Switzerland - The Graduate Institute, Geneva

CENTER FOR HUMANITARIAN DIALOGUE
Address 114, Rue de Lausanne CH-1202 Geneva
Phone +41 (0)22 908 1130
Fax +41 (0)22 908 1140
Web www.hdcentre.org
E-Mail info@hdcentre.org
Category Dialogue
MISSION STATEMENT
The HD Centre is an independent, Geneva-based foundation whose purpose is to prevent human suffering in war. The approach
starts from the premise that preventing and resolving armed conflict is the surest means of doing so, and to this end we promote
and facilitate dialogue between belligerents. The HD Centre aims to contribute to efforts to improve the global response to armed
conflict. We believe that dialogue based on humanitarian principles can assist in achieving political settlements, and that the informal
initiatives of a private foundation can usefully complement formal diplomacy.
Founding year 1999
BACKGROUND AND ACTIVITIES
1) To undertake and promote action to prevent and resolve armed conflicts, in particular through tailor-made support to peace
processes where our involvement adds value, including:
facilitating discussions, including acting as a mediator where appropriate; ensuring that the parties are able to participate
effectively in negotiations; mobilizing humanitarian, diplomatic and/or political responses; contributing policy input on relevant
substantive issues; and providing other specifically-adapted services, such as financing mechanisms and other logistical support,
where the assistance of a private foundation is required.
2) To learn from and contribute to policy research to strengthen peace-making expertise, including through sharing what we learn
from our own operational engagement under (1) above through policy development and dissemination and staying abreast of and
commenting on best practice in relevant fields.
The HD Centre engages with a number of religious groups in its work and tries to keep itself informed of important religious
movements and developments, occasionally publishing on the subject as a result.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Slim, H. (2004). "Violent Beliefs." The Royal United Services Institute Journal for Defence and Security Studies: 19-23.
Slim, H. (2005). The Christian Responsibility to Protect. WCC Experts Seminar on the Responsibility to Protect. Geneva, HD Centre.
Slim, H. (2003). The Church, Military Forces and Humanitarian Identity in War. Caritas Internationalis Humanitarian Seminar on
Relations with the Military. Vatican City, HD Centre.
REMARKS
It seems that the section “Religion and Violence” is rather small, but the center has a number of interesting publications.
Dr. Hugo Slim: Chief Scholar.