Peacebuilding Program Seminars

Seeking Peace

The State of Peace Mediation Support

Organized by: Sasakawa Peace Foundation
 
The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza since last fall foreshadow the arrival of a new era of war as well as increasing pressure on the international order that emerged after World War II. On the other hand, global efforts to resolve violent conflicts through dialogue have continued amidst an increase in regional conflicts, especially since the end of the Cold War. While a number of non-governmental organizations around the world specialize in peace mediation and reconciliation support, their activities are not widely known by the general public, as much of their work must remain confidential. These activities can include persuading conflicting parties to sit down for dialogue, encouraging them to change their perceptions, and working with civil society in conflict areas to support those who are raising their voices in pursuit of peace. Bringing a conflict to a ceasefire and encouraging peace talks is not an easy task, requiring long-term commitment and trust-building among stakeholders at various levels.

The Mediation Support Network is a global network of 26 organizations working in peace mediation around the world, and this year its annual meeting will be held in Tokyo. At this event, we will hear from representatives of organizations working in various parts of the world about the significance of peace mediation and conciliation support. We will also hear from people who have received such support to learn about the concrete changes that have been brought about in their countries through third-party support. This event will also provide an opportunity to discuss what Japanese government, civil society, and individuals can do to end conflict and war and pave the way for peace in the future.

*Please note that this is an in-person seminar. It will not be streamed online

Registration

Should you wish to participate, please fill out the application form provided on this page by 15:00 on Friday, April 19 (JST).

When registering, please double check the email address provided in the form before submitting.

After registration, you will receive a temporary registration confirmation email. Please click the registration completion URL in the email within 24 hours of receiving it to finalize your registration.

If you do not receive this email, please also check the spam email box.

*We will use your registration information for future invitations to seminars and lectures sponsored or supported by SPF.
Contact
Peacebuilding Program, Sasakawa Peace Foundation 
E-mail: peacebuilding@spf.or.jp
Tel: +81-3-5157-5181

For media inquiries:
E-mail: spfpr@spf.or.jp
Tel: +81-3-5157-5395

Description

17:00-17:05 JST Organizer's Remarks
Atsushi Sunami (President, Sasakawa Peace Foundation)
17:05-18:10 JST Panel discussion
18:10-18:30 JST Q&A session
18:30 JST Closing
*The event program is subject to change.

Speakers

Jonathan Cohen
Speaker

Jonathan Cohen

Executive Director, Conciliation Resources, United Kingdom

Profile

Jonathan was appointed Executive Director of Conciliation Resources in May 2016. He joined Conciliation Resources in 1997 and developed the Caucasus programme focusing on dialogue and confidence building initiatives to promote peacebuilding in the Caucasus. In September 2008 he became Director of Programmes overseeing Conciliation Resources’s regional programmes in the Caucasus, Colombia, West Africa, East and Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Philippines, Fiji, and India/Pakistan in relation to Kashmir.

Previously he served as Deputy Director of the Foundation on Inter-Ethnic Relations in The Hague, working with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. In 2018 Jonathan became Chair of the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO). Jonathan has taught peace and conflict studies at the London School of Economics.

He has degrees from the universities of Bristol, London, and Oxford. In 2007 he was awarded an OBE by the British Government for services to conflict prevention and conflict resolution in the Caucasus.

Luxshi Vimalarajah
Speaker

Luxshi Vimalarajah

Senior Advisor Mediation & Developmen, Berghof Foundation, Germany

Profile

Since 2003, Luxshi has been both conceptually and practically involved in designing, leading, and facilitating dialogue and mediation processes and providing negotiation training and on-demand support for negotiators, advisors, special envoys, and mediators involved in peace negotiations.

She led the conceptual work on National Dialogues and Insider Mediation (including faith-based mediation) at the Berghof Foundation. She developed the UN-DPPA/Berghof Foundation project “Mediation and Constitution-building” and co-wrote the Primer on the subject. Since 2006, Luxshi has been leading the global engagement with opposition and resistance/liberation movements, where they are trained in negotiation skills and negotiation topics.

She is also part of the Initiative Mediation Support in Germany, a consortium consisting of 5 German organizations advising the German Foreign Office on issues related to mediation and mediation support. Currently, she is part of the standing working group on mediation of the Advisory Council on Civilian Crisis Prevention of the German Government.

She is also a member of Women Peace Mediators Germany Network made up of women mediators from Germany who are involved in Track 1 international peace processes.

Gorka Elejabarrieta Diaz
Speaker

Gorka Elejabarrieta Diaz

Senator in Spain from Basque

Profile

Gorka has been a member of the Senate since 2019. A graduate of Deusto University with extensive training in conflict resolution and international relations, he has represented the Basque independent left for over 20 years and has in-depth knowledge of key European and other international institutions.

Throughout his career, he has actively participated in peace processes, closely monitored various national liberation movements, and maintained relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders including in Belgium, Flanders, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Sapmi, Kurdistan, Corsica, Sardinia, Cape Verde, Morocco, Argentina, Honduras, Mexico, Uruguay and Ireland, Latvia, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, Colombia, Catalonia, Cuba, Philippines, Myanmar, and Malaysia.

He previously served as director of international relations for the Abertzale Left and Sortu and director of international relations and policy for the Euskal Herria Bildu.

Chena Mayu
Speaker

Chena Mayu

Secretary General, Civil Society Assembly for Peace Patani, Thailand

Profile

Mayu currently serves as a member of an ad hoc committee to review, study, and propose guidelines for the promotion of the peace process in the Deep South of Thailand in the National Parliament. He is also the Secretary General of the Civil Society Assembly for Peace (CAP), directing a network of 27 organizations working on eight issues related to peace and conflict in Patani. He also serves as vice chair of the Nusantara Foundation, which supports orphans affected by violence. Chena holds a master's degree in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok.

Jularat Damrongviteetham
Speaker

Jularat Damrongviteetham

Independent researcher, Thailand

Profile

Jularat is currently a consultant for the Sasakawa Peace Foundation's program to promote peace processes in the Deep South of Thailand. She is also a member of the Southeast Asian Women Peace Mediators (SEAWPM). She has also worked as a consultant for the Berghof Foundation for nine years and as an executive assistant for the Bangkok based organization Peace Resources Collaborative Foundation. She specializes in peace support and works in a variety of dialogue, negotiation, and mediation activities, particularly at the Track 2 level in the Deep South of Thailand. She holds a master’s degree in Mediation in Peace Processes from ETH Zurich.

Akiko Horiba
Panelist and Moderator

Akiko Horiba

Senior Program Officer, Peacebuilding Program, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Profile

Akiko leads a project at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation to promote the peace process in the Deep South Thailand based on her experience conducting field research in conflict areas in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries as well as her research on conflict analysis and peacebuilding. In addition, she oversees the "Women's Political Leadership" project, drawing on her experience as a policy secretary for a member of the House of Representatives. She is also actively involved in promoting the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in Japan and Asia. She holds a PhD in Area Studies from Sophia University.

Zee Siwa
Commentator

Zee Siwa

Senior Analyst and Mediation Support, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Cambodia

Kamarulzaman Askandar
Commentator

Kamarulzaman Askandar

Regional Coordinator, Southeast Asian Conflict Studies Network, Malaysia

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