Human Rights and Conflict Resolution
Bridging the Theoretical and Practical Divide
Global Institutions Series

Human rights and conflict resolution have been traditionally perceived as two separate fields, sometimes in competition or in tension and occasionally with contradictory approaches towards achieving a lasting peace. Although human rights norms have been incorporated and institutionalized by various national, regional, and international organizations that deal with conflict resolution, negotiators and mediators are often pressured in practice to overlook international human rights principles in favor of compliance and more immediate outcomes. The chapters in this volume navigate the relationship between human rights and conflict resolution by fleshing out practical, conceptual, and institutional encounters of the two agendas and engaging with lessons learned and windows of opportunities for mutual learning.

Recognizing the increasing relevance of this debate and important gaps in the current research on the topic, this book addresses the following questions:

• How can we improve our practical and theoretical understanding of the complementarity between human rights and conflict resolution? How would a human rights-based approach to conflict resolution look like?
• How are international, regional, and national organizations promoting, implementing, and/or adapting to better coordinate between human rights and conflict resolution?
• Building on empirical evidence from contemporary conflict resolution processes, how have human rights been integrated in different efforts on the ground? What are the main lessons learned in this regard?

Examining a wide range of countries and issues, this work is essential reading for human rights, conflict resolution, and security experts including scholars, diplomats, policy-makers, civil society representatives, and students of international politics.

1 Introduction: Human Rights and Conflict Resolution: Bridging the Gap? Claudia Fuentes Julio and Paula Drumond PART I: Conflict Resolution and Human Rights: An Introduction 2The Transformative Potential of Human Rights in Conflict Resolution Michelle Parlevliet 3 The Place of Human Rights in the Twenty-First Century Peace System Oliver P. Richmond 4 Human Rights Issues and Dilemmas in Contemporary Peace Mediation Katia Papagianni PART II: Integrating human rights and conflict resolution: institutional experiences 5 International Human Rights Institutions and Conflict Resolution Florian Hoffmann and Andrea Ribeiro Hoffmann 6 Regional Organization, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Renata Summa and Monica Herz 7 Truth versus/and Justice: the case of the Brazilian National Truth Commission Carolina de Campos Melo 8 Human Rights Non-Governmental Organizations in Conflict Transformation Anja Mihr PART III: Advancing human rights in conflict resolution: contemporary challenges and case studies 9 Engaging Armed Groups in Conflict Resolution from a Human Rights Perspective David Petrasek 10 Integrating Gender into Conflict Resolution and Human Rights Discourses: Rethinking the Politics of Dialogue in Israel, Palestine, and the North of Ireland Simona Sharoni 11 Human Rights and the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Agreements Raslan Ibrahim and Edy Kaufman 12 Between Peace and Justice: The Role of Human Rights Norms in Colombia’s Peace Process Sandra Borda and Martha Gutiérrez 13 Conclusion: Integrating Human Rights into Conflict Resolution: Lessons Learned and Opportunities for Engagement Claudia Fuentes Julio and Paula Drumond

Claudia Fuentes Julio is Assistant Professor at the International Relations Institute at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio).

Paula Drumond is an assistant professor at the International Relations Institute at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (IRI/PUC-Rio) and researcher of the Global South Unit for Mediation.