The Lebanese and The Lebanese and Palestinian Youth Palestinian Youth

Dialogue on Conflict Dialogue on Conflict ResolutionResolution

June 28June 28thth 2005 2005

Press ConferencePress Conference

The IdeaThe Idea

• Lebanon is characterized by its diverse Lebanon is characterized by its diverse people.people.– Multi-Factional (Politically, Religiously, Multi-Factional (Politically, Religiously,

Economically).Economically).– Palestinians became part of these factions in Palestinians became part of these factions in

1948.1948.

• ““Any community with a diversity of members Any community with a diversity of members and interests will not be without conflict” and interests will not be without conflict” 11

– Conflict = tension amongst factions due to valid Conflict = tension amongst factions due to valid instances of injustice and misunderstandinginstances of injustice and misunderstanding

• Use of dialogue to promote a just co-Use of dialogue to promote a just co-existenceexistence

1 Michael Amaladoss, S.J. Dialogue as Conflict Resolution

Why Lebanese and Why Lebanese and Palestinian?Palestinian?

• The Palestinian cause serves as a divisive The Palestinian cause serves as a divisive factor between existing factions.factor between existing factions.

• As a first step Lebanese and Palestinian As a first step Lebanese and Palestinian issues must be addressed.issues must be addressed.

• As a second step, must address Lebanese As a second step, must address Lebanese factional issues.factional issues.

• If Lebanese and Palestinian issue is If Lebanese and Palestinian issue is resolved and understood, this will resolved and understood, this will contribute largely to facilitating contribute largely to facilitating resolution and reconciliation among resolution and reconciliation among Lebanese factions.Lebanese factions.– Issues revolving around the Lebanese War Issues revolving around the Lebanese War

concern both Palestinian and Lebanese concern both Palestinian and Lebanese factions.factions.

Why DialogueWhy Dialogue

• Dialogue is a creative way of solving Dialogue is a creative way of solving conflicts without allowing the eruption of conflicts without allowing the eruption of violence.violence.

• Dialogue gives way to the confrontation Dialogue gives way to the confrontation and advocacy of issues/needsand advocacy of issues/needs– Issues gain legitimacy this wayIssues gain legitimacy this way– Forces recognition of the interdependence of Forces recognition of the interdependence of

issues, thus making negotiation and resolution issues, thus making negotiation and resolution possible.possible.

• Dialogue creates a platform for remedying Dialogue creates a platform for remedying misconceptions and misunderstanding.misconceptions and misunderstanding.

What are the issues?What are the issues?

• Three main points of injustice or Three main points of injustice or misunderstanding between misunderstanding between Lebanese and Palestinians:Lebanese and Palestinians:

1.1. The aspiration of the Palestinian The aspiration of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon to attain human refugees in Lebanon to attain human and civil rights.and civil rights.

2.2. The role of Palestinians in the Lebanese The role of Palestinians in the Lebanese war.war.

3.3. The role of Lebanon in supporting the The role of Lebanon in supporting the Palestinian cause and protecting Palestinian cause and protecting Palestinians in Lebanon.Palestinians in Lebanon.

Why the youth?Why the youth?

• Today’s youth took no active role in Today’s youth took no active role in the Lebanese War (violent eruption of the Lebanese War (violent eruption of conflict)conflict)– Thus they are more susceptible to Thus they are more susceptible to

reconciliation and resolving issues reconciliation and resolving issues through dialoguethrough dialogue

• They are the futureThey are the future– Understanding now will lead to stronger Understanding now will lead to stronger

bonds later, consequently reaching social bonds later, consequently reaching social and political harmony in the futureand political harmony in the future

Who are our youth?Who are our youth?

• Mostly University studentsMostly University students– Participating universities Participating universities BAU, USJ, LAU, BAU, USJ, LAU,

NDU, AUB, BCUNDU, AUB, BCU

• 40 participants divided into 2 groups 40 participants divided into 2 groups (20 in each group)(20 in each group)– Some from political backgrounds Some from political backgrounds – Some with no political affiliationsSome with no political affiliations– 35% Palestinian35% Palestinian– 25% Lebanese who advocate the 25% Lebanese who advocate the

Palestinian causePalestinian cause– 40% Lebanese40% Lebanese

What is the project?What is the project?• The project provides a framework for inter-The project provides a framework for inter-

communal dialogue that integrates all factions communal dialogue that integrates all factions in Lebanonin Lebanon

