Conflict Resolution Center International
Your Worldwide and Cyberspace Resource

Information about CRCII

October 2001

The Conflict Resolution Center International (CRCI) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Pittsburgh with national and international impact. The mission statement for the organization is as follows:

"The Conflict Resolution Center International is dedicated to the peaceful resolution of conflict among nations, organizations, institutions, groups and individuals throughout the world. More specifically, CRCI aims to become one of the most respected and useful organizations in the world in the areas of:

- Bridging those in conflict with those who are able to help.

- Providing meaningful and valuable state-of-the-art informational and networking links among conflict resolvers.

- Acting as a catalyst for dispute resolution initiatives."
Programs:

- International Networking - CRCI links people throughout the world with other people facing similar peacemaking and conflict resolution challenges. Current work includes helping the conflict resolution and peacemaking field in the former Yugoslavian States to understand the barriers created by war-induced trauma, how such barriers inhibit reconciliation, and what can be done to eliminate those barriers as well as supporting the development of newly emerging conflict resolution centers in Africa.

- Library - CRCI maintains a library of the most important articles, books and studies published on issues related to conflict resolution. Annotated bibliographies are available via the Internet.

- U.S. and International Conferences - CRCI has been instrumental in building the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution as well as similar conferences in Europe and Latin America.

- Publishing - Four times per year CRCI publishes Conflict Resolution Notes, which provides the latest thinking and ideas on conflict resolution for practitioners.

- ADR - Formally called the Business Dispute Resolution Alliance, this group of attorneys, business people, association executives, educators and federal government representatives is working to help small and medium-sized businesses use processes other than litigation to resolve business disputes. They have an operational web site, have sponsored two workshops, and will be expanding their efforts to include a speakers bureau, newsletter and referral service.

CRCI ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Northern Ireland - Helped Irish to import and develop mediation, leading to developing a "culture of peace" that drives the peace process.

Instrumental in creating and sustaining European and South American Conferences on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution.

Helped legitimize community mediation in England by bringing international attention to Newham Project by bringing them to the American National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution (NCPCR) 1982.

Linked Basque country activist to conflict resolution resources which helped calm that conflict.

The MOVE Crisis in Philadelphia, : First a workshop report to Philadelphia authorities about the conflict resolution history leading up to the tragic firebombing of the MOVE group's headquarters. Later, as a popular book it has become a standard text. Read and used by Philadelphia authorities in charge of relating to MOVE after the bombing.

Arranged for 12 representatives of third-world countries to attend NCPCR, 1989, making it truly international.

News media: Explored, developed concepts of constructive reporting on conflicts.

Intervened in Gang Peace Summit - press coverage. Effectively stopped negative coverage and resulted in provocative but fair reporting. (CRNotes article on this intervention is the only published example of reformers being successful in changing the tone of reporting.)

Helped create support network of former Yugoslavian peacemakers.

Put on first in-country training session for reporters on constructive conflict analysis (workshop at NCPCR 97).

Put on two workshops orienting Pittsburgh press to improve analysis of new county government.
Created ADR Business Alliance which has evolved into the Business Dispute Resolution Alliance.