The document discusses ICT4peace work during and post-war in Sri Lanka. It notes some ongoing issues like violence against independent media and lack of reconciliation. It outlines key challenges for ICT in peacebuilding like ensuring technology empowers local communities. Examples are given of the author's work in Sri Lanka like platforms for peace negotiations and monitoring elections, disasters, and human rights. Future opportunities and challenges are discussed around technologies like mobile, broadband, and ensuring focus remains on process over platforms.

1. ict4peace: facets of work during and post-war
Sanjana Hattotuwa
TED Fellow 2010
Founding Editor, Groundviews, www.groundviews.org

2. sri lanka

3. systemic problems
• Post-war violence and repression still present
• Violence against independent media and limited space for critical dissent
• Legacy of 30 years of war: Communal distrust, no reconciliation, no political
settlement, continued militarisation, national security mindset, repressive
government, on-going self-censorship, poor rule of law, unconstitutional
governance

4. ict4peace | key challenges

5. The appropriate use of ICTs, in line with culture and
context, aids adoption, adaptation, buy-in and
sustainability.

6. ICT in peacebuilding needs to be self-effacing.
ICT must build social capital, and invest in societal frameworks that
empower local communities to grapple with conflict in non-violent
ways.
Technology itself should not be the cynosure, but what is achieved
through it.

7. As ICT4Peace develops, there is a need to develop more
effective cultures of collaboration based on mutually accepted
and independently verifiable virtual markers of trust.
The ability to conduct critical discussions in virtual spaces whilst
being assured of the confidentiality of shared content.

8. Inadequate vernacular content / UI design
Lack of Internet connectivity / infrastructure / bandwidth / latency
Lack of or transient human resources
A pervasive and incipient culture of secrecy, with the abysmal levels of
mutual trust
Intricacies of ethno-political conflict

9. my work from sri lanka

10. one text peace negotiations platform
http://ict4peace.wordpress.com/2007/09/03/one-text-negotiations-and-collaboration-platform-in-sri-lanka

11. monitoring election violence
http://cmev.wordpress.com/maps

12. monitoring disasters
http://groundviews.org/2011/02/05/google-map-on-flood-affected-areas-in-sri-lanka-february-2011

13. monitoring human rights violations
http://www.slideshare.net/yajitha/infoshare-sri-lanka-technology-for-social-transformation

14. monitoring mainstream media
http://www.cpalanka.org/mediamonitoring

15. helping CSOs and NGOs use social media
http://www.vimeo.com/cpa

16. helping CSOs and NGOs use social media
http://www.twitter.com/cpasl

17. helping CSOs and NGOs use blogging platforms
http://www.llrcarchive.org

18. helping rural communities leverage new media
http://ict4peace.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/from-community-radio-to-internet-radio-mobiles-and-narrow-
casting-new-models-for-enduring-needs

19. archiving sri lanka’s history
http://sitesatrisksl.wordpress.com/about

20. new ways of story-telling
http://www.movingimages.asia

21. groundviews: civic media that bears witness
http://www.groundviews.org

22. groundviews: civic media innovation, 1st iBook
http://groundviews.org/2012/02/07/the-end-of-war-in-sri-lanka-reflections-and-challenges-released-as-
ibook

23. groundviews: civic media innovation, 1st iPhone app
http://groundviews.org/iphone-app/

24. groundviews: civic media innovation, Long Reads
http://groundviews.org/category/issues/long-reads

25. groundviews: civic media innovation, Archiving
http://groundviews.org/category/issues/long-reads

26. groundviews: civility guidelines online
http://groundviews.org/submission-guidelines

27. the future is anchored to and underpinned by
• Geo-location, geo-fencing and geo-referencing
• New media and Web 2.0 technologies, including social networking
• Mobiles, and especially smart(er) phones
• Broadband, especially wireless
• Interoperable ODR systems / data-portability initiatives

28. the enduring challenges will be
• New media savvy repressive governments
• Privacy controls, in the age of Facebook
• Contest between culture and context, actors and process, physical vs. virtual
• Engendering the political will to transform complex conflict
• The emphasis on the process, as opposed to the technology - people as
opposed to the platform
• Bearing witness during violence

29. thank you