r4d Forum Social Conflicts: Insights into conflict transformation research
The three r4d projects in the thematic module Social Conflicts presented results and key messages to representatives from policy and practice during a public event. In a pre-synthesis workshop the three projects and the Review Panel jointly developed ideas for synthesis work.
On 26 and 27 September 2016, the r4d programme invited researchers, the Review Panel members as well as representatives from policy and practice to discuss new results and insights on the edges of the body of knowledge on conflict transformation and resilience. The participants explored the projects’ contributions to alternative ways of thinking, analysing and approaching their various topics. The r4d Forum Social Conflicts was organised as a meeting among experts working in the field of social conflicts. The event at the Zentrum Paul Klee was a window to the interested public which allowed to think and discuss about three questions:
- What are the contributions of the projects to the reduction of conflict and the avoidance of future violence?
- How do the project results provide new understandings and tools for reducing interethnic and social conflicts and for building/enhancing resilience (social fabric)?
- What do the projects offer in terms of access to justice, grievances, rehabilitation?
The 2-days event of the r4d Forum Social Conflicts moreover allowed exploring synthesis topics of the three ongoing projects. They lie in the following areas:
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly on SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, SDG 5 Gender Equality, and SDG 10 Reduced Inequality.
- Discourses in conflict transformation and peace-building.
- Discourse and instruments of institution-building.
Synergies between the projects were identified by the researchers in the triangle linking inequality - identity - violence.
In the years to come, the r4d programme will support and collaborate with the projects in developing a variety of synthesis products in the field of social conflicts.