Conflict Dynamics International is an independent, not-for-profit organization founded to prevent and resolve violent conflict between and within states, and to alleviate human suffering resulting from conflicts and other crises around the world.

JUNE 2009: Publication of new Briefing Paper: "National Elections and Political Accommodation in the Sudan."

National elections are currently scheduled to take place in the Sudan during April 2010. Elections are being seen as a major step forward in democratic transformation of the country's political system and institutions. But can elections alone accommodate the oft-competing political interests and perspectives of political parties and their constituencies throughout the Sudan? That is the core question which Conflict Dynamics' new Briefing Paper seeks to explore.

The Briefing Paper was motivated by concerns that if elections and other modalities for political accommodation fail to effectively reconcile the political interests of various parties and constituencies, especially previously-marginalized groups: (a) there will be increased risk of (potentially-violent) disputes following elections; (b) secession will likely become the only attractive political option for the Southern parties in advance of the 2011 referendum; and (c) opposition Movements in Darfur will have less incentive to engage in substantive negotiations with the Government of the Sudan.

The Briefing Paper—the second in Conflict Dynamics' Governance and Peacebulding Series—presents several options for enhancing the prospects of effective political accommodation in the Sudan, in advance of- and following elections.

Children and Armed Conflict – Publication of Project Report

APRIL 2009: In March 2009 Conflict Dynamics concluded a project—funded by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT)—to explore actions the UN Security Council has taken and could take to hold to account persistent violators of children’s human rights and protections in situations of armed conflict.

The findings and observations resulting from this project are presented in a new project report titled, “Strengthening Protection of Children through Accountability.”

The project focused specifically on targeted sanctions as one type of action which the Security Council has taken and could take, and the project report presents options for future Security Council action to enhance accountability.

Briefing Paper on Electoral Reform in Sudan and Implications for the Darfur Political Process

OCTOBER 2008: Conflict Dynamics releases a new Briefing Paper, titled, "Electoral Reform in Sudan and Prospects for Peace in Darfur."

The paper -- the first in a new series of publications under Conflict Dynamics Peacebuilding in Transition States Program -- highlights several important implications of Sudan's National Election Act (July 2008) for efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Darfur. The paper also presents observations on how to address the consequences of the Act for the Darfur peace process.

Support to Darfur Political Process

OCTOBER 2007: Conflict Dynamics' President, Gerard Mc Hugh, commences work on project to assist the United Nations Special Envoy for Darfur, Amb. Jan Eliasson, and the African Union-United Nations Joint Mediation Support Team in mediating between the parties to the conflict in Darfur.

UN Panel of Experts on Sudan: Report

OCTOBER 2007: The fourth report of the UN Security Council Panel of Experts on the Sudan was published on 3 October 2007. Gerard Mc Hugh, President of Conflict Dynamics, served as Coordinator for the Panel of Experts for three mandates between July 2005 and September 2007.
	Members of the UN Panel of Experts' Team in Darfur, 2007

Humanitarian Negotiations

OCTOBER 2008: Conflict Dynamics and Mercy Corps Conflict Management Group deliver advanced training on humanitarian negotiations for UNICEF's Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (MENA-RO) in Amman, Jordan.

AUGUST 2008: Conflict Dynamics and Mercy Corps deliver advanced training in humanitarian negotiations for UNICEF personnel in Afghanistan.

JULY 2007: Conflict Dynamics and Mercy Corps deliver advanced training on humanitarian negotiations to UNICEF personnel in West and Central Africa.

MARCH 2007: Conflict Dynamics and Mercy Corps deliver advanced training on humanitarian negotiations with non-State armed groups to World Food Programme (WFP) field personnel. The advanced training is delivered by the two organizations under their joint Humanitarian Negotiation Training Initiative (HNTI).

Humanitarian Negotiations with Armed Groups: A Manual for Practitioners

Two United Nations publications on humanitarian negotiations with non-state armed groups, co-authored by CDI President Gerard Mc Hugh and Manuel Bessler (UN-OCHA), were launched in New York on 16 February 2006 and in Geneva on 23 March 2006. The publications -- a manual and accompanying set of guidelines on humanitarian negotiations with non-state armed groups -- provide a structured approach to humanitarian negotiations with these groups.

Assessing the Humanitarian Implications of Sanctions

On 19 November 2004 in New York, CDI President Gerard Mc Hugh and colleagues from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched two IASC publications on assessing the possible humanitarian implications of sanctions. The Sanctions Assessment Handbook and accompanying Field Guidelines were produced under a Canadian and Swiss funded OCHA project. Press Release Link to IASC Sanctions Assessment Handbook