Reconciliation and social cohesion in iraq

Promoting interaction based on the principle of common citizenship

Who are we?

Cordoba Peace Institute – Geneva (CPI) is an independent non-profit organization working to promote peaceful and inclusive societies with a focus on Track 1.5 mediations in Muslim-majority countries. Founded in 2002, we promote a methodology of conflict transformation adapted to and accepted by local peace actors, parties to conflict and communities. With 20 years of experience, CPI is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and has developed unique access and networks in the Muslim-majority world. Our multi-cultural, diverse team of dedicated professionals has enabled us to build relations in both the Western policy and Muslim-majority worlds, guided by our core values of Non-violence, Inclusiveness, Impartiality, Empathy and Independence.

The project

Our project consists of a mediation and conflict transformation process, through the facilitation of a sustainable dialogue, to support reconciliation and promote social cohesion building on the notion ofcommon citizenship.

In this process, tribal, religious, political, and academic actors will be engaged, as it has been demonstrated that these actors have a real leverage in the current conflict and benefit from a wide following among their constituencies.

What has been done so far?

• A practice-oriented field research paper, mapping influential tribal and religious Sunni and Shia actors with a view to assessing the feasibility, usefulness, and relevance of launching with them a conflict transformation initiative as part of the effort to promote national reconciliation.

• Workshops that brought together Iraqi experts with the aim of obtaining recommendations and building a solid base for the design of an effective and meaningful peace engagement.

• In-depth exploratory missions in Iraq, including the cities of Najaf, Karbala, Baghdad, and Samarra, and one-to-one meetings with influential religious, tribal, political and governmental actors.

• A preparatory meeting which consisted of a first-hand training for Iraqi insider mediators and a brainstorming on the future “safe mediation space”.
• Opening of a representative office in Baghdad.
• Launch of a “safe mediation spaces”, facilitated by CPI, to build trust and open communication channels for the implementation of joint initiatives

Goals

• To alleviate the high tensions among conflict parties;
• To address the marginalization of influential tribal, religious and/or local political actors;
• To foster mutual trust and promote a peaceful and inclusive shared civil space.

Approach and methodology

       CPI’s methodology is based on diapraxis, a dialogue process that is reinforced by the implementation of joint and inclusive initiatives carried out by the conflict actors. Offering the opportunity to actors from various backgrounds and references to meet in a safe space enables exchanges and active discussions to find common understanding. Putting in place concrete joint projects enables the stakeholders to build trust further by turning words into actions and creating a common goal. CPI encourages local ownership of processes on the ground.