Dag Nylander- Diplomacy in Action: Lessons from the Columbian Peace Process

Dag Nylander is a Norwegian diplomat, and is currently the director the Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution (NOREF). Prior to joining NOREF, he was director and head of the Section for Peace and Reconciliation in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Throughout his career, he has held several diplomatic positions, most notably as a mediator and Norwegian special envoy to Colombia. From 2010 to 2016 he led the Norwegian facilitation of the peace process between the Colombian government and the FARC. This work built on the foundations laid from 2006 to 2008, when he headed the Norwegian embassy in Bogotá. In 2017 he was appointed the United Nations Secretary-General’s personal representative on the border controversy between Venezuela and Guyana. Dag is a jurist by education and has practiced both as a lawyer and an assistant judge.

Some topics discussed include:

• Dag’s insights on the most crucial actions a mediator can take to ensure a successful outcome.
• Crafting a secure environment for participants, considering political, legal, and physical aspects.
• Cultivating trust between the parties and the mediator, and the pivotal role this plays in the mediation's success.
• Navigating the ethical complexities of stakeholder inclusivity while keeping the process efficient.
• The transformative impact of placing victims at the heart of peace talks.
• The necessity of addressing victim justice for enduring peace.
• An exploration of Track Two diplomacy, its effectiveness, and best practices within peace processes.
• And much more

Links:

Out of the Jungle, by Dag Nylander and Tove Gravdal