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BCR hosts Expert Workshop on “’Subsidiarity’ in Peacebuilding in Afghanistan”

On June 18-19, 2010 Berghof Conflict Research hosted an expert workshop generously supported by the Gerda Henkel Foundation on the topic “’Subsidiarity’ in Peacebuilding in Afghanistan”. Numerous researchers, practitioners and other experts on Afghanistan were welcomed to the institute for the 2-day workshop, in order to participate in a brainstorming session on how to use local capacities more effectively for the peacebuilding and statebuilding processes in Afghanistan. The workshop was presided over by Prof. Dr. Hans J. Giessmann, Director of Berghof Conflict Research. Also in attendance were Johannes Zundel, CEO of the Berghof Foundation for Conflict Studies, and Dr. Michael Hanssler, CEO of the Gerda Henkel Foundation.

The main discussion themes of the workshop were local governance; security and policing; potential for conflict transformation within religion, culture and gender; and civil society involvement and the interaction of state and non-state actors on the local level. Furthermore, the workshop was an excellent opportunity for an exchange of knowledge and practical experience among the participants as well as a welcome chance to discuss future potential collaboration.