On 22nd and 23rd of October 2024, we had the opportunity to participate at the EU community of practice (CoP) on peace mediation in its 2024 edition under the theme: "Tailoring dialogue and mediation processes to conflict dynamics: The power of partnerships”. The CoP is a two-day event that brings together international actors, policymakers, mediation experts, and civil society representatives to discuss mediation and support for peace processes.
With this in mind, fruitful discussions on how to strengthen humanitarian and community and international actors in conversation, emerging practices in measuring the results of dialogue and mediation efforts, religious dimensions in conflict and violence, and the regional struggle against unconstitutional changes of government—changing paradigms, just to name a few—was the occasion to engage with peers, professionals in the sphere of mediation, and representants from all horizons (NGO, INGOs at continental, regional, or global levels, scholars, etc.).
Taking into account the work that we do in terms of electoral assistance, the CoP was a great opportunity for ECES to link different aspects of peace mediation with electoral violence. As elections, especially in s fragile and transitioning political environment, can be the source of violence, as a result of existing tensions, that during electoral processes can be easily disseminated online through hate speeches.
ECES was represented at the CoP by its Head of Operations, Julia Onnasch, Alessio Beltrami, Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, Agung Putranto, Senior Electoral Graphic Expert, Jean Brice Onana Noa, Finance and Administration Officer, and Joel Minoungou, Project Officer.
