ASEAN-IPR/ZIF PEER-TO-PEER SEMINAR ON PEACE FACILITATION AND DIALOGUE
JOINT ASEAN-IPR/ZIF PRESS RELEASE:
ASEAN-IPR/ZIF PEER-TO-PEER SEMINAR ON PEACE FACILITATION AND DIALOGUE
21-22 November 2024
Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia, 21-22 November 2024. Twelve high-level representatives of ASEAN Member States, who are Members of the Advisory Board (AB) and ASEAN Women for Peace Registry (AWPR), under the auspices of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR), participated in a Peer-to-Peer Seminar on Peace Facilitation and Dialogue. The Seminar was a flagship collaboration between the Institute with the German Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF).
“ASEAN-IPR is actually part and parcel of ASEAN reform – ASEAN Community in the making. The initial idea was to maintain a roster of conflict-resolution experts to whom ASEAN Member States could turn to facilitate the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.” Such were remarked by Mr. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Executive Director of ASEAN-IPR, as he officiated the Seminar. Accordingly, he further underlined that the Seminar aimed to – among others – foster knowledge-sharing, exchange and comparison of different approaches to peace facilitation and dialogue; as well as to gain insights and deepen knowledge of practical tools, techniques and skills for effective engagement in peace facilitation and dialogue.
The Seminar’s convening was made possible by the generous support of the German Federal Foreign Office. Moreover, it was thanks to the initiative and coordination made by the Embassy of Germany in Jakarta that ASEAN-IPR engaged and subsequently partnered with ZIF.
In her Welcome Remarks, H.E. Ina Lepel, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor-Leste highlighted “as a development partner of ASEAN since 2016 and as part of the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, Germany and ASEAN have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen relations on various areas, one of which is on Peace and Reconciliation. Germany’s feminist foreign policy seeks to anchor gender equality in different areas of German foreign policy, while peace facilitation and mediation from central aspects of Germany’s foreign policy and civilian crisis management. We are therefore delighted to support this high-level peer-to-peer seminar on peace facilitation and dialogue, that uniquely combines the knowledge and experience of ASEAN-IPR Advisory Board members and the ASEAN Women Peace Registry.”
Speaking on behalf of ZIF, Mr. Sebastian Dworack, Head of Policy, Partnerships & Innovation, underlined that “mediation and peace facilitation are ever more important instruments of dispute settlement especially in times of increasing divergence. In this context the focus is on dialogue, trust building and creating a conducive environment for mutual understanding rather than only aiming at comprehensive agreements.” Moreover, he highlighted “ZIF as Germany’s center of competence for civilian crisis prevention, conflict resolution and peace building is working closely with its national and international partner organisations to develop and enhance respective capacities. Our main focus in this endeavour lies on mutual knowledge transfer and peer-exchange at eye-level through interactive and participatory formats like this seminar. We look forward to expanding our collaboration with ASEAN-IPR that has commenced so successfully.”
Throughout the two-day Peer-to-Peer Seminar, participants delved into key concepts, principles and norms, as well as fundamentals and procedures of peace facilitation/mediation, conciliation, negotiation and diplomacy. Participants also exchanged on women, peace and security (WPS) and youth, peace and security (YPS) frameworks in the ASEAN context. Equally noteworthy was Mediated Peace Agreement Lab, where discussion explored deeper into a real-live mediated peace process for lessons learned and best practices.
“Continuous learning and training programmes in areas such as mediation, conflict resolution and conflict management are necessary for professionals working on regional and international affairs. The ASEAN-IPR/ZIF Seminar provided participants with new and contemporary perspectives in understanding the diverse modalities and internationally accepted good practices for conflict management, mediation and facilitation,” commented Dr. Abdul Razak Ahmad, Special Advisor to the Foreign Minister of Malaysia and Representative of Malaysia to the ASEAN-IPR Advisory Board.
Dr. Arifah Rahmawati, Lecturer at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Indonesia, and Member of AWPR from Indonesia, highlighted that “the Seminar gave me a better picture of mediation done through track-one – where I find similarities as well as differences with regards to strategies and steps of mediation.” Notwithstanding, she also provided feedback on the importance to incorporate the important roles of women before, during and after the mediation process.
For further information on ASEAN-IPR and ZIF, please visit our respective websites (www.asean-aipr.org, www.zif-berlin.org) and follow our social media platforms.