Conflict Prevention

Experience has shown that effective prevention of destructive conflict requires co-operative action before violence erupts. The Initiative on Conflict Prevention through Quiet Diplomacy contends that capable institutions dedicated to preventing conflict by way of quiet diplomacy are an effective yet under-used means to reduce, if not entirely prevent, violent conflict. Quiet, third-party diplomacy establishes and maintains confidence, creates space for dialogue, and encourages conciliation and accord which are pre-requisites to sustainable development. Early and pro-active engagement over time through institutions applying a human rights-informed, problem-solving, assistance-oriented approach can be the most effective way to prevent the outbreak or recurrence of violence

Currently, few institutions exist to address the causes of conflict. With the exception of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the international community so far offers little in the way of institutional mechanisms with a mandate solely to address the causes of conflict and engage directly with disputing parties. The Initiative therefore aims to stimulate institutional development within regional and sub-regional inter-governmental organizations (RIGOs) to enable effective conflict prevention through early action and quiet diplomacy.

The Initiative and its activities are in part an outgrowth of expert consultations and briefings which took place in 2003 and 2004. The overriding conclusions at these and subsequent meetings have been that regional and other inter-governmental organizations, when provided with adequate mandates and resources can, through early preventive action and cooperative engagement, effectively address both the root and proximate causes of violent conflict.