Conflicts prevention and resolution
In Slovakia PDCS deals mostly with issues of co-existence of majority and minority populations (e.g. relations among various ethnic groups), issues of public conflicts (e.g. within a community undergoing major land planning) or conflicts within organizations (e.g. conflicts which arise due to unclear planning of organization's programs for the future).
We use our experience and expertise :
- to conduct processes of designing preventive mechanisms to limit senseless escalation of conflict and allow for their nonviolent and constructive solutions (organizational policies and procedures, policies at local government and national level, etc.),
- to design and conduct pilot programs to address complex social conflicts (tensions among various ethnic or social groups, etc.),
- to facilitate meetings or series of meetings among representatives of various interest groups using mediation techniques,
- to provide training in conflict resolution, intervention in complex social conflicts, mediation, or international development in conflict situations.
Project examples
"To Act You Have To Know" - the project focuses on raising awareness about problems of development, development cooperation and other development related issues. In this three-year project, we intend to approach decision-makers, journalists, and students.
As a member of PDCI network, 2007 PDCS participated in designing the Initiative for Peacebuilding Project in a consortium of major European organizations, networks and umbrella organizations. Over the period 2008-2010, we will be working towards consolidation and further development of capacities and positions of civil initiatives seeking intervention in conflicts.
ARCA – Associations and Resources for Conflict Management Skills
We implemented the ARCA project from 2005 to 2007. It contributed directly to increasing the quality of content and methodology for peace education and training in conflict transformation in Europe.
These goals were achieved through collection of best practices, sharing of methodologies and curricula, development of technical resources and handbooks and through the creation of a European database of experts on peace education and of existing resources.
Involvement of thirteen partner organizations from eleven European countries - including some leading training and educational centers in the field of peace education and conflict transformation - helped achieve widespread sharing of experience, tools and methodologies, allowed for collection of taining materials and writing of a handbook for institutions and adult education centers, both informal and formal education institutions, for teachers, ministries for education, national parliaments, etc.
Some of project outputs include training courses and seminars for educators, development of a European network of educators, web portal, Peace Training publication, development of a database of organizations, as well as needs analysis in relation to peace education.
- PATRIR – Peace Action Training and Research Institute of Romania
- ASPR – Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution
- Bokor Öko Csoport Alapítvány
- BSV - Bund für Soziale Verteidigung e.V.
- CSDC – Centro Studi Difesa Civile
- IFAK - Institut für angewandte Kulturforschung e.V.
- MAN - Mouvement pour une Alternative Non-violente
- NFL - Norges Fredslag (Norwegian Peace Association)
- The Nonviolent Peaceforce
- NOVA-Centre per a
- Peaceworkers United Kingdom
- Universitá di Firenze
Roma Integration Program (RIP) which primarily aimed to integrate Roma communities in the society and strengthen cross-sectoral cooperation in select regions.
Our experience
- In 2006 we organized for the first time the educational program Autumn School of International Development and Change for students and international development and development education workers. The program has since then contributed to building capacity of Slovak actors in international development cooperation.
- In 2004 – 2007 PDCS participated in the European project Curricula and training of trainers in Nonviolent Conflict Transformation.
- In 2002, we worked with ARK, s.r.o, First Mediation Company and the Ministry of Justice of Slovakia in drafting the bill on mediation, which came into legislative effect in the fall of 2004. The entire process was assisted by consultants Will Marsh and Lisa Watson from CEDR, Great Britain.
- In 1995 - 2003 we implemented and tested first programs in peer mediation at schools.
- Since 1996, PDCS has tested initial cases of mediation in various kinds of social and commercial conflicts.
- In 1995, PDCS created and trained the first conciliation commission for prevention of ethnic conflicts in Slovakia in Levice (later it was expanded also to other towns such as Nové Zámky, Prešov).
- In 1993-1994, PDCS was among the first to train local governments, nonprofit organizations and state administration in practical approaches to cross-sector dialogue related to the environmental impact assessment (EIA) legislation.
- In 1991-1992, PDCS worked with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Slovak Republic and trained the first mediators for collective bargaining.
Publications
Ondrušek D., Labáth V., Tordová Z.: Conflict, conciliation, councils of conciliation/ (Konflikt, zmierovanie, zmierovacie rady), 2nd edition, 2005
Robert Rivers & Giovanni Scotto (Ed.),Jan Mihalik, Frode Restad & Kai Frithjof Brand Jacobsen: Peace Training, Preparing Adults for Peacework and Nonviolent Intervention in Conflics, 1st edition, 2007
Ruth Mischnick: Nonviolent Conflict Transformation, Manual for Training for Trainers Course, 1st edition, 2007
Dušan Ondrušek, Dana Potočková, Juraj Hipš: Education Towards Tolerance by Game/ (Výchova k tolerancii hrou), 1st edition, 2007
Aleš Bednařík: Conflict Resolution/ (Riešenie konfliktov), 2nd edition, 2003
Karolína Miková, Zora Paulíniová: Public Participation/ (Občianska participácia), 2nd edition 2002