International Alert

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A London-based charity and international non-governmental organisation working to prevent and end violent conflict across the globe, International Alert marked its 20th anniversary in 2006.

International Alert views itself as a peacebuilding (also known as conflict resolution or conflict transformation) organisation. Its strapline is "Understanding Conflict. Building Peace".

International Alert works in over 20 countries and territories across the world including the African Great Lakes region, West Africa, the Caucasus, the Andean Region of South America, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Philippines.

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[edit] International Alert's Work

The vision of the organisation is to work "towards a world where differences are resolved without erupting into violence".

It seeks to achieve this by following its three key missions:

  1. Working directly with people affected by violent conflict, supporting their efforts to improve their prospects for peace
  2. Shaping international policy and practice that affect peacebuilding
  3. Strengthening the expertise, impact and public profile of the peacebuilding sector

Its main activities include working in partnership with local business, governmental, non-governmental, religious, and community groups to build their capacity to deliver a sustainable peace. They also produce detailed research papers and resource packs to help shape national and international policy, and for use in the training of local and international organisations.

[edit] History

International Alert was established in the mid-1980s, an era dominated by the Cold War, and whilst conflicts between nations were decreasing, internal conflicts and civil wars were rapidly increasing. Born out of the merger of The Standing International Forum on Ethnic Conflict, Development, and Human Rights (SIFEC), and US organisation International Alert on Genocides and Massacres, it counted Archbishop Desmond Tutu amongst the members of its first board of trustees.

It was the first organisation to concern itself specifically with violent internal conflict and at that time there existed no internationally agreed procedures for resolving internal conflict. International Alert aimed to encourage the creation of acceptable procedures and structures for resolving such situations.

Its work in areas of violent conflict focused on working with local partner organisations to facilitate peace deals and to ensure a transition to a functioning stable society.


[edit] Key Landmarks in International Alert's History

  • 1985: Establishment of SIFEC marks origins of Alert; the first country-specific programme in Sri Lanka is created to contribute to a peaceful settlement in Sri Lanka.
  • 1991: Alert is awarded Consultative Status, Category II with the UN.
  • 1992: Alert begins work in the former Soviet Union to monitor regions of possible and on-going conflict, and to offer a training programme on conflict resolution.
  • 1995: Alert starts its work in the Great Lakes region of Africa with several programmes in both Burundi and Rwanda.
  • 1998: Alert publishes the first Code of Conduct for conflict transformation work.
  • 2000: Major lobbying effort by the Women Building Peace Campaign contributes to the passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

[edit] Structure

International Alert's current Secretary General is Dan Smith. The organisation is led by a Board of Trustees made up of eleven members from around the world, and a five person Senior Management Team. It is divided into teams working on Eurasia, Asia, the Americas, West Africa, the African Great Lakes, Peacebuilding Issues, and Development.

[edit] Secretaries General

The organisation has been led by four Secretaries General, as well as two acting Secretaries General, since its creation.

  • Martin Ennals- 1986 - 1990
  • Leah Levin- acting SG 1991
  • Kumar Rupesinghe- 1992 - 1997
  • Martin Honeywell- acting SG 1998
  • Kevin Clements- 1999 - 2003
  • Dan Smith- 2003 - present

[edit] Trustees

  • Richard Dale (Chair), UK
  • Rosemary Bechler, UK
  • Pumla Gobodo-Madikezela, South Africa
  • Stephen Stedman, USA
  • Kamal Hossain, Bangladesh
  • Paulina Lampsa, Greece
  • Craig McGilvray, (Honorary Treasurer), UK
  • Frida Nokken, Norway
  • Brendan O'Leary, USA
  • Wigberto Tañada, The Philippines
  • Martin Woollacott, UK

[edit] Notable Past Board Members

[edit] External links

[edit] See also