The Third National Dialogue Conference of its kind, previously organised in 2014 and 2015, will once again bring together an international gathering of stakeholders, experts and support actors from the field of peacebuilding and national dialogues.
Taking place 5th-6th April at the historic House of the Estates in Helsinki, the Conference takes forward the discussions of past events through a range of thematic and practice-oriented sessions, while recognising also the value of networking among colleagues in the field.
This year’s theme revolves around influences to dialogue processes from the region as well from the local levels. The multiplicity of interests and opportunities in play in a given dialogue process avails itself to a range of actors that can both support and spoil. These dynamics will be the focus of the discussions in this year’s National Dialogue Conference.
More Conference material can be found from resources.
The Conference is by invitation only.
8:30–9:00 Registration
9:00–09:40 Opening and Welcoming remarks
• Special Representative of the Foreign Minister on Mediation, Mr. Pekka Haavisto
• Masters of Ceremonies: Ambassador Kai Sauer and Ambassador Sirpa Mäenpää
09:40–10:30 Leadership for change: experiences from Namibia
• President Martti Ahtisaari, Finland
• President Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, Namibia
Moderator: Juliette Foster, BBC
10:30–11:00 Coffee/Tea break
11:00–12:45 High-level panel: Regional dynamics, political
leadership and complexity
• Minister Vadym Chernysh, Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs, Ukraine
• Amb. Hesham Youssef, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
• Honorable Astrid Thors, Former High Commissioner on National Minorities, OSCE
Moderator: Juliette Foster, International broadcaster
12:45–13:45 Lunch
13:45–15:30 Parallel thematic sessions 1
a) Regional dynamics of National Dialogues in the Middle East
Room: 15 (Plenary room)
• Dr. Yasar Qatarneh, Senior Adviser, Crisis Management Initiative (Moderator)
• Mr. Marwan Ali, Principal Adviser to the Special Envoy to the Secretary General on Yemen
• Dr. Karam Karam, Regional Adviser, Emerging and Conflict Related Issues Division (ECRI), UN-ESCWA
• Mr. Abdulnaser Al-Muwadea, Author and Researcher, Yemen
• Mr. Oliver McTernan, Director, Forward Thinking
• Ms. Minna Saarnivaara, Syria Initiative Project Manager, Felm
b) Youth in national dialogue processes: resolution 2250 an entry point
Room: 23 (Round table)
• Ms. Marie Makweri, Peace and Reconciliation Advisor, Finn Church Aid – South Sudan (Moderator)
• Mr. Mir Mubashir, Project Manager, Berghof Foundation
• Ms. Irena Grizelj, Independent Researcher and Consultant – Youth, Peace and Security
• Ms. Irene Limo, Coordinator, Peacemaking Unit, ACCORD
• Prof. Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Professor, School of International Service, American University & Senior Adviser, KAICIID (Concluding comments / Respondent)
c) Reconciliation and Transitional Justice
Room: 3 (First floor)
• Mr. Jeff Seul, Chairman of the Board, Peace Appeal (moderator)
• Ms. Mandira Sharma, Human Rights activist, Nepal
• Mr. Bishnu Sapkota, Board Member, Nepal Transitions to Peace Institute
• Ms. Valentina Erazo, Peacebuilding and Participation Coordinator, Presidential Counsellor’s Office for Human Rights, Colombia
15:30–16:00 Coffee/Tea break
16:00–17:45 Parallel thematic sessions 2
d) Local dialogue in the absence of National Dialogue in MENA
Room: 15
• Mr. Mahmoud Ramadan, Common Space Initiative/Syria Initiative (Moderator)
• Ms. Raeifa Samie, Member of the Women Advisory Board of UN special envoy for Syria Mr. Stefan de Mistura
• Ms. Eva Ziedan, COSV
• Mr. Maruan El Krekshi, Head of MENA, Crisis Management Initiative
• Mr. Martin Griffiths, Executive Director, European Institute for Peace (First Commentary)
e) Regional organisations’ support to national dialogue processes
Room: 23
• Mr. Itonde Kakoma, Head for Sub-Saharan Africa, Crisis Management Initiative (Moderator)
• Dr. Alhaji Sarhoj Bah, AU Peace and Security Department, Head of Division for Crisis Management, Post-Conflict and Reconstruction
• Amb. Hamuli Baudouin Kabarhuzato, Director for Political Affairs and Early Warning, ECCAS
• Dr. Aleu Garang Aleu, Coordinator, IGAD Mediation Support Unit
• Dr. Brown Odigie, Program Officer, Mediation Facilitation Directorate, ECOWAS
• Ms. Stella Sabiiti, International Consultant and Expert on APSA
• Ms. Yvette Ngandu, Coordinator, AU Peace and Security Department (Commentator)
• Amb. Corentin Ki-Doulaye, Crisis Management Initiative Senior Adviser (Commentator)
f) Land Reform and Local Governance
Room: 3
• Mr. Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj, Senior Coordinator, Syria Initiative, Common Space Initiative (Moderator)
• Ms. Shirley Moulder, Chair of the Board, Peace Appeal Foundation (Moderator)
• Mr. Anas Joudeh, President, National building Movement
