by affecting the everyday lives of victims and survivors, as well as culture and politics. Measures that acknowledge and redress human rights violations, also known as transitional justice, can play an important role in strengthening social cohesion and promoting the rule of law.

The link between transitional justice and sustainable development and peaceful, just and inclusive societies was also recently emphasised in two United Nations documents: A resolution by the Human Rights Council and a report of the Special Rapporteur on truth, justice and reparation.

To expand learning and research on the topic, we at Berghof established the Global Learning Hub for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation in a joint initiative with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Additionally, we have been involved in a number of cross-organisational exchanges on the process of war crime documentation and testimony collection within the context of the situation in Ukraine.  

In this newsletter, you will find more information about our discussions regarding transitional justice, as well as an article series on climate change and conflict that provides insights into our work on the topics, in addition to policy recommendations as COP27 is entering its finals days, and much more. 

Happy reading! 

Best wishes, 

The Berghof Team 

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HIGHLIGHTS

COP27: Climate and Conflict 

Climate change is deepening dividing lines, driving marginalisation and making conflict even harder to resolve. Overlooking the social dimensions of adaptation would miss a key opportunity to address the dangers posed by climate change, particularly in conflict affected areas such as Iraq and Somalia

As COP27 is entering its final phase, read our climate and conflict article series that highlights that climate vulnerability demands conflict transformation approaches, and outlines policy recommendations and actions needed to ensure COP27 delivers for fragile and conflict-affected areas.

Peace for Ukrainians means their own resilience to withstand aggression 

There are no easy answers for peacebuilding organisations on how to best contribute to a peaceful, sustainable and just solution to the conflict in Ukraine. Therefore, it is crucial to listen and give space to Ukrainian voices, especially our peacebuilding colleagues who have lead peace work in Ukraine for decades. 

Read our interview with Ukrainian peace researcher Tetiana Kyselova, who shares what local activists need right now and how peacebuilding organisations can better support them. 

Collecting testimony and transitional justice in Ukraine 

Ukraine is probably the first war where evidence of war crimes is being gathered even while the war still rages. During an international symposium co-organised with The Reckoning Project, colleagues and experts discussed testimony collection in Ukraine and how it can lay the foundations of transitional justice processes as well as inspire momentum for accountability in other contexts. 

Learn more about war crime documentation. 

New website on transitional justice  

The new website of our Global Learning Hub for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation has launched. Working together with partner organisations from Germany and across the world, the Hub aims to facilitate an inspiring space for dialogue and learning that is driven by solidarity, inclusivity and innovation.

Visit us to find a series of video interviews on contemporary issues in transitional justice.

Why inclusivity matters 

Inspired by this year’s International Day of Peace theme being “End Racism. Build Peace.”, we asked experts from different teams within our organisation why it is important for peace processes to be inclusive and how it helps facilitate long-term sustainable peace. 

Watch and read their responses

Feminist foreign policy must be about justice and participation 

Feminism shines the light on a particular type of power asymmetry and imbalance. Feminist foreign policy, therefore, needs to subscribe to the key principle of shifting this power and must be guided by a human rights-based approach to promote deep societal change. 

Read our Head of Conflict Transformation Research Beatrix Austin’s blog on why inclusivity is central to feminist foreign policy. 

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EVENTS
Upcoming

Online event: Climate change, environmental degradation and conflict

Join our online event on 2 December at 14:00 CET where high-level actors across policy, practice and academia discuss the overlapping crises of environmental degradation, climate change and violent conflict, and measures to mitigate against them.

Register now.

Past

Video: Observation and monitoring mechanisms in conflict de-escalation 

Third parties can play an important role in limiting violence in armed conflicts. Even if their intervention may not necessarily end a conflict, they can contribute to preventing further escalation and support de-escalation of violence. 

Watch the recording of our online event where experts in the field of ceasefire monitoring shared best practices, lessons learned and opportunities for technological innovation. 

Video: Women faith-based mediators: Innovation through tradition? 

Women faith-based mediators play an important role in conflict transformation, mediation and dialogue processes around the world. However, the mostly secular international peacebuilding and mediation support structures have only recently discovered the potential of their oftentimes traditional roles for innovation in dialogue processes. To address these challenges and opportunities, we hosted an event with The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.

Watch the video.

Video: Libya-quo vadis? 

Eleven years after the outbreak of the civil war and the ensuing international intervention, Libya is still deeply divided and paralysed by rivalling governments and militias. 

Watch our online event where experts assessed the role of the international community and looked into opportunities and challenges for peace in the country. 

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OPPORTUNITIES
Open Positions

We are currently looking for a Junior Project Manager in our Tübingen office and an Accountant in our Berlin office.  

You can find all of our open positions here

Tenders

We are currently looking for a Team Lead and Expert on political economy analysis in the Government of Iraq and an External Evaluator for our National Dialogue in Lebanon project.

You can find all of our tenders here

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PUBLICATIONS

Gender-inclusive conflict transformation: Insights from former female combatants 

This policy insights series aims to contextualise and critically review current policies and practices in peace negotiations and post-war transitions based on testimonies, and complemented by relevant academic references. 

Read the publication.

Matching aspirations, missing connections: EU support to nonviolent movements 

In collaboration with PAX, we published a report on the value of nonviolent movements as drivers for peaceful reform processes and the possibilities for EU support for these movements. 

Learn more about what was discussed at the launch event amongst experts and practitioners from the peacebuilding, development and democratisation sectors.

“Peace education is not a trouble shooter”: Recommendations for the future of peace education 

Peace education in the school system can offer an important approach to preventing violence. We set out to compile an overview of current developments, approaches and potential opportunities in German-speaking countries. 

Learn more about the resulting report and read our recommendations on how to further integrate peace education practices into schools in a sustainable way.  

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SUPPORT US

Invest in peace and help us ensure our impact is sustainable. We are looking for partners to support our work. When you donate to Berghof, you enable us to sustain and expand our work where it is most needed.

Whether through a single donation or recurring contribution, your support gives peace a fighting chance.

Learn more.

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