At a time when the US is once again positioning itself as a geopolitical manager in order to appropriate raw materials in different countries and regions, it is crucial to reconsider the importance of mediation as a universal and cross-border resource.
One of the key arguments is that international mediation helps prevent the escalation of armed conflicts by facilitating dialogue between opposing parties and promoting peaceful solutions. For example, in the case of the Syrian civil war, UN-led negotiations have made it possible to establish humanitarian corridors and temporary ceasefire agreements, albeit with difficulty, thus protecting the civilian population in certain areas.
Another key argument is that international mediation guarantees the monitoring and respect of the Universal Human Rights. Organizations such as Amnesty International and the International Criminal Court have intervened in conflict zones, documenting violations and pressing for accountability. An illustrative case was the international community's intervention in Kosovo, where diplomatic pressure and the presence of observers helped reduce abuses against the civilian population.
Finally, International mediation promotes post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation, facilitating transitional justice processes and social dialogue. A relevant example is the peace process in Colombia, supported by several countries and international organizations, which has allowed for significant progress in reparations for victims and the reintegration of former combatants into society.
Examples of international mediation in armed conflicts
The international mediation Mediation is a voluntary mechanism in which an impartial mediator facilitates dialogue and negotiation between disputing parties—such as states, companies, or groups—with the goal of reaching mutually acceptable agreements. Unlike court proceedings, where there is a winner and a loser, mediation promotes collaborative solutions and the positive transformation of relationships, standing out as a peaceful alternative to conflict resolution (ADR). This process is based on diplomacy and creative methods for addressing political, economic, and social disagreements, integrating both States and international organizations as well as civil society and local actors, and applying multidisciplinary approaches.
Since the end of the Cold War, an increasing number of civil wars have ended with peace agreements. Between 1990 and 2005, the 56% of the internal conflicts ended with an agreement, This is in contrast to the 141,000,000 peace agreements reached between 1946 and 1989. There have also been more mediation attempts in the 1990s than during the entire Cold War. However, according to Uppsala University, while ending wars with peace agreements remains common, this trend has slowed. For example, 82 agreements were signed between 1991 and 1994, but only 23 between 2015 and 2018, despite progress in mediation.
The UN has led peace mediation efforts, but it wasn't until the mid-2000s that it began to be analyzed in depth. Following the 2005 World Summit, there was a call to strengthen support for mediation, which led to the creation of the Mediation Support Unit in 2006. In 2011, the General Assembly adopted the The first resolution on mediation was issued, and in 2012 the Guide for Effective Mediation was published., which remains a key document.
Recent examples where mediation produced satisfactory agreements:
- Dayton Agreements (1995):He ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina with US mediation, creating a framework for reconstruction and reconciliation.
- Peace Process in Colombia (2016):It facilitated the agreement between the government and the FARC, crucial for the transition from decades of armed conflict.
- Ethiopia-Eritrea Agreement (2018):Mediation by the African Union and other key actors achieved a historic agreement after years of hostilities.
- Sudan Conflict (Machakos Protocol 2002):Lázaro Sumbeiywo mediated an autonomy agreement for South Sudan before its referendum, which was crucial to ending that civil war.
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