The Oslo Forum

The Oslo Forum
The Oslo Forum - Network of Mediators
Status Active
Genre Conference
Frequency Annual
Location(s) Oslo
Country Norway
Established 2003
Participants c. 100
Activity Improve mediation practice and build a community of conflict mediation practitioners
Organised by Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)
Website
www.osloforum.org

The Oslo Forum convenes senior conflict mediators, high level decision makers, key peace process actors, analysts and experts in an informal and discreet retreat to share their experiences, identify challenges and reflect on mediation practice."[1][2] The retreat is held annually in June in Oslo, Norway, and is co-hosted by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs[3] and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a private diplomacy organisation based in Switzerland.[4] Participation is by invitation-only. All discussions take place under the Chatham House Rule.[1]

The Oslo Forum also features biennial regional retreats in Africa and Asia.[5]

History

The Mediators' Retreat, which in 2006 became known as the Oslo Forum, was initiated in 2003[6] as a small gathering of mediation practitioners. The first Forum only included 17 participants but the event has now expanded to around 100 participants each year. The Forum is scheduled over two days.[7]

In November 2005, a regional retreat was organised for the first time in Singapore to discuss peace processes in South and South East Asia. Since then, Asian and African regional retreats have regularly taken place to complement the global retreat organised in Oslo.[8]

Purpose

The Forum aims to improve mediation practice, build a community of conflict mediation practitioners and increase peer learning. The Oslo Forum functions as a laboratory for testing peacemakers’ assumptions and ideas from diverse conflicts and regions, and as a safe venue for sharing lessons learnt and best practices, and challenging commonly held preconceptions.[5]

Participants

Dr Funmi Olonisakin, H.E. Mr Børge Brende and H.E. Mr Kofi Annan

Oslo Forum retreats attracts approximately one hundred senior mediators, key actors from the United Nations, intergovernmental and regional organisations, as well as government officials, private organisations, conflict party representatives, war correspondents, outstanding analysts, thinkers and experts.[9]

Participants have included Kofi Annan,[10] President Jimmy Carter,[10] Aung San Suu Kyi,[11] President Martti Ahtisaari,[12] Baroness Catherine Ashton,[13] President Mohammad Khatami,[14] President Olusegun Obasanjo,[15] President Juan Manuel Santos,[16][17] Dr Javier Solana,[9] Gerry Adams,[18] and many others.[19]

The participation of conflict protagonists has attracted international media attention. In 2015 Reuters reported that Afghan senior officials as well as Taliban representatives attended the Oslo Forum.[20] Syrian government and opposition representatives have attended in recent years.[21] Media also reported the attendance of representatives from the Philippines Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the context of a resumption of talks in summer 2013.[22]

Media coverage

All discussions at the Oslo Forum are held under the Chatham House Rule of non-attribution. International media outlets have, however, covered main themes discussed at the Oslo Forum. This includes for example BBC coverage of discussions on possible peace talks with the Taliban in 2010[23] and 2015.[24] Interviews with selected Oslo Forum participants on the side lines of the event and a recap of main themes have also featured in the New York Times,[25] the Economist[26] and numerous other outlets. The presence of Burmese politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi (2012),[11] U2 frontman Bono (2012),[27] Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (2015)[16] and other prominent public figures has also attracted international media attention.

Publications

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda speaking at the Oslo Forum in 2014

A summary of discussions at the Oslo Forum is available to the public through annual reports, published by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD). HD also commissions policy and background papers specifically for Oslo Forum retreats. These papers are published online upon completion of each retreat and can be accessed through the Oslo Forum website and HD website. Selected public speeches held at the Oslo Forum are available online.[9][28][29]

References

  1. 1 2 "About Oslo forum". www.osloforum.org. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende, met with Kosovo delegation". www.norway-kosovo.no. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Governments turn to NGOs as proxy conflict negotiators". Deutsche Welle. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Oslo Forum 2012". Overseas Development Institute (ODI). Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Retreats: OSLOFORUM". www.osloforum.org. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Affairs, Ministry of Foreign (17 June 2003). "Mediators' Retreat to be held in Oslo on 18–19 June". Government.no. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Oslo Forum 2014: Engaging with radical groups in conflicts. What can we accomplish through dialogue?" (PDF). 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Welcome Remarks by Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed at Asian Mediators' Retreat". www.mfa.gov.sg (Press release). 27 November 2006. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Solana, Javier (27 June 2006). "Mediating Today's Conflicts for Tomorrow's Peace" (PDF) (S183/06). European Council.
  10. 1 2 Utenriksdepartementet (12 June 2014). "Kofi Annan og Jimmy Carter til Oslo Forum". Regjeringen.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  11. 1 2 Utenriksdepartementet (14 June 2012). "Oslo Forum: Paneldebatt med Aung San Suu Kyi og Bono". Regjeringen.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  12. ↑ Utenriksdepartementet (21 June 2007). "Fredsmeglersamlingen Oslo Forum 26.-29. juni". Regjeringen.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "List of documents Initial request Ms Vicky Cann (CEO) 2015/2376- Post-mandate activities Baroness Ashton" (PDF) (Ref. Ares(2015)2249335 - 29/05/2015). European Commission. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Pretzels and Policies with Mohammad Khatami - Harvard - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs". belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Annual international conference of armed conflict mediators and peace process actors - International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT)". issat.dcaf.ch. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Santos: América Latina, el Caribe y Europa apoyan el proceso de paz". Noticias RCN. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Santos: es obsoleto recurrir a la guerra para resolver conflictos". Noticias RCN. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Gerry Adams to participate in Oslo Forum". www.sinnfein.ie. 23 June 2006. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Participants: OSLOFORUM". www.osloforum.org. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Afghan, Taliban delegates attend Oslo talks on ending conflicts". Reuters. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "EU-sanctioned Assad adviser in Oslo for secret talks". The Daily Star Newspaper. Lebanon. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "Gov't-MILF talks to resume in July". globalnation.inquirer.net. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Afghanistan peace conundrum flummoxes mediators - BBC News". BBC News. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Afghanistan's leaders face battle for peace - BBC News". BBC News. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  25. ↑ Cohen, Roger (14 July 2008). "Scandinavia's Scarred Mr. Dialogue". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  26. ↑ "Privatising peace". The Economist. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  27. ↑ Bono at Oslo Forum 18.06.2012. Norway. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  28. ↑ Affairs, Ministry of Foreign (28 May 2015). "Opening Speech at Oslo Freedom Forum". Government.no. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  29. ↑ Santos, Juan Manuel (16 June 2015). "The Oslo Forum". wp.presidencia.gov.co. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
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