What effects do protracted disputes have?
Discuss the role of international non-governmental
organizations in countries where disputes have become protracted.

von: Miriam Salaske

Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, once expressed that “we have come to a decisive moment in history. The great threat of nuclear confrontation between rival superpowers is now behind us. But a new and diverse constellation of threats has arisen in its place … (Annan, 2003).”

The nature of conflicts has changed in the post-Cold War era. There is a shift from the former superpower confrontation towards conflicts resulting from tensions between regional or intrastate parties. Within these regional and intrastate conflicts there is a rising level of violence and unprecedented disrespect for human rights. From this changing context arises the need for a different approach to conflicts than the traditional one.

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) play a crucial role in international conflict prevention and resolution due to their unofficial and impartial status. I am going to discuss this argument by defining protracted disputes as well as the strengths and weaknesses of NGOs in this context. Unofficial status and impartiality as examples for positive affects and lack of authority and limitation of international law as potential problems will be addressed as the major criteria in which ways NGOs can affect a protracted conflict. Among others, Amnesty International (AI) and the German Red Cross will be given as examples for how NGOs have worked in protracted conflicts.

Protracted disputes are long standing in time and often involve centuries-old hostilities and parties having accumulated hatred and prejudice (Gidron, Katz, and Hasenfeld 2002: 7). They can take place between two nations within a state (Sri Lanka), or between two states that have the same nation (China and Taiwan), or between a state and a nation (China and Tibet), or between two states over a territory (Kashmir), or among many states over a nation (Kurdistan). An important example in this context is Afghanistan. Strong human rights abuses and armed conflict let the dispute between the parties become protracted. Efforts to rebuild Afghanistan’s devastated infrastructure, institutions and civil society were impeded by the precarious security situation. Impunity remained entrenched. Reports of violence, torture including rape, and illtreatment by armed militia, regional commanders and police continue (Amnesty International 2003; Amnesty International 2002). The Sudan, Rwanda-Burundi, Northern Ireland, the Balkans and Cyprus are other examples for long-standing conflicts in the world. The Sudan, in this context, is a recent example how simmering conflicts over years within a country can explode and become protracted. Massive human rights violations committed by the Government of Sudan and its proxy militia were detected by Amnesty International (AI) (Amnesty International 2004b). Only a few protracted conflicts have been resolved in the past such as Ecuador-Peru, Eritrea and East Timor.

However, all these countries still suffer from the aftermath of many years of conflict. Almost every example of the above-mentioned protracted disputes are resource-based or related to identity or ethnicity. Distrust between the different parties makes progress towards conflict resolution, reconciliation and peace very difficult. Social conflicts can be very dangerous when they turn violent.
This cycle of violence can persist for generations and even centuries resulting in many victims and causing irreparable damage to society (Gidron, et. al. 2002: 7). The longer a conflict takes, the higher the destruction and costs for all parties involved.

The unique nature of NGOs, their strengths and efforts in mediation, humanitarian assistance and peace building show the efficiency of contribution to conflict resolution in the world (Mawlawi 1993: 391; UN Press Release 2002). The literature recognizes NGOs as self-governing private, voluntary, not-for-profit or non-profit organizations that exist to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged people. Foreign or international NGOs are based in developing countries and classified as local, regional, and national according to their sphere of influence (Vakil 1997; Mencher 1999). The role of NGOs in preventing and resolving conflicts has increased in recent years (UN Press Release 2002).

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