Foundation for Democratic Change

FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE

FUNDATIA PENTRU SCHIMBARI DEMOCRATICE

P.O. Box 56 - 45
77750 Bucharest, ROMANIA
Tel/Fax: +40 1 314 39 60
Mobile Phone: +40 (0) 314 379
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact: Anca Elisabeta Ciuca

The Foundation for Democratic Change is a non-governmental not-for-profit Romanian organization, legally registered in 1996, and specialized in conflict resolution.

The aim of the Foundation for Democratic Change is to promote Human Rights through a third neutral party consultation in order to improve the dialog and actively contribute to the consensus building process on controversial aspects.

Objectives

Foundation for Democratic Change was founded by a group of individuals deeply concerned of the democratization and Human Rights protection and promotion process in Romania during a period of deep social and economic changes. They are involved in the following endeavors:

Promoting new constructive ways of conflict management by third party consultation, as a possible solution for the many present conflicts, including the ethnical ones, in the Romanian society;
Improving communication between governmental and non-governmental representatives and create the opportunity to identify and solve together economical and social problems in Romania, as well in the South East European region;
Facilitating the access to information for groups and individuals interested in Human Rights and minorities field, directly related to conflict resolution/ conflict transformation/ conflict management domain;
Promoting co-operation with internal and international specialized NGOs in conflict resolution/ conflict transformation/ conflict management;
Playing an active role into the Southeast European regional stability as a necessary condition for human rights promotion and effective protection.

International Partners

Canadian International Institute for Applied Negotiation (CIIAN), Ottawa - Canada
Berghof Research Center for Constructive Conflict Management, Berlin - Germany
Austrian Study Center for Peace Studies (ASPR), Stadtschlaining Burg - Austria
European Platform for Conflict Prevention and Transformation, Utrecht - Netherlands
Evangelische Zentralestiftung fuer Endwincklungshilfe (EZE), Bonn - Germany
Cycladic Academy for Europe, Athens - Greece
Several NGOs from Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, FRY, Croatia, B&H and Albania, as potential members of the network to be established under a project coordinated by FDC starting from May, 2000 in support of the Stability Pact

Activities

Foundation for Democratic Change (FDC) has been active in the following fields:

Development of a specific model for constructive conflict management by third neutral party assistance

FDC and the Canadian International Institute for Applied Negotiation (CIIAN) developed in 1995 a medium term strategy to promote Alternative Dispute Resolution based on Romanian cultural specific patterns in the field. The program received financial support from CIIAN, FDC, Canadian Embassy in Bucharest (1996), Associated Universities and Colleges in Canada (AUCC), and the European Commission Delegation in Romania through PHARE Democracy Program (1996-1998).

In autumn 1998 The Romanian Mediators� Network was established that intends to provide the framework for permanent co-operation of practitioners in conflict resolution field (former trainees especially).

Promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Romanian juridical system

Beginning in July 1997, the project led to a permanent project to support the development of a legal framework to recognize mediation as an occupation with a definite status based on professional standards.

As a result:

In September 1998 FDC organized its first seminar to introduce mediation to lawyers
In June 1999 Ministry of Justice invited members of Mediators Network in Romania to offer consulting (July-October 1999) and mediation services during a pilot project developed at Law Court � Bucharest (November 1999 � February 2000);
During September-November 1999 the specialists from FDC were invited by Ministry of Justice, Local Court � Sector 3, Bucharest to organize training sessions for judges; forwarder on, the American Bar Association (ABA-CEELI) invited FDC and CIIAN experts to jointly deliver a training session for judges, also organized in Bucharest.
In January 2000, the Council for Occupational Standards and Evaluation (COSA) started to work in partnership with FDC to develop the occupational standard and evaluation tools for mediators. The COSA�s Board adopted the standard and evaluation tools in July 2000.

Promotion and Support the Stability Pact

Aiming to help the establishment of a regional network of NGOs in support of the Stability Pact�s values, the project started in July 1999 in partnership with the Berghof Research Center for Constructive Conflict Management.

The first steps consisted of a survey of the existing NGOs in the region, also their experience to develop partnership cross-bordering projects and continued with a pilot project to identify the needs and priorities of the identified NGOs as potential partners of the network.

In October, 2000 the Berghof Center published a report comprising the results of the pilot project that was widely distributed among Western NGOs in order to encourage support for the future network, also among SEE NGOs in order to increase awareness and as an open invitation to join initiators� efforts.

As a result of the pilot project, FDC as main applicant and the Berghof Center, as consultant, jointly submitted an application to the Evangelische Zentralestiftung fuer Endwincklungshilfe (EZE), Bonn � Germany that expressed the interest to continue supporting the program. The main goal of the program is to actively contribute � in a 3 years medium term project - at building-up and consolidation process of a NGOs network in the region aiming to promote the Stability Pact�s values.

Training Programs

Considering the experience from prior training seminars, FDC started in November 1999 the Mediation Certificate Program (PIM). The program is running in permanent co-operation with Canadian International Institute for Applied Negotiation (CIIAN).

The main programs� objectives are to offer theoretical knowledge and to improve practical abilities for practitioners in the mediation field. On request, the training program is improved with elements addressing specific needs of the contractors� target group (i.e. mediators in inter-ethnic conflicts).

Consulting and Assistance Services in Conflict Resolution

1. Starting in 1996, the specialists from FDC offered training, consulting and direct assistance for Romanian NGOs in order to support program development, which includes mediation/facilitation as working techniques, especially for the interethnic field. Among them are: CENTRAS, Pro Democracy Association, Center for Interethnic Relationship Research �Transylvania (CCRIT), Pro Europe League, Students Association in Economical Studies (AIESEC), CERC Foundation, Timişoara Intercultural Institute, Romanian Women League, Diploma Women Association, etc. The specialist from FDC also offered training and assistance for local administration and governmental agencies: 6th District Mayoralty, Pitesti Mayoralty, two Communal Local Councils from Constanta county, Ministry of Justice, General Inspectorate of Police - Institute for Crime Research and Prevention, National Minorities Department etc. Since 1999, several other local administration bodies received training in mediation skills through their representatives (i.e. Brasov, Tg.Mures, Braila, Timisoara, Botosani, and the counties of Harghita, Timis, and Ialomita ).

2. Starting in 2000, the FDC offered at the international level consulting and assisting services to:

Develop an NGO Charter to promote partnership with Governments of the SEE region, beneficiary: the Stability Pact Office, the Romanian Foreign Ministry
Promote the Stability Pact�s values and the Declaration of partnership between NGOs and Governments in the region that was adopted in 27.10.2000 at the Bucharest meeting of the WTI, beneficiary: the European Center for Minority Issues (ECMI), Flensburg � Germany
Develop a mechanism of settling disputes concerning implementation of the Partnership Declaration adopted by the WTI, Bucharest, 27.10.2000, beneficiary: Cycladic Academy for Europe on behalf of the Greek Ministry of the Foreign Affairs.

Documentation Center for Peaceful Settlement of Conflicts

Beginning in January, 2001 the Foundation for Democratic Change started to organize a documentation center concerning ways and tools to peacefully manage conflicts, in order to address the need of more specialized information concerning existing experience at the European level, also resource for training, books, newsletters, etc.

The Documentation Center will also include identified materials concerning NGOs legislation in SEE countries, also practice concerning the partnership between NGOs and Governments in the region.

For more information on FDC's activity in support of the Stability Pact click here.

Last updated: May 2001

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