Since the end of the Cold War, most armed conflicts have been resolved through negotiation and mediation by a third party. The role of an impartial mediator, once known as “good offices”, is today called “facilitation” or “mediation”.

Facilitation
A facilitator promotes and facilitates contacts between the parties in a conflict, without becoming involved in the matter under negotiation. The facilitator is freely chosen by the parties to a conflict and helps them to:

• meet on neutral ground
• exchange views on possible solutions
• conduct negotiations
• sign an agreement.

Mediation
A mediator receives a specific mandate from the parties in a conflict. A mediator not only makes it possible for the parties in a conflict to come together but actively helps them try to find a solution. For example, mediators can:

• communicate a solution proposed by one party to the other party
• negotiate possible solutions between the parties
• propose a solution of their own.

Peace negotiations today are usually highly complex and are conducted by mediators with considerable experience. Mediators can call on the help of experts in a number of fields, such as constitutional law, elections, security system reform, building state structures, disarming combatants and reintegrating them into society, and dealing with the past.

The main organizations involved in mediation today are:

• the United Nations (UN)
• regional organizations such as the European Union, the OSCE and the African Union
• great powers such as the USA
• smaller countries such as Switzerland, Norway and South Africa
• non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Switzerland is acknowledged as an important mediator. The FDFA has been involved in more than 15 peace negotiations in the past seven years. These include:

Sudan: Switzerland was a successful mediator in the ceasefire agreement for the Nuba Mountains in the Sudan.

Colombia: Switzerland is involved in the negotiations between the FARC and ELN rebel movements and the Colombian government.

Sri Lanka: Switzerland brokered the last two official meetings between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE in Geneva.

Uganda: A Swiss expert was involved in the signing of an agreement on a cessation of hostilities between the rebel movement in northern Uganda and the government.

Nepal: A Swiss peace advisor assisted significantly in the reaching of a peace agreement between the Maoist rebel movement and the government.

The FDFA carries out its mediation activities in close collaboration with NGOs such as the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva, which has been active in Aceh, East Timor, Nepal, Darfur (Sudan) and elsewhere, and with the British NGO Conciliation Resources, which supports peace processes in Georgia, Armenia and several African states. Switzerland also works closely with the UN and its institutions in mediation projects.