A conversation with Daniel Stauffacher on ICT4Peace and how it can help conflict resolution

Do you believe that the better use of technology can strengthen peace processes to the extent that there will be more peace 5 years hence than today? Yes indeed. ICTs and in particular web 2.0 will create even more transparency and efficient tools for actors in the field of conflict prevention, mediation, conflict resolution and … Continue reading A conversation with Daniel Stauffacher on ICT4Peace and how it can help conflict resolution →

Strong Angel III – Interview with Ambassador Daniel Stauffacher

I recorded this conversation after dinner with Ambassador Daniel Stauffacher, Chairperson of the ICT4Peace Foundation today, who is a fellow participant at SA III. I first met Daniel in Geneva last week, when I visited him to explore possibilities for collaboration and exploration in the theory and practice of ICT4Peace between my own work in … Continue reading Strong Angel III – Interview with Ambassador Daniel Stauffacher →

ICT4Peace Foundation spearheads global efforts to mainstream ICT for Peacebuilding

In an email I received recently from Daniel Stauffacher, Chairperson of the ICT4Peace Foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland, he mentioned a letter from the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) that confirms the recognition of ICT4Peace as a full-fledged part of the official WSIS follow-up process (Geneva Plan of Action) by the UN, based on Paragraph 36 of the Tunis Commitment and as proposed by the ICT4Peace Foundation.36…. ICTs can be used for identifying conflict situations through early-warning systems preventing conflicts, promoting their peaceful resolution, supporting humanitarian action, including protection of civilians in armed conflicts, facilitating peacekeeping missions, and assisting post conflict peace-building and reconstruction.In addition DESA welcomed the offer of the ICT4Peace Foundation to lead the ICT4Peace community of expertise under the chapter Governance of the UN Global Alliance on ICT4 Development.Looks like ICT4Peace is finally well on the way to being recognised as a body of theory, research and practice that is worthy of global attention.

The Christchurch massacre and social media: Lessons learnt and unlearnt

Image courtesy Guardian As part of the New Ec(h)o systems: Democracy in the age of social media, Paul Ash, the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Cyber and Digital and Cyber Coordinator at Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet joined Special Advisor Sanjana Hattotuwa in a session titled ‘The Christchurch massacre and social … Continue reading The Christchurch massacre and social media: Lessons learnt and unlearnt →

First Twitter research partnership in New Zealand on countering polarisation, hate and violence

Cross-posted from the ICT4Peace Foundation’s website. ### ICT4Peace is very pleased to announce that Sanjana Hattotuwa, Special Advisor ICT4Peace Foundation and PhD candidate at Otago University’s National Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies (NCPACS) has co-launched and will lead the research on a first of its kind academic partnership in New Zealand with Twitter on the use … Continue reading First Twitter research partnership in New Zealand on countering polarisation, hate and violence →

An ethical and rights based framework for non-lethal use of UAVs and drones

Cross-posted from the ICT4Peace Foundation’s blog. ### I March this year, Patrick Meier wrote to me and to Daniel Stauffacher, the head of the ICT4Peace Foundation, to give input into what at the time was a draft note around creating a global network of civilian UAV pilots to support humanitarian efforts. The draft concept note … Continue reading An ethical and rights based framework for non-lethal use of UAVs and drones →

World Radio Switzerland addresses ICT4Peace and Crisis Information Management (CiM)

Last Thursday (13 May), World Radio Switzerland interviewed Daniel Stauffacher, Chairman of the ICT4Peace Foundation on the use of ICTs in peacebuilding as well as in crisis information management (CiM), such as that designed for and deployed in post-earthquake Haiti earlier this year. World Radio Switzerland is part of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, Switzerland’s national … Continue reading World Radio Switzerland addresses ICT4Peace and Crisis Information Management (CiM) →

Interim Report: Stocktaking of UN Crisis Information Management Capabilities

Sanjana Hattotuwa and Daniel Stauffacher From October 2007 to February 2008, representatives from the ICT4Peace Foundation met informally with a number of high-level representatives at key agencies based at the United Nations in New York in preparation for a stocktaking exercise on crisis information management capacities and best practices. These meetings with heads of agencies, … Continue reading Interim Report: Stocktaking of UN Crisis Information Management Capabilities →

Tolerance and the Internet: Scenarios by 2020

The Pew Internet Project’s Future of the Internet III report, released recently, had the following scenario. Social tolerance has advanced significantly due in great part to the Internet. In 2020, people are more tolerant than they are today, thanks to wider exposure to others and their views that has been brought about by the Internet … Continue reading Tolerance and the Internet: Scenarios by 2020 →

ICT for disaster management in the Asia-Pacific region – Chapter for Commonwealth Ministers Reference Book

An adaptation of an essay by Daniel Stauffacher (Chairman of the ICT4Peace Foundation) and I will be published in the official Commonwealth Ministers Reference Book on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Reference Book is the Secretariat’s primary communications tool to promote opportunity and potential within the 53 Commonwealth countries and is distributed to all Key … Continue reading ICT for disaster management in the Asia-Pacific region – Chapter for Commonwealth Ministers Reference Book →