ACCORD’s Intervention Department organised a study tour and conflict management training for 22 members of the Specialised Committee for Peace and Reconciliation of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly. The Specialised Committee for Peace and Reconciliation is mainly responsible for planning, policymaking and formation of legislation to facilitate consolidation of peace and reconciliation in Southern Sudan. The Committee is also tasked with the responsibility to monitor and ensure the proper implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
The activity, which took place from 22-31 July 2008 in Pretoria and Cape Town, was divided into two parts, namely:
Conflict Management Training
The five-day training aimed at transferring skills in conflict management and mediation techniques. The parliamentarians were taken through sessions on conflict analysis, conflict management, communication, facilitation, negotiation, strategy design, and mediation. These skills were intended to enhance the parliamentarians’ skills to identify, prevent and resolve any internal and civil disputes, as per the Committee’s mandate.
Study Tour
The study tour introduced the parliamentarians to various institutions in South Africa relevant to their work such as the Constitutional Court and the Human Rights Commission. The parliamentarians also met with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of South Africa. The study tour provided them with a unique opportunity to identify lessons in South Africa’s path to democracy which are relevant and may be applied towards the consolidation of peace in Southern Sudan.
For more information on this activity, please contact Martha Bakwesegha, Programme Officer: Interventions, via email Martha@accord.org.za or telephonically +27 (0)31 502 3908.
