HISTORY
South Africa
“We could not do what we are doing now (constitutional discussions) if it were not for the work of the Newick Park Initiative”. Gerrit Viljoen (Minister of Constitutional Affairs in South Africa until June 1991) in conversation with Sir Fred Catherwood (Vice President of the European Parliament) at a meeting to brief EC leaders, Brussels, June 1992
From 1986, a relational peacebuilding methodology was developed and implemented within the context of what then became known as the Newick Park Initiative (NPI). This continued until April 1991 and helped to ensure the peaceful transition there from white supremacist rule to fully racially-inclusive democracy.
The process involved both the original participants and leading to the involvement of senior members of the ANC together with SA Government officials. Through regular meetings held in England and South Africa, NPI provided a safe context in which discussion on difficult problems could be carried out amicably and informally, but also objectively, without the media pressure to make partisan statements.
NPI was an evidence-based process founded on the building of trust and the honest and open sharing of insights with the goal of a just and fully-inclusive peace. Each of the conferences was underpinned by detailed research and, as the process continued, drew on top-level expertise from leading South African and international experts.
Through these meetings goals and strategies were identified on which there could be a high degree of consensus on the basis of shared values, and at the same time narrow down areas of conflict and disagreement where further research and consultation was needed to bring the parties to the negotiation process closer together. NPI provided a crucial contribution to the peace process in South Africa and helped to ensure the peaceful transition there from white supremacist to democratic rule.
Rwanda
A similar process was set in train in 1994 with a peacebuilding programme in post-genocide Rwanda, running until 1999. The Rwandan peacebuilding programme made important contributions in the areas of justice and agriculture.
Sudan
The peacebuilding process in Sudan ran from 1999 until 2004, contributing to the key breakthrough at Machakos in July 2002 which led to the end of the Sudanese Civil War and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed at Naivasha in January 2005. The process was run by the Newick Park Intiatiative, where now have been renamed Relationships Foundation International, in partnership with the African Renaissance Institute.