[CONFERENCE-CRASH] Negotiating with the devil: Mediation in armed conflits - Pierre Hazan

This conference-debate was held on December 15th, 2022 and was presented by Rony Brauman.

The actions of mediators and that of humanitarian workers in armed conflicts apparently have little in common, apart from the desire to be useful. However, when looked at more closely, the central features of their work share notable common points. The relationship of trust that we, as well as they, need to create with the belligerents is tricky in that the line between reasonable compromise and selling out is always uncertain and insidious. Like humanitarian workers, mediators can only find their space in so far as the belligerents find it interesting for them to be there.

We, as well as they, seek to establish and maintain links with actors labelled as terrorists – a single term covering multiple realities – and more broadly, with various perpetrators of violence. This leads to potentially conflicting relations with international justice and the proponents of the fight against impunity.

Pierre Hazan is a mediator and a senior advisor for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, one of the main organizations dealing with mediation in armed conflicts. He has extensive field experience in this area and has written numerous books and articles on transitional justice. In September, he published "Négocier avec le diable. La médiation dans les conflits armés" (with Editions Textuel) and will share his reflections during this conference and debate.

Contents

00:00 Introduction
07:02 The evolution of private mediation
12:16 The thin line between a reasonable compromise and selling out
15:57 Ethical issues
19:36 Question 1. Decision-making in difficult situations
22:04 Questions 2 and 3. Local staff and their safety. The confidential management of security incidents
25:43 Question 4. Media coverage and public support
31:15 Question 5. Dealmaking within the overall peace process
32:46 Questions 6 and 7. Does private mediation undermine government efforts? The relationship between the ICRC and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
39:58 Question 8. The impact of the judicialization of conflict on mediation
43:51 Questions 9 and 10. Getting to the negotiating table. Peace at any price
47:57 Question 11. Humanitarian negotiations and negotiations for peace
50:31 Question 12. The timeframe of mediation
53:57 Questions 13 and 14. The distinction between civilians and combatants. Health as a negotiation tool
57:52 Question 15. Competition between mediation organizations
1:00:43 Question 16. The legitimacy of private mediation vis-à-vis the population
1:05:10 Question 17. The benefits of private mediation to the parties to the conflict
1:11:17 Question 18. The mediators’ professional background
1:13:51 Question 19. The end of the mediators’ mandate
1:15:24 Question 20. The action of humanitarian workers and that of mediators
1:17:00 Questions 21 and 22. Overcoming internal disagreement. Ensuring the security of local contacts
1:19:30 Question 23. Accountability to donors
1:21:42 Question 24. Profiling
1:23:55 Question 25. The risks of being instrumentalized
1:25:56 Closing remarks

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