UNITAR Partners with Columbia University for course on Negotiation Fundamentals

3 November 2016, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research, in partnership with Columbia Law School and sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations, initiated a series of courses entitled “Conflict Resolution, Mediation and Negotiation”. The first course in the series, taking place on 3 November, 2016, was entitled, “Advanced Negotiation Fundamentals for Diplomatic Leaders”. The course was attended by 20 diplomats, predominantly from member states of the Forum of Small States (FOSS) who enjoyed the sponsorship of the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations.

The opening remarks were given by Mr. Marco A. Suazo, Head of UNITAR New York Office. He welcomed the delegates to the course and thanked the esteemed professors for their participation. He also thanked the Swedish Mission for their support and sponsorship of FOSS member states for the series of courses. Then opening remarks were made by Professor Alexandra Carter, Director of the Mediation Clinic at Columbia Law School and Professor Shawn Watts, Associate Director of the Mediation Clinic and Columbia Law School. The professors welcomed the delegates and opened the course.

The morning session began with an exercise in listening techniques. The delegates were asked to make two lines facing each other. In the first round, one person spoke and the other person was not allowed to respond. In the second round, one person spoke and the other could only respond in questions. In the final round both people were welcome to respond any way they liked. After the exercise was finished, the Professors outlined that the difference was that people communicated through non-verbal and verbal means. This lead to an in-depth discussion about different forms of listening and how they can be used to increase communication.

This conversation led to the next exercise, where delegates were asked to work in teams of four. One person was asked to share a personal story of conflict. One person was instructed to identify only the facts of the situations. The next was asked to just identify the interests involved and the last person was instructed to identify the feelings involved. Then the roles were switched until all the participants had experienced each role. The professors then discussed the importance of identify the facts, interests and feelings in a negotiation, and how these types of information can help as a mediator. They also discussed how to get this information with different types of questions (open, narrow, closed and leading). The professors then closed the first session and broke for lunch.

After lunch, the afternoon session began with another exercise. Two lines of people were formed on either side of a line on the ground. Both groups were taken out of the room separately and secretly, and given instructions to use any means necessary to get their partner to cross the line. Both groups were unaware that the other had received the same instructions. After the exercise was finished, the group discussed the tactics they used to achieve their goals, as well as the assumptions that were made about their goals. This opened a conversation about the importance of trust, transparency, unequal levels of physicality and resources, and being clear on the goals and interests involved when participating in mediation and conflict resolution.

The final exercise of the day was a culmination of the information retained throughout the day. The delegates were split into groups of four and were asked to role play mediation between two fictional countries. Two people were asked to take the role of mediators, while the other two represented each of the two countries.  The two representatives of the fictional countries were given fact sheets about the information surrounding the conflict, as well as instructions from capital pertaining to their interests and goals for the mediation. The mediators were not privy to the information, and were instructed to use questions to clarify interests, goals and feelings surrounding the conflict. The groups then convened to discuss their experiences and reflect on some of the problems they faced in mediating the conflict.

The day was closed by the professors thanking the delegates for their participation and encouraging them to join for the future courses, the second on 17 November 2016, entitled, “Processes for Sustainable Peace” and 2 December 2016, entitled, “Conflict Resolution as a Tool for Innovation”. Mr. Suazo thanked the delegates for their attendance and thanked Professor Carter and Professor Watts for their informative instruction. The day was then closed.

Photost: participants and lecturers of theworkshop