Mediation

Switzerland facilitates and structures dialogue between conflicting parties to deepen mutual understanding.

Example: In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Switzerland supports a dialogue between municipalities, local authorities and security forces, which helps them to coexist and to prevent political and armed violence.

‘Mediation light’: On request, Switzerland facilitates talks between parties to help clarify issues and prepare for future peace processes.

Example: Switzerland is facilitating the UN-led peace process as part of the negotiations with Syria . One outcome of this process was the launch of the Syrian constitutional committee in 2019.

In Libya, Switzerland is supporting UN peace efforts by co-chairing the working group on human rights and international humanitarian law within the Berlin process.

Switzerland supports conflicting parties by providing expertise on how to conduct negotiations, for instance.

Examples: Peace negotiations between the Colombian government and FARC guerrillas from 2012-16 in Havana, Cuba; peace negotiations in Mozambique, which Switzerland has been coordinating and supporting since 2017 at the request of the government and the opposition.

Switzerland helps conflicting parties to structure the mediation process or supports other mediators, e.g. in matters relating to the content and process, without actually guiding the mediation.

Example: In Syria, Switzerland is supporting the inclusion of civil society in the peace process through a platform for dialogue (Civil Society Support Room) established in Geneva.

Switzerland is responsible for guiding the process in terms of both strategy and content. It leads the team of mediators and provides thematic expertise.

Example: Mediation between the government of Mozambique and RENAMO in 2017 and 2018.