The document discusses the role of technology, particularly information and communication technology (ICT), in peacebuilding and conflict transformation processes in Sri Lanka. It identifies key challenges such as appropriate usage, access, trust, and structural issues that affect the implementation of ICT interventions. Additionally, it highlights the importance of building social capital and empowering local communities while emphasizing that technology should facilitate, rather than overshadow, effective conflict resolution and peace processes.

1. Technology for Peacebuilding Sanjana Hattotuwa

2. Sri Lanka

3. Dispute Resolution / Conflict Transformation A process of engaging with and transforming relationships , interests, discourses and, if necessary, the very constitution of society that supports the continuation of violent conflict CT argues against giving primacy to settlements Conflict is never resolved, but transformed to the non-violent negotiation of differences

5. Challenges One can identify four key challenges in the use of ICT for Conflict Transformation.

6. Appropriation The appropriate use of ICT, where organisations use ICT interventions to seamlessly dovetail with and strengthen existing (and planned) interventions, is pivotal to the success of online technology in the theatres of peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Access Adoption Appropriation

7. Uses 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.

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

9. Structural Problems Inadequate vernacular content / interface Lack of Internet connectivity / infrastructure / bandwidth Lack of human resources A pervasive and incipient culture of secrecy, with the abysmal levels of mutual trust Intricacies of ethno-political conflict

10. Info Share A basic introduction

11. The Problem

12. Bridges Key parties to the conflict Internal divisions Civil Society / Business Grassroots External actors / Donors / INGOs Info Share

13. Nurture cohesive, holistic and sustainable system of knowledge transfer between and within these tiers Partnerships Grassroots Key stakeholders Moderates and Civil Society Donors, International Aid Organisations Top level experts / Diaspora

14. Sri Lanka today Deteriorating peace process Increase of human rights violations, culture of impunity Over 3,000 dead over the past year 215,000+ displaced Active war in the North - East Attacks against NGOs, activists, journalists A beautiful country, but hell for peace and rights activists

15. The world today

16. Can technology help? Is technology a guarantee of a better process? Is technology neutral? How does one determine trust online? How do you create inter-cultural dispute resolution systems? What are the problems of access and publishing content (the Great Wall of China, the Middle East)? How can technology help peace processes?

17. “ We value the potential of ICTs to promote peace and to prevent conflict which, inter alia , negatively affects achieving development goals. 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.” Paragraph 36, WSIS Tunis Commitment, 2005 (two years after InfoShare began work) ICT4Peace

18. Web and social media

20. www.groundviews.lk www.youtube.org/vikalpasl radio.voicesofpeace.lk www.vikalpa.org

21. Civil society accountability

22. Citizen Journalism

23. Human rights monitoring and reporting

24. HURIDOCS initial feedback “ Wow, Sanjana, I am really impressed! I think this platform is going to take the human rights world by storm” “ Fabulous news! Something we have talked about for years!” “ Wonderful, stunning and creative!!!” “ I am utterly amazed! I'm dying to see the actual product!”

25. Elections Monitoring "It's a good way to empower people," Jayomi Dhushiyanthan, marketing director for monitor People's Action for a Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL)." "In 2004, we had over 9,000 messages from all over the island. We can alert the election commission, the police or even the ambulance."

26. Strengthening media

27. Voices of Reconciliation Radio

28. Anti-Corruption & Civil Society

30. Peace Library

31. Human Trafficking System – Mumbai, India

32. 2 ideas Web 2.0 Mobile telephones

34. Voice over IP Streaming media WiMax / WiFi / 3G AJAX - User friendly interfaces

35. Web 2.0 for ODR? Interactive / Multimedia / Intuitive Piggyback on new consumer devices and existing programming Social networking as communities for ODR New technologies that enhance storage, retrieval, comparison, review and reuse of existing information. Create greater awareness of ODR

36. XO Laptop $100 dollar laptop 100 million per country Is there a potential to use this for peacebuilding – peace education / reconciliation / multi-lingual chats / shared workspaces / collaboration?

37. Mobile growth

38. Mobile ODR Data gathering GIS co-ordinates / location, salient issues, disputant details Video / pictures Audio testimonies Mediator notes – audio / text / video Analysis Quantitative and qualitative analysis based on location, issue, disputants, identity group, gender, age, income etc delivered through SMS and available through mobile web

39. Mobile ODR Dissemination SMS decision notification (in vernacular) Voice mail notification (in vernacular) Voice driven systems that work with illiterate communities (using simple voice recognition) Final outcome ODR outside of air-conditioning, using existing technology, to resolve local disputes Content and market demand to fuel the growth of technology

40. National, regional, international District, provincial Village / Local community Grassroots communities

41. Hybridity

43. New Communities

44. Characteristics Neutral Ground Individuals are free to come and go as they please. In online games, players are not obligated to play; joins and quits are not significant events. Leveller An individual’s real world identity (individual or group based) are not always as significant as they are in the real world. Players on online games use a separate avatar often unrelated to their real life person, and social status is rarely invoked. Conversations Depending on the nature of the sim, conversations play a crucial role in communications within Second Life.

45. Characteristics Accessibility & Accommodation Second Life allows avatars to log on and off at will. There is always somebody online, though the hours of commerce are sometimes determined by the time-zone of the person A Home Away from Home Rootedness, feelings of possession, spiritual regeneration, feelings of being at ease, and warmth.

46. Community characteristics Social bonding: Bridging - when individuals connect with those from different backgrounds. The advantage if bridging social capital include gaining access to new information and resources. Bonding - when individuals that are already close provide support for each other, making the relationship stronger. In a sense, bridging provides breadth while bonding provides depth.

47. Question What if violence in the real world spills over into virtual communities in Second Life, or more disturbingly, vice-versa? Privacy, identity, location, ODR

48. Qiu Chengwei stabbed Zhu Caoyuan in the chest when he found out he had sold his virtual sword for 7,200 Yuan (£473). June 2005

49. Other challenges The copybot challenge to copyright The “grey-goo” attack - criminal incarceration? Sex with children (well adults as children) and the imposition of real world morality What is the framework for the imagination? How deviant can we be?

50. Recap ODR will function from mobile devices – from cell-phones to Microsoft Origami Standards based information / data exchange for open systems Artificial Intelligence and expert systems Voice, video, pictures, animation – interactivity ! Virtual / real-world ODR hybrid processes Redefinitions of trust, confidentiality, participation, identity, culture

51. Can technology help? Is technology a guarantee of a better process? Is technology neutral? How does one determine trust online? How do you create inter-cultural dispute resolution systems? What are the problems of access and publishing content (the Great Wall of China, the Middle East)? How can technology help peace processes?

52. Thank You www.info-share.org sanjana@info-share.org