• Ms. SiuSue Mark, Political economist for Land Governance, Erasmus University
• Mr. Tommi Tenno, Technical Director, Niras (Commentator)
17:45–18:00 Reflections of the day and comparative lessons from the field
• Dr. Thania Paffenholz, Director, Inclusive Peace and Transition Initiative at The Graduate Institute
Masters of Ceremonies
18:00-20:00 Cocktail event
Hosted by Under-Secretary of State Anne Sipiläinen, MFA Finland
Location: House of the Estates
9:00–9:10 Opening of day 2
9:10-9:30 Keynote: Peace from a different perspective – Dialogue of a million people
• Professor Timo Honkela, University of Helsinki
9:30-10:00 Coffee/Tea break
10:00-12:00 Parallel thematic sessions 3
g) Dialogue in CAR: Historical pathways, local dynamics and the role of regional influence
Room: 15
• Mr. Pekka Haavisto, Special representative of the Foreign Minister on Mediation (Moderator)
• President Catherine Samba-Panza, Former President of the Central African Republic
• Imam Modibo Bachir Walidou, Deputy Imam of the Central Mosque in Bangui
• Amb. Hamuli Baudouin Kabarhuzato, Director for Political Affairs and Early Warning, ECCAS
• Mr. Caesar Poblicks, Projects Manager for East and Central Africa Programme, Conciliation Resources
h) Building peace architecture in the Middle East
Room: 3
• Amb. Nureldin Satti, Crisis Management Initiative Senior Adviser, retired Sudanese diplomat and former senior official at the UN and UNESCO (Moderator)
• Amb. Hesham Youssef, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
• Dr. Seyed Hamzeh Safavi, Director, Institute for Islamic World Futures Studies
• Mr. Cengiz Çandar, Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Stockholm University Institute for Turkish Studies
i) Grassroots participation in the Myanmar peace process
Room: 23
• Ms.Thuzar Thant, EBO Programme Manager (Moderator)
• Mr. Sai Sai Ngin, Director, White Benevolence – Environmental Research and Education, Shan State Common Space
• Mr. Min Htay Aung, Mon State Civilian Ceasefire Monitoring Committee Member, Mon State Common Space
• Ms. Nan Mya Thida, Director, Research Institute for Society and Ecology, Karen State Common Space
• Ms. Nang Phyu Phyu Lin, Gender Advisor to the CSO Forum + Gender Equality Network
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:00-14:45 Parallel thematic sessions 4
j) Lessons in process design and potential for self-mediation (UN advisory and policy)
Room: 23
• Mr. Hannes Siebert, Senior Technical Advisor, Common Space Initiative (Moderator)
• Mr. Andries Odendaal, Senior Associate, Centre for Mediation in Africa, University of Pretoria
• Ms. Roxaneh Bazergan, Senior political affairs officer, UNDPA
• Ms. Luxshi Vimalarajah, Programme Director, Berghof Foundation
• Mr. Jonathan Harlander, HD centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
k) Women shaping the agenda in National Dialogue processes
Room: 15
• Dr. Thania Paffenholz, Director, Inclusive Peace and Transition Initiative at The Graduate Institute (Moderator)
• President Catherine Samba-Panza, Former President of the Central African Republic
• Ms. Nang Lao Liang Won (Tay Tay), Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) & Women’s league of Burma (WLB)
• Ms. Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, Yemeni Writer and Researcher
• Mr. Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj, Senior Coordinator, Syria Initiative, Common Space Initiative
• Amb. Ann-Sofie Stude, UNSCR 1325 National Focal Point, MFA Finland (First commentary)
l) History and narratives in conflict
Room: 3
• Dr. Timo R. Stewart, Researcher (Moderator)
•Dr. Erkki Tuomioja, Former minister, Member of Parliament, Finland
• Dr. Marko Lehti, Academic Director of Master’s Programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research, University of Tampere
Ms. Paula Gaviria, Presidential Counsellor on Human Rights of Colombia (Video Greeting)
14:45-15:15 Coffee/Tea break
15:15-16:40 High-level panel: Activating the local level potential for national processes
• H.E. Mme Catherine Samba Panza, former President of Central African Republic
• Ms. Anne Sipiläinen, Under-Secretary of State, MFA Finland
• Mr. Antti Pentikäinen, Executive Director and Convenor, Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers
• Ms. Rina Amiri, Senior Mediation Expert, UN
• Moderator: Ms. Tuija Talvitie, Executive Director, Crisis Management Initiative
16:40-17:00 Reflections and Learning for Future
• Consortium closing remarks: Tuija Talvitie, Executive Director, Crisis Management Initiative
• Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland Closing remarks: Under-Secretary of State Ms. Elina Kalkku
• Masters of Ceremonies
A range of thematic and case-based background documents are produced for each National Dialogue Conference. This material serves each particular conference, but also provides to wider learning and knowledge production around the theme.
