Dialogue

Humanitarian Dialogue for Human Security in Chechnya

The Humanitarian dialogue project was developed by FEWER Eurasia in cooperation with swisspeace and Peace Mission of General Lebed on the basis of consultations with all major stakeholders. It draws heavily from experience gained in the course of a series of Strategic Roundtables “Ways to Peace in Chechnya” organized by FEWER, Peace Mission of General Lebed, swisspeace and Folke Bernadotte Academy. The project is implemented since 2005.

Internationally, humanitarian dialogue is usually understood as a process of rapprochement between the opposing parties in a conflict situation in the course of negotiations that do not touch upon political aspects of the conflict.

This process is aimed at achieving agreements on exchange/release of illegally detained persons, providing humanitarian assistance, enhancing security of civilian population, addressing negative humanitarian consequences of the conflict, etc.

The conception of humanitarian dialogue as applied to the conflict in the Chechen Republic is shaped by the internal character of the conflict and insignificant degree of its internalization, coupled with the commitment by the Russian government to normalize the situation in Chechnya through a political process. This includes adoption of the Constitution, development of legislative and executive branches of power, recovery and reconstruction of the economy and social sphere, and enhancing human security through gradual strengthening of local law-enforcement bodies in Chechnya.

The strategic aim of this project is to institutionalize the humanitarian dialogue process on the central priority theme - physical and economic security of the civilian population in Chechnya - in a form that is accepted by the federal / local authorities and Chechen civil society. The project will then aim to gradually spread the humanitarian dialogue process across the entire territory of Chechnya (Grozny and Achkhoi-Martan in 2006-2008), involving a wider platform of NGOs active in the North Caucasus, UN (OCHA, UNDP, WHO) and other counterparts, as well as key officials concerned.

Key elements of human security in Chechnya

Target Groups:

• Vulnerable categories of the conflict-affected population in Chechnya’s communities (Achkhoi-Martan and Grozny districts); the relatives of missing people

• Russian federal and Chechen local officials;

• Chechen civil society;

• Law enforcement bodies in the North Caucasus and in Chechnya;

• Ex-combatants willing to lay down arms and re-integrate into the civilian life.

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