Centre for humanitarian dialogue
Encyclopedia
The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, otherwise known as the Henry Dunant
Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, or the HD Centre proclaims to be:
"An independent and impartial organisation whose motivation is to reduce human suffering in war. We believe preventing and resolving armed conflicts is the surest means of doing so."
The HD Centre is active in a number of conflict resolution projects around the world, including the Darfur conflict
, in Aceh
between the Free Aceh Movement
and the Government of Indonesia, the Geneva accord
, Myanmar
, the MNLF and MILF
in the Philippines, but also in Afghanistan
, Burundi
and Uganda
among others.
The aim of the organisation is to promote and facilitate dialogue among the leadership of the main belligerents. It also conducts research and analysis on mediation and peacemaking in support of the operational projects to improve international efforts to secure and sustain peace.
(1996-97) and UN Regional Coordinator in the Balkans
(1999) with the rank of UN Assistant Secretary-General, interpreted this approach more widely to include negotiations in support of humanitarian objectives. With this more practical approach the organisation aimed to create space for humanitarian activities in conflict environments. It quickly broadened, at the behest of conflicting parties in Aceh
, to include the resolution of the conflict through mediation
and conflict prevention in an attempt to avoid the horrific humanitarian consequences of war. This was articulated in “The New Prevention”, a paper that would guide the organisation for the next few years.
Henry Dunant
Jean Henri Dunant , aka Henry Dunant, was a Swiss businessman and social activist. During a business trip in 1859, he was witness to the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino in modern day Italy...
Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, or the HD Centre proclaims to be:
"An independent and impartial organisation whose motivation is to reduce human suffering in war. We believe preventing and resolving armed conflicts is the surest means of doing so."
The HD Centre is active in a number of conflict resolution projects around the world, including the Darfur conflict
Darfur conflict
The Darfur Conflict was a guerrilla conflict or civil war centered on the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and Justice and Equality Movement groups in Darfur took up arms, accusing the Sudanese government of oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in...
, in Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
between the Free Aceh Movement
Free Aceh Movement
The Free Aceh Movement , also known as the Aceh Sumatra National Liberation Front , was a separatist group seeking independence for the Aceh region of Sumatra from Indonesia. GAM fought against Indonesian government forces in the Aceh Insurgency from 1976 to 2005, costing over 15,000 lives...
and the Government of Indonesia, the Geneva accord
Geneva Accord
The Geneva Initiative, also known as the Geneva Accord, is a model permanent status agreement to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on previous official negotiations, international resolutions, the Quartet Roadmap, the Clinton Parameters, and the Arab Peace Initiative...
, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, the MNLF and MILF
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
in the Philippines, but also in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
and Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
among others.
The aim of the organisation is to promote and facilitate dialogue among the leadership of the main belligerents. It also conducts research and analysis on mediation and peacemaking in support of the operational projects to improve international efforts to secure and sustain peace.
Humanitarian Dialogue
The HD Centre was setup and registered in 1999 as a Swiss Foundation. The initial intention was to push the boundaries of humanitarian innovation by serving as a venue for dialogue on humanitarian issues - where discreet discussions could take place among those who could have a practical impact on humanitarian policy and practice.Humanitarian Negotiations
The new management, including the Director , who was formerly a UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Great LakesAfrican Great Lakes
The African Great Lakes are a series of lakes and the Rift Valley lakes in and around the geographic Great Rift Valley formed by the action of the tectonic East African Rift on the continent of Africa...
(1996-97) and UN Regional Coordinator in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
(1999) with the rank of UN Assistant Secretary-General, interpreted this approach more widely to include negotiations in support of humanitarian objectives. With this more practical approach the organisation aimed to create space for humanitarian activities in conflict environments. It quickly broadened, at the behest of conflicting parties in Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
, to include the resolution of the conflict through mediation
Mediation
Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution , a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties. A third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate their own settlement...
and conflict prevention in an attempt to avoid the horrific humanitarian consequences of war. This was articulated in “The New Prevention”, a paper that would guide the organisation for the next few years.