Fribourg

Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping
Concepts, strategies and initiatives for a peaceful Europe
08.12.2005 to 12.12.2005
Geneva (Switzerland), organized by AEGEE-Fribourg
20 participants

From December 8th to December 12th 2005, 20 students from all over Europe came together in Geneva to learn and discuss about concepts, strategies and initiatives in peacebuilding and peacemaking in Europe.

In 2004 as few countries as ever since 1964 were in war - and there have always been more countries living in peace than in a state of war. Does this mean that there is nothing more to do? Certainly not. But it shows that we should not only focus on the affected countries but also ask what role so-called "stable" countries can and should take - towards countries in a state of war in question of peacebuilding, but also inside their own or towards other pacified countries - in question of peacekeeping.

As we know, peace is more than the absence of war. And prevention is much more effective than trying to stop ongoing wars. For this reason, we need all resources of knowledge and experience, also and especially of countries with proven strategies for peacekeeping.

As a part of the current Yearplan Project of AEGEE Europe Tolerance - Accepance - Peace this seminar focused on what lessons for conflict resolution can be drawn from particularly stable countries with a strong culture of peace like Switzerland and how they can contribute to peace in Europe and the world.

Switzerland with its humanitarian tradition, the long peaceful history and its experiences with minorities and federalism offers the ideal background to hold this seminar. With the choice of Geneva as location it was possible to bring the participants in contact with organisations like the UN and the International Centre of the Red Cross and let them profit from the international atmosphere.

Our aim was to bring together proven concepts, strategies and initiatives for peacebuilding and peacekeeping with real existing problems. The focus was on three aspects:

What can a stable country contribute to peace in other regions?

  1. Model function & knowledge transfer?
    • (Swiss) Minority policy - a concept for peace in heterogeneous countries?
    • Minority policy
  2. Ways of coping with conflicts abroad
    • Between neutrality and military interventions - wich strategies are successful?
    • Diplomacy in humanitarian mission / UNO
  3. Private / civil Initiatives
    • Local projects in Eastern Europe (variant 5)
    • Woman empowerment in the Balkans (cfd)
    • Geneva Initiative (Peace concept for Israel/Palestine)

The analyses of exemplary conflicts and successful solutions were followed by an open presentation in which the participants could present their own project ideas and develop concrete plans of activities with the help of experienced project managers.