We’re excited to share some significant developments in our ongoing efforts to enhance conflict resolution capabilities in the Netherlands. Since our last update, we have continued working towards our goal of fostering better coexistence and economic growth through improved conflict resolution mechanisms.
Legal Clarity and Progress
Firstly, we’re pleased to announce the clarification that the Strengthening Conflict Resolution proposal falls within the legal scope of the Dutch National Growth Fund. We welcome the decision and we’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with our application. Over the next three months, the Growth Funds Advisory Committee and experts from the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis will assess the potential impact of our initiative on well-being and economic growth, evaluating the feasibility and implementation timeline for implementing demonstrably better conflict resolution methods.
Consortium for Strengthened Conflict Resolution
The Humanity Hub is one of the participants in the 34-party Consortium for Strengthened Conflict Resolution, focusing on bridging the gap between research and development, policy and implementation.
We’re taking a systematic development approach, which involves continuous cycles of development, testing, and improvement. By co-designing solution methods alongside financing, regulation, and resource and capacity building, we aim to remove barriers to implementation. The goal of the proposal is ambitious yet attainable: to double the percentage of conflicts in the Netherlands acceptably resolved within a year to 80%.
The consortium is led by the Hague Institute for the Innovation of Law (HiiL), and includes universities, NGOs, and civil society organisations representing citizens and businesses.
Identifying Critical Areas for Improvement:
We recognise the pressing need for better conflict resolution across various domains. The consortium offers sorely missing development capacity and expertise. From integrating mediation into legal proceedings to expediting justice in cases impacting small businesses’ survival, our initiative addresses a wide spectrum of challenges. Environmental conflicts, family disputes, debt resolution, neighbourly conflicts, and common crime and mass damage claims all stand to benefit from more effective interventions in terms of responsiveness, human-scale approaches, procedural fairness, and transparency, and collaborative solutions.
Eager Anticipation
We’re eager to kickstart this transformative journey and eagerly await the National Growth Fund Advisory Committee’s recommendation. With their support, we’re poised to make significant strides in revolutionising conflict resolution practices in the Netherlands.
At the Humanity Hub, we firmly believe that access to justice and well-functioning conflict resolution are fundamental building blocks for a thriving democratic society and more than happy to support both local and international initiatives towards a more peaceful and just world. Find out more about this initiative here and stay tuned for more updates.