Creating foundations for peace: the Friends for Peace Resource Centre

Consultations and discussions on the situation in Nepal revealed significant support for the establishment of a resource centre providing technical expertise to future negotiations and wider peace process in Nepal. The resource centre is an attempt to address the issues that led to the failure of previous negotiations and contribute to establishing stronger foundations for sustainable peace.

Friends for Peace (FFP) began work in 2004 with the aim of developing strategic thinking and quality research to contribute to debate between Maoists and government, and encourage greater participation of civil society organisations in determining a future peace process, including those outside the Kathmandu Valley.

Led by a group of well-known Nepali personalities, the resource centre works with local and international specialists on specific issues of concern and contention in Nepal and convenes workshops where experiences of other peace processes can be shared. The resource centre works to generate informed debate around issues of contention, and communicate to the public the expertise it has sourced from around the world. In this way, it is intended to evolve into a credible, long-term resource to support a transparent peace process.

The centre is equipped with a library of materials on conflict and peacebuilding, computers, a central meeting space, and staff with expertise on peacebuilding and related fields.

The constantly changing condition of negotiations has meant that free speech and NGOs working on peace issues have become of even greater immediate importance to Nepali society. Throughout the delicate peace process the FFP will be a vital resource for all stake holders.

Links

The Friends for Peace Resource Centre

For more information, Mais Yacoub

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Last Updated: September 2006