• Through 4 main activities it intends to Through 4 main activities it intends to breakdown existing barriers between breakdown existing barriers between Palestinians and Lebanese by building strong Palestinians and Lebanese by building strong and lasting tiesand lasting ties

• The activities will create a platform for The activities will create a platform for dialogue, promote better cultural dialogue, promote better cultural understanding, create human and civil rights understanding, create human and civil rights awareness and build a volunteer networkawareness and build a volunteer network

• This project has a human rights angleThis project has a human rights angle– Use the human rights approach to come to better Use the human rights approach to come to better

understanding of the conflict and as a launching point understanding of the conflict and as a launching point for future activismfor future activism

Project TimelineProject Timeline 20052005 20062006

ActivityActivity AprAprilil

MaMayy

JuJunene JulyJuly AuguAugu

ststSeptemSeptemberber

OctobOctoberer

NovemNovemberber

DecemDecemberber

JanuaJanuaryry

FebruFebruaryary

MarMarchch

Activity 1 Activity 1 (Universi(Universi

ty ty Dialogue Dialogue Events)Events)

Activity 2 Activity 2 (Cross-(Cross-

CommunCommunal Visits)al Visits)

Activity 3 Activity 3 (Human (Human Rights Rights

WorkshoWorkshop)p)

Activity 4 Activity 4 (Volunte(Volunte

er er Network)Network)

Activity 1: Dialogue Activity 1: Dialogue EventEvent

• Develops the basis for the whole projectDevelops the basis for the whole project• 2-Day activity that provides the 2-Day activity that provides the

opportunity for constructive dialogueopportunity for constructive dialogue• Through dialogue and the guidance of a Through dialogue and the guidance of a

professional facilitator participants will professional facilitator participants will acquire:acquire:– Knowledge of how to deal with conflictKnowledge of how to deal with conflict– Communication skillsCommunication skills– Dialogue skillsDialogue skills– Awareness of the others’ needs and fearsAwareness of the others’ needs and fears

Activity 2: Cross-Activity 2: Cross-Community Cultural Community Cultural

Exchange VisitsExchange Visits• Helps break through the Helps break through the

conceptual barriers each side has conceptual barriers each side has of one another and reach the of one another and reach the human elementhuman element

• Locations will be decided by the Locations will be decided by the participantsparticipants– Each GroupEach Group

• Achieves greater understanding Achieves greater understanding between Lebanese and Palestiniansbetween Lebanese and Palestinians

Activity 3: Human Rights Activity 3: Human Rights WorkshopWorkshop

• Create an overall rights awareness and their Create an overall rights awareness and their application for achieving reconciliationapplication for achieving reconciliation

• Gives participants the knowledge needed to Gives participants the knowledge needed to build their own assessment of the situation build their own assessment of the situation – Gives them baseline information against which Gives them baseline information against which

they can compare what they’ve actually seen in they can compare what they’ve actually seen in their visits (Activity 2)their visits (Activity 2)

• Provides them with the skills for advocating Provides them with the skills for advocating their issues and building their volunteer their issues and building their volunteer networks.networks.

• Allows them to create their own advocacy Allows them to create their own advocacy guidelines for future human and civil rights guidelines for future human and civil rights efforts in Lebanonefforts in Lebanon

Activity 4: Volunteer Activity 4: Volunteer NetworkNetwork

• Compliments the other activities to Compliments the other activities to channel the ambition of young people channel the ambition of young people into grassroots initiatives that focus on into grassroots initiatives that focus on the overall objective of national the overall objective of national reconciliation reconciliation

• Project coordinators will play an Project coordinators will play an advisory and supportive roleadvisory and supportive role– Initiate meetingsInitiate meetings– Provide venue for meetingsProvide venue for meetings– Follow up on progress of volunteer network Follow up on progress of volunteer network

initiativesinitiatives

Your RoleYour Role

• Your role as the media is to convey to Your role as the media is to convey to the your audience:the your audience:– The issues brought up by the youthThe issues brought up by the youth– Their progress in resolving these issuesTheir progress in resolving these issues– The effect of the activities on the The effect of the activities on the

participantsparticipants

• Provide documentation of the project Provide documentation of the project to ensure frequent evaluation and to ensure frequent evaluation and feedback throughout the processfeedback throughout the process