Fresno, CA (PRWEB) July 11, 2011
Douglas E. Noll, mediator and author of Elusive Peace: How Modern Diplomatic Strategies Could Better Resolve World Conflicts discovers major developments for peace negotiations through mediation have been initiated through the U.N’s first resolution for peace mediation, at a July 5th U.N. peace mediation conference in Instanbul. “I am thrilled that the concepts outlined in my book are now being played out in international peace negotiations,” Noll says.
“This is a remarkable development because up until last week, the UN shunned mediation as an important peace process. Now, there is growing momentum for developing and recognizing mediation—a position I argue for in my book Elusive Peace.” ‘Elusive Peace: How Modern Diplomatic Strategies could Better Resolve World Conflicts’, offers suggestions, strategies, and techniques for mediating world conflicts.
“This event, that made little news in the US, is epic in terms of moving in the right direction in negotiating peace, and for recommending women to join the peace mediating team. This first step for global peace negotiations should be a headline in every newspaper in our country, ” Noll says.
Members at the UN conference outlined a clear objective to promote mediation as a key strategy in negotiating peace, and recognized the important role women should play in mediation—a concept emphasized in Noll’s book. “Women consistently bring issues to the peace table that men in patriarchal cultures ignore, dismiss, or forget. These are issues around children, education, health, food, water, and other vitally important issues to families. The UN recognition of the role of women in peace negotiations as parties and mediators is a significant shift in its policy,” Noll explains.
Another essential concept outlined in the meeting was the call for geographically diverse mediation, a point also emphasized in Elusive Peace. “Geographic diversity lowers the potential for cultural biases and judgments, an essential element in mediation. People are more amenable to agreeing if they perceive they are understood, listened to, and respected,” Noll explains.
Noll was recently selected from a worldwide search as one of 194 mediators to be included in the International Who’s Who of Commercial Mediation.
After a successful 22 year trial career, Doug decided that litigation was a wasteful way to resolve conflicts, and earned his Masters Degree in Peacemaking and Conflict Studies. Since then, he has dedicated his life to mediation and peacemaking. Today, Doug is a nationally recognized mediator, trainer, and speaker. He has hosted a weekly radio show dedicated to giving a voice to international peacemakers for over five years. His current pro bono project is training murderers committed to life sentences in the largest women’s prison in the world to become peacemakers and mediators (go to http://www.prisonofpeace.org for more information this project).
Professionally, Doug is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, a Distinguished Fellow of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators and on the American Arbitration Association panel of mediators and arbitrators. Doug was one of the first U.S. mediators certified under the international mediator standards established by the International Mediation Institute based in The Hague, Netherlands.
He is an author of the books Elusive Peace: How Modern Diplomatic Strategies Could Better Resolve World Conflicts (Prometheus, in press for release Spring 2011), Sex, Politics & Religion at the Office: The New Competitive Advantage (Auberry Press 2006), with John Boogaert, and Peacemaking: Practicing at the Intersection of Law and Human Conflict (Cascadia Publishing House 2002), and numerous chapters and articles on peacemaking, restorative justice, conflict resolution and mediation. He is a sought after mediator trainer, lecturer, speaker, and continuing education teacher. Doug has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America by U.S. News & World Report and is a Northern California Super Lawyer in Alternative Dispute Resolution. He has mediated over 1,500 conflicts, including business disputes, clergy sexual abuse cases, victim-offender criminal cases, and large litigated cases. His particular interest is in deep, intractable conflicts where emotions are running high.
As he became interested in international mediation efforts Noll observed that international mediators, for the most part, were inexperienced in the science and art of mediation. Their rookie mistakes were making things worse, often leading to genocide or further war. Unfortunately, political leaders, diplomats, special envoys, and retired generals are often appointed to a job for which they are not trained nor have sufficient aptitude. Elusive Peace shows why we can no longer afford to allow political, diplomatic, and military leaders mediate peace accords. They simply don’t know what they are doing. For more information visit http://www.elusivepeace.com. For media inquiries contact Diane Dennis, Inspired Media Communications at 503-678-1356.
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