STEP 5
Conduct and Manage the Negotiations
In this step in the peace process, the mediator offers negotiating parties an opportunity to establish a new vision for the country and society; mediators should encourage conflict parties to comprehensively address the fundamental causes of the conflict. In dealing with their fighting forces, conflict parties need to take a long-term view of how security will be established in the country as a shared responsibility among former enemies. Transitional support for the disbandment of fighting forces and issues relating to accountability for wartime crimes (if any) will be major themes of the negotiation phase. This section outlines key DDR programmatic details that should be developed, discusses the major approaches to negotiation that have been used, and provides insights into common negotiation techniques employed by conflict parties.
Negotiate Key DDR Details
Once it becomes clear that a DDR program is indeed desired and has been accepted by the conflict parties, mediators should commence discussions about the DDR program. Parties should consider the number of fighters who will be in the DDR program, the specific number of weapons that need to be surrendered and destroyed, and the relationship between the DDR program and other security programs.
Key programmatic elements that should be discussed at this time include the eligibility criteria for entry into the DDR program (which armed groups and which government forces will participate; how to manage noncombatants; whether or not to create a separate program for children and women; which fighters from which conflicts in the country's history can be accepted; and whether cross-border combatants will be accepted into the national programme or simply repatriated to their home countries), as well as the weapons acceptance policy for the program (relating to small arms and light weapons, heavy weapons, ammunition, and the like). Equally important is the discussion of implementation. In some peace agreements, implementation annexes are developed that codify agreements on the above issues,