The Conference will be held within walking distance of the city centre and we can recommend a variety of options suitable for participants:
Glo Hotel Kluuvi, Kluuvikatu 4, 00100 Helsinki
Hotel Haven, Unioninkatu 17, 00130 Helsinki
Hotelli Seurahuone, Kaivokatu 12, 00100 Helsinki
Sokos Hotel Helsinki, Kluuvikatu 8, 00100 Helsinki
Hotel Kämp, Pohjoisesplanadi 29, 00100 Helsinki
Hotelli Cumulus City Kaisaniemi, Kaisaniemenkatu 7, 00100 Helsinki
Hotel Fabian, Fabianinkatu 7, 00130 Helsinki
Hotel Lilla Roberts, Pieni Roobertinkatu 1-3, 00130 Helsinki
Transport from the Airport
Helsinki International Airport is located 19 km north of the city centre. There is a convenient public train link as well as a bus connection running continuously from the airport to the city centre. A taxi to the city centre costs approximately 40-50 euros. Duration of travel with all aforementioned options varies between 25-30 minutes to central Helsinki.
Public Transport in Helsinki
Tickets for public transport, including trams, buses and the metro, can be purchased at ticket machines, or the driver (buses and trams only). Day tickets are available for unlimited use on public transportation for 1–7 days. They can be purchased at ticket machines, from the Tourist Information office or at the Helsinki City Transport service point at the Central Railway Station. Tram number 2 is regarded as the sightseeing tram in Helsinki, a way to travel around among the locals.
Taxis in Helsinki
The centre of Helsinki is easily accessible by foot. Taxi stands are conveniently located throughout the centre and can be ordered either by your hotel lobby or directly by calling for example the following numbers (charges apply):
Taksi Helsinki – Tel. +358 (0)100 0700
Lähitaksi – Tel. +358 (0)100 7300
Kovanen – Tel. +358 (0) 200 6060
Visa
If you need a Schengen visa to enter European Union and Finland, please contact the Conference secretariat at Erika.paakkinen@cmi.fi as soon as possible. The secretariat provides you with an invitation letter that should be presented in the application process.
Insurance
For international travel insurance, please contact the Conference secretariat at Erika.paakkinen@cmi.fi as soon as possible.
Time Zone
Helsinki is located in GMT+2.
Weather
Early April marks the transition from late winter to early spring, making Helsinki weather unpredictable. It is not uncommon for temperatures to dip below 0 degrees Celsius, especially during the night, but warmer weather is also possible. Rain is more likely than snow. Although inside temperatures are comfortable all year round due to central heating, it is highly advisable to come prepared for cold and rain.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute’s online weather forecasts for Helsinki can be found here:
http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/weather/helsinki
Currency and Credit Cards
Finland is part of the Eurozone. Restaurants and shops accept major credit cards.
Internet Access
Wireless internet access is available at the Conference venue – The House of the Estates – and the password will be displayed on-site. Helsinki hotels generally provide Wi-Fi to guests.
Electricity Supply
Electricity is supplied in Finland at the European norms of 230V (with a frequency of 50 Hertz). As in most European countries (except the UK), electrical plugs in Finland need two round pins. They can be the ungrounded Europlug Type C or the grounded Schukoplug Type E/F.
Serious Emergencies
The emergency number is 112. This number can be reached on all phones, foreign and national.
