Report of the workshop on Systemic
Conflict Transformation for Peace Communicators
Organised by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
(FES)
19-23 February 2006, Godavari
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Nepal office
organized a five-day train the trainer workshop on "Systemic
Conflict Transformation for Peace Communicators" at
Godavari, Lalitpur on February 19-23, 2006.
Introduction:
Armed conflict in Nepal has claimed about
15,500 lives in the last eleven years, displaced 270,000, forced
youths to migrate abroad, left many people homeless and jobless
and damaged the nerve system of the polity, economy and society
by generating distrust, division and disruption. With the intensification
of high-intensity insurgency following the engagement of Maoist
rebels with unified command, the Nepalese media and civil society
groups have been devoting their interest in trying to achieve
the de-escalation of conflict and ceasefire and are involved
in peace education and peace-building efforts. The protracted
conflict with its multi-polar and multi-layered nature has increased
the tremendous responsibilities of all the stakeholders of society.
Ability to understand the root causes of conflict from different
standpoints and presenting those in an independent and professional
manner to the attentive public can play a vital role in increasing
the possibility of restoring normalcy and peace. The peace communicators
can play the role of a watchdog by taking a critical look at
the conflicting sides while analyzing the causes and consequences
of a conflict and generating public opinion and peace action
for conflict transformation.
As such, workshops and trainings on conflict
reporting, communication and peace education are considered
important to identify and release deep patterns embedded within
the various sub-system of society for confidence building. Accordingly,
FES since 2003, organized a series of workshops in Kathmandu
Valley for Nepalese journalists, trade union leaders, university
teachers and NGO activists dealing with communication sections
of their organizations. Initiated as conflict communication
training to young journalists in November 2003 FES organized
additional trainings to them in August 2004 and January 2005.
In August 2005 and February 2006 FES organized train-the-trainer
workshops on "Systemic Conflict Transformation for Peace
Communicators" in response to the demand from journalists,
teachers and also recommendations by the participants.
Objectives:
The main objectives of the workshop were:
- Equip the participants with major tools,
techniques and methodology of systemic conflict transformation,
- Enable them to understand the root causes
of conflict within various social systems,
- Experience the effects, results and works
of systemic constellation,
- Expose the participants into various positions
and perspectives in conflict system,
- Familiarize them with the genealogy of
family and social conflicts, and
- Enable them to cope with various types
of conflict-familial, societal and national.
Participants and the Trainers:
There were 22 participants including 9 women.
Participants came from the various fields of media, trade unions
and the university. There were two trainers. Principle trainer
was Mr. Joergen Klussmann from Germany and Dev Raj Dahal, Head
of FES, Nepal office. Dr. Chuda Shrestha who was responsible
to create 180 community groups and several youth clubs delivered
his presentation on "The Role of Community-Building in
Conflict Transformation."
Contents and Methodology:
The workshop began with the introduction of
participants and their shifting constellations on the basis
of caste, region, religions, gender, age, ethnicity, etc. It
focused on the conditions and obligations of systemic constellation;
mapping of national conflict, conflict dynamics, de-escalation,
conflict transformation and systemic conflict resolution at
various levels. Several conflict simulation and resolution exercises
were also made. Besides, participants were also given background
knowledge about the philosophy of peace, structure of peace
and the need for positive peace for harmonious social, economic
and political governance. Other themes were non-violent communication,
religion and peace and the basics of peace research. The methodology
of constellation was based on the teachings of Bert Hellinger.
Insights were also drawn from several conflict resolution disciplines
and philosophy. The workshop adopted participatory method which
enabled the participants to discuss and deliberate.
Outcome:
Participants found the systemic constellation
methodology very significant for reconciliation and peace in
a war-torn country like Nepal. An evaluation was carried out
about the workshops regarding its positive and negative aspects
and future needs of participants. Participants revealed that
they found the workshop very useful to address various types
of conflict situations and agreed to carry out the knowledge
they learned in their life-world. One loose network has already
been established with all the participants as a member. Similarly,
our trainees have formed an NGO called "Journalists for
Peace and Democracy" and submitted its application to district
administration for formal registration. Nepal Television has
prepared special program and displayed the next day, which covered
the background of workshop, interviews of principal trainer,
FES head and two participants about the utility of systemic
constellation in a country like Nepal. The head of the College
of Journalism and Mass Communication who was also participant
decided to include peace education in her college's curriculum.
In the evaluation process participants
suggested the need to take this methodology to conflict zones,
involve ex-combatants so that they can become very good peace
communicators, allocation of at least one full week-long training
so that participants will have opportunities for role play,
bring more concrete issues to enable the participants cope with
conflict victims and trainees should be allowed to perform the
constellation by themselves before the trainer so that they
will have better performance.
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