Lesson 4: Liaison, Negotiation, and Mediation
Video Transcript
Lesson Four introduces liaison, negotiation, mediation, and interpretation for the UNPOL officer. Liaising as part of a UN Peacekeeping Mission requires involvement at every level in order to promote transparency and to ensure that information is passed in a timely manner. Regular communications are vital for the purposes of negotiation and mediation. Negotiation refers to the direct dialogue with one or more parties, for example, to secure the safe passage of a relief convoy. Mediation means to act as a go-between for the parties. The ultimate aim for negotiation and mediation is to reach agreements to which all parties have freely concurred. Thus, negotiation and mediation have enormous potential to de-escalate a conflict, to promote understanding and consensus, to work out solutions to small and large problems at every level, and to develop peaceful and lasting solutions to a conflict.