Difficult Dialogues
European colloquium on dialogue facilitation
organized by
Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities
and
School of Public Policy’s Centre for Conflict, Negotiation and Recovery
in partnership with
Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue
and
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Date: 30 May – 31 May 2014

Venue: Central European University, Gellner Room,
Nador u. 9 – 1051 Budapest – Hungary

Thursday May 29, 2014

18.30 “WARM UP”

Reception hosted by H.E. Jean-François Paroz, Ambassador of Switzerland
in Budapest for the participants of the Colloquium.
Venue: Residence of Switzerland – 1143. Budapest, Stefánia u.107

Friday May 30, 2014

Venue: Central European University, Gellner Room – 1051.Budapest
Nador u. 9

09.00 – 09.30 REGISTRATION

09.30 – 10.00 WELCOME PANEL

Laszlo Kontler, Pro-rector of the Central European University
Zoltan Szentgyörgyi, General Director, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Hungary
Kim Sivertsen, Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue

10.00 – 10.45 “WHY DIALOGUE MATTERS?”

Jennifer Welsh, UN Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect (video message)
Introduction
Gyorgy Tatar, Chair of the Budapest Centre

10.45 – 11.15 COFFEE BREAK

11.15 – 13.30 CHALLENGES FACED BY DIALOGUE PRACTITIONERS

Moderator: Enzo Maria Le Fevre Cervini, Director for Research and Cooperation, Budapest Centre

Panelists:
Zachary Taylor, Senior Adviser, UNDP Regional Centre, Bratislava
Kirsi Joenpolvi, Mediation Support Team, OSCE
Donata Garrasi, Development Assistance Committee, OECD
Ashad Sentongo, Director for Africa, Auschwitz Institute

Discussion on the main achievements, developments and new trends in dialogue facilitation. Do we have the right mechanism in place? Are we too focused on easier forms of dialogue between reasonable people? How should we handle the difficult dialogues, particularly given the legal obstacles and diplomatic risks? When is it acceptable to talk to extreme groups and criminals? Should global and regional organizations and governments give a greater role to civil society or are they abandoning their responsibilities?

13.30 – 14.30 BUFFET – LUNCH

14.30 – 18.00 SHARING BEST PRACTICES – FACILITATED DISCUSSION

Facilitated by: David Nyheim, Chief Executive, INCAS Consulting Ltd

Invited Contributors: Auschwitz Institute, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, European Commission, Folke Bernadotte Academy, Foresee Research Group, Management Partners, Nansen Center, OSCE, Oslo Center, Partners for Democratic Change, Swisspeace, UNDP, UN DPA.

Practitioners acting in the “hot spots” will hare their experience, present case studies on and draw conclusions from dialogue facilitation at both national and community levels as well as with criminal groups and outlawed non-state actors. How do you do difficult dialogues? How do you talk to non-state actors when they are outlawed?

18.30 – 20.30 RECEPTION
hosted by H.E Arild Moberg Sande, a.i. Chargéd’ Affaires of the Embassy of Norway for the participants of the Colloquium.
Venue: Café Gerbeaud, Arany Szalon – 1051. Budapest,
Vörösmarty tér 7

Saturday 31 May, 20

Venue: Central European University, Gellner Room – 1051. Budapest
Nador u. 9

09.00 – 09.30 REGISTRATION

09.30 – 10.00 Introductory speech by Prof. Peter Balazs, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, former EU Commissioner of Hungary

10.00 – 10.30 COFFEE BREAK

10.30 – 12.30 “NO STATE IS IMMUNE FROM MASS ATROCITIES” - DIALOGUE AS A TOOL FOR RESPONDING TO CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES IN EUROPE

Facilitated by: Gyorgy Tatar, Chair, Budapest Centre

Contributors:
Sean O’Reagan, General Director, International Fund Ireland
Istvan Hegedus, President, Hungarian European Society
Borbala Fellegi, Executive Director, Foresee Research Group
Eva Deak, Executive Director, Partners Hungary Foundation
Bernard Rorke, OSF

Representatives of research institutes/think tanks and NGOs will exchange views on dialogue in Europe from the perspective of enhancing democracy, cohesion in the society and addressing mass atrocity threats (hate speech, xenophobia etc.).

How can dialogue be enhanced between institutions, governments and citizens? Can dialogues include extremist parties and racist organizations? How can we develop national dialogue processes that bring together immigrants, minorities, vulnerable groups and those who are bitterly opposed to giving them a voice? What forms of dialogue are needed?

12.30 – 13.00 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS by Hartley Millar, Management Partners

13.00 – 14.30 FAREWELL BUFFET


For further information or registration please contact:
Ms. Sharon Belli ( Budapest Centre) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ms. Ilona Ilyes (CCNR), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Download the programme

Program – Difficult Dialogues – European Colloquium on diaolgue facilitation May 14