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	The Olso Forum - A global series of mediation retreats by Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue Norway / Switzerland   The Oslo forum is widely acknowledged as the leading international network of armed conflict mediation practitioners. The Oslo forum regularly convenes senior conflict mediators, high level decision makers, key peace process actors, analysts and experts from a variety of institutional backgrounds in a series of informal and discreet retreats.   Co-hosted by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Centre), the Oslo forum features an annual global event in Oslo and is complemented by regional retreats in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Participation is by invitation-only. All discussions are confidential and take place under the Chatham house rule.   Mediation is increasingly seen as a successful means of resolving armed conflicts and the growing number of actors involved testifies to its emergence as a distinct field of international diplomacy. The pressured working environment of mediation rarely provides much opportunity for reflection.   The Oslo forum series, offers conflict mediation practitioners an ideal setting to openly reflect on and learn from their experiences to help improve conflict mediation practice and enhance the status of the profession.   Norway has been involved in a number of peace and reconciliation processes since the early 1990s. The nature of Norwegian involvement ranges from official facilitation of negotiations, to sponsoring back channels for secret negotiations, to taking part in and supporting international coalitions in such processes. The Norwegian work for peace and reconciliation is characterised by long-term contributions and commitments, flexible resources and close cooperation with national and international NGOs. A central element in Norwegian peace efforts is to support and strengthen the UN’s capability of responding to armed conflicts.   The HD Centre is an independent Swiss Foundation dedicated to helping improve the global response to armed conflict. It attempts to achieve this by mediating between warring parties and providing support to the broader mediation community.   The HD Centre is driven by humanitarian values and three primary goals: to reduce the humanitarian consequences of conflict, increase security, and ultimately contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflict. The HD Centre began operations in 1999 and has since become one of the world''s leading conflict mediation organisations. Visit the related web page
	All parties to conflicts must be held to account in protection of civilians by John Holmes United Nations / ICRC   Jan 2009   Citing the “dreadful beginning” of 2009 for civilians caught up in armed conflict, the top United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council today that strict respect for international law by all parties to fighting was critical to end the suffering.   “Violations of international humanitarian law by one party to a conflict offer no justification for non-compliance by other parties,” Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said, as he opened a debate in which some 50 speakers took the floor and which culminated in a statement by the Council’s President condemning violations against civilians during conflict and revising Council guidelines for consideration of the topic to reflect current conditions.   Mr. Holmes stressed in his statement that, “Allegations of violations must be fully investigated and those responsible held to account.”   In addition to the growing number of civilians killed in Gaza and those terrorized by rockets in southern Israel, he spoke of civilians executed, brutalized and displaced by rebels in the eastern DRC, the use of human shields and random fire in Somalia and the 40 per cent increase of civilians killed – for a total of some 2,000 – during hostilities in Afghanistan in 2008.   Regarding the carnage in Gaza, he said constant care must be taken to spare the civilian population in the context of military operations and that neither party seemed to be measuring up to such requirements.   “Can we look at what has been happening in Gaza in the last three weeks and say that either Israel or Hamas has come close to respecting these rules? I think not,” he said.   It was relatively straightforward, if not always easy or productive, for the UN to engage with national or international forces, he said, but humanitarian actors could not only talk to one side in a conflict.   “If we are serious about sparing civilians from the effects of hostilities, about obtaining access to those in need and seeking to ensure that humanitarian workers can operate safely, humanitarian actors must have consistent and sustained dialogue with all parties to a conflict, be it the Taliban, Hamas or Al-Shabaab,” he said, naming groups in Afghanistan, Gaza and Somalia, respectively.   It was important to talk to those groups to explain the requirements of international law, to speak out for their victims or communities they endangered through their mere presence and by storing weapons in homes, schools and places of worship and to call them to account when they violate international humanitarian law.   “It is simply not sufficient to oppose such engagement for fear that it will confer a degree of recognition on these groups,” he said.   Jan 2009   About the protection of civilian population. (ICRC)   The protection of the civilian population in times of conflict is based on an essential principe of international humanitarian law: civilians who are not participating in the hostilities must on no account be the object of attack, and must be spared and protected.   The mandate of the ICRC is to ensure respect for the fundamental rights of civilians who are not participating in hostilities and are affected by situations of violence. This mandate derives from international humanitarian law, which affords the civilian population general protection from the effects of military operations and abuse by the adverse party. In the event of conflict the ICRC makes representations to the relevant authorities, on the one hand to prevent or put an end to violations of humanitarian law, and on the other to protect the life, health and dignity of civilians and to ensure that the consequences of the conflict do not jeopardize their future.   The Geneva Conventions of 1949, and especially their Additional Protocols of 1977, contain specific rules for the protection of civilians and civilian property. In situations that do not come under the definition of international armed conflicts, the civilian population is entitled to protection under Article 3 common to all four Geneva Conventions. In the event of internal disturbances civilians are protected by the basic principles of international humanitarian law and the inalienable core of human rights law.   The ICRC has a twofold approach in its work to protect the civilian population : First, by gathering information in the field and informing military and civilian authorities or opposition leaders of unlawful acts committed against the local population, the ICRC tries to bring such practices to a halt and to trigger appropriate remedial action.   ICRC delegates take both direct action in the field (relief operation) and draw up confidential reports over a certain period of time. The recommendations they make can range from alleviating the effects on civilians of the way army units conduct hostilities to preventing summary executions of alleged collaborators by rebel forces. These reports highlight rules of conduct which must be observed in order to maintain at least some measure of humanity at the heart of the violence.   They include respect for basic rights such as the right to life, safety and human dignity, the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, the prohibition of acts of terrorism and indiscriminate violence, respect for the wounded and the work of medical personnel, the special protection to be granted to children, the limits to be imposed on means of maintaining order, and so forth   Second, in case of emergency and when all other possibilities have been exhausted, the ICRC may take the initiative of evacuating particularly vulnerable individuals from a dangerous area, reuniting separated family members, arranging for the exchange of family messages, and providing medical supplies and food for starving communities.   The ICRC also maintains a regular presence in areas where individuals or entire communities are at risk of being attacked. Its delegates stay in close contact with all potential perpetrators of violence - whether regular army troops, rebel fighting units, or security or police forces. Visit the related web page
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