ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that a productive conversation between human rights activists and peacemakers can focus on the practical openings that may exist for human rights promotion in contemporary peace processes. It examines some of the tensions in the relationship between human rights protection and mediation efforts. The use of third-party mediation has increased significantly as well as the numbers and types of actors that offer their services as mediators. The chapter discusses some key trends in contemporary mediation, including trends related to the content of peace agreements and the fragmentation of conflict parties and mediation actors. Official mediation processes are also experimenting with efforts to bring various unarmed constituencies to the negotiating table or to at least link their ideas and recommendations to the negotiating table. The chapter finally explores some of the ways in which human rights activists and mediation practitioners can work together given the ongoing developments in the mediation field.
