Auditorium Ivan Pictet A
Maison de la paix, Geneva

Lessons learned from successful and failed referendums in other peace processes.

An event by the Inclusive Peace and Transition Initiative, the Mission of Colombia to the United Nations in Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

Colombia has reached a historical crossroad between war and peace. The official signature of a final agreement could put an end to five decades of conflict between the Government of Colombia and the FARC. The fate of the peace process will be put in the hands of the Colombian people at a plebiscite on the peace deal to be held on 2 October 2016. Although a majority of Colombians have declared that they would vote in favor of the peace process, many condemn the concessions made to the FARC, especially with regard to political participation. How can public support be ensured in view of the plebiscite? What can we learn from the experiences in Cyprus, Northern Ireland or other countries with successful or failed referendums?

Simultaneous translation will be provided in Spanish.

Words of Introduction

• Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations

Panelists

• Kate Fearon, Founding Member of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition
• Prof. Ahmet Sözen, Former Member of the official Turkish Cypriot negotiation team in the UN-led peace negotiations

Discussant

• Prof. Rodrigo Uprimny, Professor of Constitutional Law, Human Rights, and Theory of the State at the Universidad Nacional, in Bogota

Moderator

• Dr Thania Paffenholz, Director of the Inclusive Peace & Transition Initiative, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies