Humanitarian Dialogue North Caucasus

The Humanitarian Dialogue in the North Caucasus (HDNC) is implemented by swisspeace and its local partner organizations Peace Mission of General Lebed (PMGL) based in Pyatigorsk, and the Forum for Early Warning and Early Response (FEWER-Eurasia) in Moscow . Funding is provided by the Political Affairs Division IV (PA IV) of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as well as by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The project began in April 2005 with a test phase restricted to the Atschchoj-Martan area of Chechnya. The agenda was expanded in February 2006 to include the search for missing persons and gender aspects. In the latest phase the project is being extended to new regions of Chechnya.

Illegal arrests and abductions are among the biggest security problems facing civilians not only in Chechnya but also throughout the northern Caucasus region. Measures are being taken that should help to prevent further illegal arrests and abductions. For this purpose the flow of information between the security forces (Interior Ministry, the FSB secret service and the army) and the regional and local authorities was improved during the Humanitarian Dialogue test period. The activities of the security forces are now coordinated with the local authorities in Atschchoj-Martan.

The most important first step in the search for missing persons is the creation of a data bank with essential information concerning missing persons. This led to the founding of the Center for Civilian Support in the Search for Missing Persons (CCAS) within the framework of the Humanitarian Dialogue. Special attention is given to the inclusion of women's organizations in the work of the CCAS in particular and in the Humanitarian Dialogue in general.

Partners:
Forum for Early Warning and Early Response (FEWER-Eurasia), Moscow
Peace Mission of General Lebed (PMGL), Pyatigorsk

Funded by:
Human Security Division FDFA
International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)