How do global counterterrorism laws impact on peacebuilders and the potential for the lasting transformation of armed conflicts? Building Peace in Permanent War: Terrorist Listing & Conflict Transformation by Louise Boon-Kuo, Ben Hayes, Vicki Sentas, and Gavin Sullivan addresses this complex issue. The report combines legal and political analysis with in-depth case studies drawing on the testimony of diverse actors engaged in conflict transformation. The study focuses on the use of laws banning 'terrorist organisations' in the management of conflict with Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Hamas in the Occupied Palestinian territories, and the Kurdistan Workers' Party in Turkey.
The report argues that terrorist listing places peacebuilding at the frontline of contemporary security practice and is profoundly affecting the types of peacebuilding that are possible. It documents the diverse risk management strategies that peacebuilders are developing in response to growing legal uncertainties, as well as how terrorist listing is excluding civil society from peace processes. The report raises difficult challenges for peacebuilders and explores some of the complexities of working to build peace in times of permanent war.
The seminar is organised by PRIO, in collaboration with the Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre (NOREF) and the Norwegian Centre for Humanitarian Studies (NCHS). The report is co-published by The International State Crime Initiative and the Transnational Institute.
The report can be downloaded here
SPEAKERS PANEL
Introductions
Véronique Dudouet, Director for the ‘Agents of change for inclusive conflict transformation’ programme, Berghof Foundation.
Gavin Sullivan, University of Amsterdam, one of the report co-authors.
Commentators
Christian H. Ruge, NOREF
Kristoffer Lidén, PRIO
Chair
Kristin Bergtora Sandvik, PRIO
A light lunch will be served from 12:00
