:: Q&A ::

A: The content has been developed for use by a wide audience. The handbook is primarily focused on providing options to national constitution makers and their advisors. This includes members of constituent assemblies or constitutional commissions, government officials, politicians, civil society and the media. Donors, foreign advisors, policy analysts, academics, and international aid actors can also benefit and there is a section providing recommendations to international actors. Special attention is given to the needs of the reader undertaking a constitution-making process in a conflict or post-conflict country. Divided societies face unique challenges in achieving a consensus-based constitution-making process.

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A: Much of the knowledge contained in the handbook simply does not exist in publications. It certainly is not available from a ‘one-stop shop’. Experience needed to be harnessed, so workshops were held around the world to capture the available and invaluable expertise. Over three years, more than 120 practitioners and academics representing every region provided their input through consultations, interviews and workshops. Experience from over 100 countries also fed into the process. All this has been combined with the extensive experience of the authors.

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A: Interpeace is an international peacebuilding organization and strategic partner of the United Nations. With programs in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe and the Middle East, the organization has been enabling people to build peace since 1994. Interpeace provides support to societies to develop their own capacities to deal with conflict and differences, without the use of violence or coercion. Interpeace also shares local insights with policy makers from the international community and the United Nations, so that more people can benefit from lasting peace.

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A: Constitutions are often prepared behind closed doors during what is an exclusive process. Historically, constitutions were imposed by the victors of a conflict or by the political elites, and made behind closed doors. Today, constitutions are most often negotiated instruments and some form of constitutional reform is often a key component of comprehensive settlements to conflict and the transition from war to peace. There is also an emerging trend to expand the participation of the public in these processes.

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A: A constitution-making process is an opportunity to build peace.

Although such constitution-making processes have evolved, their recognition as critical tools for peacebuilding has not happened quickly enough. These processes are complex and currently the sharing of experiences between practitioners is limited. The tools and comparative knowledge on constitutional options are lacking and there are limited resources for national actors, their advisors and their international partners.

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A: The Interpeace approach to both constitution-making and peacebuilding is aligned:

Peacebuilding processes must be locally owned

Local ownership begins by ensuring that priorities are determined locally. If local actors participate in defining the problem they are more likely to take ownership of the solutions. It is therefore crucial that time, space and processes exist to promote dialogue that can lead to a consensus-based constitution.

Inclusion of all parties in the process

By ensuring the involvement of all relevant groups, actors from each social group are instilled with a sense of responsibility for the rebuilding and reconciliation process. Our experiences have shown that the exclusion or marginalization of certain actors breeds resentment and sows the seeds for renewed violence. A constitution-making process can be one of these defining moments in a country where, if key actors are excluded, peace is more likely to collapse.

The heart of the challenge is building trust

Trust cannot be imported, imposed or bought. It emerges slowly and sometimes reluctantly and is built through collective engagement on issues small and large and through consistent daily commitment to and application of a common vision. Building trust is at the heart of peacebuilding and is the most difficult outcome to achieve. More than the revitalization of infrastructure or the presence of government, trust is the glue that keeps society together in intangible but crucial ways. Trust gives institutions legitimacy and helps individuals and groups to remain engaged on the long path towards lasting peace.

Peacebuilding is a long term commitment

Interpeace is committed to accompanying societies along the often lengthy and bumpy road to peace. Support of local efforts must be patient, adaptable and consistent. There are no short cuts or quick fixes. Recognizing that the process of overcoming mistrust and deep divisions can be difficult, Interpeace’s work seeks to empower local actors to establish independent institutions that continue to address root causes of conflict and to promote peace over the long term.

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