Acknowledgments
This manuscript represents a gradual accumulation of experience and knowledge made possible by my dedicated peacemaking and peacekeeping colleagues inside and outside the United Nations. My special appreciation goes to Jeremy Brickhill, Sophie Da Camara, Nat Colleta, Christopher Coleman, Sypros Demetriou, Mbaye Faye, David Gorman, Pablo de Greiff, Lotta Hagman, Heiner Hanggi, David Harland, Chris Hopwood, Julian Hottinger, Jacques Paul Klein, Ian Martin, Murezi Michael, Jeffrey Mapendre, Desmond Molloy, Laurie Nathan, Mark Pedersen, Nikolai Rogosaroff, Souren Seraydarian, Michael Sheehan, Matthias Siegfried, Cornelius Steenken, Lena Sundh, Dmitry Titov, Wally Vrey, Simon Yazgi, Nita Yawanarajah, and Mitonga Zongwe.
About the Author
Kelvin Ong is team leader of the Mediation Support Unit in the United Nation's Department of Political Affairs, which provides support for UN-led and -supported mediation processes. From 2003 to 2007, he was policy adviser and chief of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). While in DPKO, he was seconded (in 2006) to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to lead the Justice and Security Sector Unit, and was responsible for providing technical advisory services on rule of law and SSR to UNDP country offices. A UN staff member since 2001, he has held other headquarters and field positions in the United Nations, including planning officer in the Office of the Assistant-Secretary General for Mission Support, DPKO; special assistant in the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan; special assistant to the special representative of the secretary- general for Liberia; and special assistant to the assistant secretary-general for the rule of law and security institutions in DPKO.
Before joining the United Nations, Ong worked for two years at the International Peace Academy (IPA), a New York-based think tank, where he directed a research program on the United Nations and regional organizations. Prior to working at the IPA, he served in the Singapore Armed Forces (Airborne Rangers) for eleven years.