Conflict resolution programs

Supreme Court’s Humanitarian Law Project Ruling Fails the Common Sense Test

in
Date: 
June 29, 2010
Author: 
Kay Guinane & Suraj K. Sazawal

Imagine a school where the principal’s rules prevent a teacher from telling a bully to stop picking on another child. That is essentially what the Supreme Court told U.S. peacebuilding groups in its June 21, 2010 decision in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (HLP).

Nonprofit and Legal Experts Respond to Supreme Court Ruling in Humanitarian Law Project Case

in
Date: 
June 21, 2010

On June 21, 2010, a divided U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal statute that bans support to designated terrorist organizations, even when defined to include conflict mediation, human rights training and peace-building efforts aimed at turning terrorist groups away from violence. That same day the Charity and Security Network (CSN) and the Constitution Project (CP) held a press conference to comment on the ruling. An audio file of the entire teleconference, including reactions to the decision and a question and answer period from national media, is available here.  

Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Peaceful Conflict Resolution Support To Terrorist Groups

in
Date: 
June 21, 2010

On June 21, 2010, a divided U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal statute that bans support to designated terrorist organizations, even when that support involves using international law to resolve disputes through nonviolent means. In Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (HLP), the court ruled 6-3 that U.S. organizations and citizens teaching nonviolent methods of conflict resolution toward sanctioned terrorist groups could face criminal charges.

Berghof: Challenges Facing Peacebuilders Engaging with Listed Groups

in
Date: 
June 17, 2010
Author: 
Oliver Wils and Véronique Dudouet

The legal listing of suspected terrorist organizations has serious consequences, both intended and unintended, not only for the targeted entities, but also individuals or organizations interacting with them—including for peaceful and constructive ends. Written by Oliver Wils and Véronique Dudouet of the Berghof institutions, this June 2010 brief presents some of the key challenges of counterterrorism regimes for groups trying to promote peace processes. It further illustrates possible forms of constructive engagement with listed terrorist organizations through examples of conflict transformation activities carried out by the Berghof institutions: Berghof Peace Support and Berghof Conflict Research.  

Peacebuilding Toolkit Offers Practical Advice for Mediators

in
Date: 
May 17, 2010

The United States Institute for Peace (USIP), in partnership with the United Nations Mediation Support Unit, has developed a series of best practices handbooks on mediation and peacebuilding. Each handbook focuses on a specific facet of the mediator's trade, offering real world examples and practical guidance from experienced conflict mediation practitioners from around the world. The toolkit is designed to be a valuable resource for professional peacebuilders, mediators, policymakers and students.

Peacebuilding Toolkit Offers Practical Advice for Mediators

in
Date: 
May 17, 2010

The United States Institute for Peace (USIP), in partnership with the United Nations Mediation Support Unit, has developed a series of best practices handbooks on mediation and peacebuilding. Each handbook focuses on a specific facet of the mediator's trade, offering real world examples and practical guidance from experienced conflict mediation practitioners from around the world. The toolkit is designed to be a valuable resource for professional peacebuilders, mediators, policymakers and students.

Supreme Court to Hear Oral Argument in HLP Case February 23, 2010

in
Date: 
January 19, 2010

The Supreme Court has scheduled a one hour oral argument in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project for Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 at 10 a.m. The question before the court is the constitutionality of “material support” statute when applied to the Humanitarian Law Project's non-criminal activity. The Humanitarian Law Project filed its brief in November. Numerous friend of the court briefs have also been filed. The government filed its reply brief on Dec. 22, 2009.

Report Calls for Greater Civil Society Role in Security Policy

in
Date: 
May 11, 2009

A March 2009 report from the Fourth Freedom Forum tracks the growing disconnect between international and United Nations efforts to include civil society in Security Sector Reform (SSR) and counterterrorism programs implemented by many governments, including the United States.  Oversight or Overlooked? Civil Society's Role in Monitoring and Reforming Security Systems and the Practice of Counterterrorism calls for greater participation by civil society organizations in monitoring security and counterterrorism programs and participating in policy evaluation and development of reforms. It provides a helpful international context for the problems U.S. nonprofits confront in current counterterrorism measures.