News Archive

Art initiatives in fragile and conflict-affected contexts receive growing attention. A broad spectrum of strategies has evolved, integrating perspectives, concepts and skills from different fields such as artistic production, international cooperation, cultural management and humanitarian work.

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Colombia’s armed conflict has lasted for more than half a century. The latest negotiations alone took more than four years. Following the rejection by referendum of the first deal in October 2016, the Colombian government and guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia finally reached agreement on a revised deal.

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Two questions stood at the center of KOFF's activities in 2016: 1) How can KOFF step up its peacebuilding efforts while respecting its platform mandate, which does not include lobbying? And 2) How can it make better use of its networks to carve out more space for peacebuilding and to shape this space in a more innovative way?

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In the last few years, the concept of preventing violent extremism has been at the heart of discourses of governments, international organizations and non-state actors.

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Once again this year, the figures released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on global arms transfers have prompted much reaction and polemic in Switzerland and elsewhere. Some give as justification the country’s economic interests or current security challenges.

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The implementation of the agreement for peace and reconciliation in Mali, which was signed a little over a year ago in Algiers, has finally been relaunched. The signatory parties met in Bamako last June to agree on practical arrangements for the establishment of the interim authorities in northern Mali.

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The situation is paradoxical: despite repeated emphasis on the importance of civil society for conflict resolution and peacebuilding, its space for action and freedom to act are becoming increasingly restricted. What are the external and internal factors that have sparked these restrictions? And what measures can be taken to address them?

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In many respects, the events of 2015 have had a significant impact on KOFF, which is approaching its 15th anniversary.

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Following a challenging period, including questions surrounding KOFF’s objectives and identity and a change in personnel, KOFF began to pick up momentum again in 2014 – the kind of momentum that made its civil society members, official bodies and international partners realise that KOFF has a strategic purpose not just as an important platform, but also as a tool for strengthening peacebuilding.

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Afghanistan has recently witnessed a transfer of power and the formation of a new government of national unity. This has contributed to a sense of political momentum that could open a window of opportunity.

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