Balkans: Conflict prevention and community building

One main focus of CFOR’s work continues to be in Croatia, and extending in the Balkan region. 

Building Trust: Paths to community in Areas of Special State Concern, Croatia UNHCR and European Institute for Democracy and Human Rights in partnership with Udruga Mi and CFOR

CFOR conducted a forum and training in Brac, Croatia, (June 16-19 2009), participants from ‘Areas of Special Sate Concern’, communities strongly affected by the war and post-war period. The project is from 2009- 2010 with additional forums and local dialogue/ panels on the issues concerning post-war tensions and community development.  We worked on essential issues in the June Forum regarding the interplay of rights of return,  issues of accountability, and the link between personal, community and institutional change and responsibility.

This followed from:
Blocks to Recovery in Areas of Special State Concern, 2008
This project focused on economic recovery and blocks based in persisting conflict, and issues of accountability and trauma in community. A forum in Topusko, 2008, facilitated by Arlene and Jean-Claude Audergon, worked with participant and community tensions, blocking  the realization of their specific economic projects. The forum was combined with visits and technical support from Udruga Mi, and the participants gave wonderful response and feedback. All the projects were realised!

2006
The Topusko project built upon a related project of support in Areas of Special State Concern by Udruga Mi and four day forum in 2006, organized by Udruga Mi and UNHCR, facilitated by Arlene and Jean-Claude Audergon together with Lane Arye, focusing on essential issues of community trauma and accountability blocking economic recovery.

Leadership training for Community Development:  2010-2011
This project supported by UNHCR and Udruga Mi focuses on supporting emerging leadership for community development, relationships between NGOs and Local Authorities, and what is needed to resolve conflict and move forward in building society.

Questions of return, sustainable community and violence prevention now and for the future
With UNHCR, new models, also for the wider region, concerning the relationships between returning refugees and local communities dealing with post-war issues, conflict prevention, community building and sustainability.

History of work in region 1996- current
The history of these projects lie in the long-term and intensive work in Croatia from just after the war in 1996 until 2002.  Large forums facilitated by Arlene Audergon and Lane Arye, worked deeply and emotionally with post-war and community building throughout Croatia.  The first forum in Osijek was coordinated by International Rescue Committee. From 1997, projects were initiated and forums organized by the then newly formed ( and now acclaimed) NGO, Udruga MI – and supported by UNHCR, with additional support from OSCE Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Office for Transition Initiatives, Open Society Institute, the Threshold Foundation and Norwegian, Dutch, and Belgian  embassies. more on long-term work in  Croatia/ UNHCR.