What is the primary focus of the ICCRHI - 26?

The conference aims to bring together researchers and practitioners to discuss conflict resolution and humanitarian interventions.

Who is the target audience for this conference?

The conference is designed for academics, researchers, and practitioners interested in the fields of conflict resolution and humanitarian aid.

International Conference on Conflict Resolution and Humanitarian Interventions (ICCRHI - 26)

Sep 15–16, 2026Helsinki, FinlandVirtual

Registration open

The International Conference on Conflict Resolution and Humanitarian Interventions (ICCRHI - 26) will convene in Helsinki, FIN, bringing together academics, researchers, and practitioners to discuss pressing issues in conflict resolution and humanitarian aid. This event serves as a critical platform for sharing insights and advancing strategies in these interconnected fields. Participants will engage in discussions aimed at fostering innovative approaches to global challenges.

Committees & topics

Topics
Innovative Approaches to Conflict Resolution · Crisis Communication in Humanitarian Contexts · Mediation Techniques in International Conflicts · Peacebuilding Initiatives: Challenges and Opportunities · Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response

Why it matters

In an era marked by complex global challenges, understanding and effectively addressing conflict and humanitarian crises is paramount. This conference offers a vital forum for exploring new research, methodologies, and practical applications in conflict resolution and humanitarian interventions. The exchange of ideas among diverse stakeholders can lead to more effective strategies for mitigating suffering and promoting stability in affected regions.

The discussions at ICCRHI - 26 are particularly relevant given the evolving nature of conflicts and the increasing demand for humanitarian assistance worldwide. By focusing on both theoretical frameworks and practical case studies, the conference aims to bridge the gap between academic discourse and on-the-ground realities. This integrated approach is essential for developing sustainable solutions that can adapt to dynamic geopolitical landscapes and diverse cultural contexts.

How to prepare

Delegates preparing for ICCRHI - 26 should focus on developing a robust understanding of current trends in conflict resolution and humanitarian interventions. Familiarity with various theoretical models, such as those related to "engagement-strategies" and "dynamic-analysis," will be beneficial. Participants should also consider how "gender-dynamics-across-cultures" influence both conflict and humanitarian responses, as this is a critical aspect of effective intervention.

Furthermore, preparing to engage with diverse perspectives is key. Attendees might find it useful to review concepts like "what-is-stakeholder-mapping" and consider how to identify "hidden-stakeholders" in complex situations. Understanding the nuances of international humanitarian law and ethical considerations in interventions will also enrich contributions to the conference. Given the conference's location in Helsinki, FIN, attendees might also consider the role of Nordic countries in peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

Finland

As the host nation, FIN is likely to emphasize its strong tradition in peace mediation and its commitment to international law and humanitarian principles.

Role in topic

FIN has a long-standing reputation as a neutral mediator in international conflicts and a significant contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. Its perspective often highlights diplomatic solutions, multilateral cooperation, and the importance of human rights in both conflict resolution and humanitarian aid.

United States

The USA often focuses on strategic interventions, capacity building, and the protection of civilians in humanitarian crises.

Role in topic

The USA is a major donor of humanitarian assistance and a key player in international security. Its approach often involves a combination of diplomatic, economic, and military tools to address conflicts and provide aid, with a strong emphasis on preventing mass atrocities and promoting democratic governance.

United Kingdom

The GBR typically advocates for a comprehensive approach, integrating security, development, and humanitarian efforts.

Role in topic

The GBR is a significant contributor to global humanitarian efforts and peacebuilding initiatives. Its perspective often stresses the importance of international partnerships, rule of law, and addressing the root causes of conflict to achieve lasting peace and stability.

Germany

DEU emphasizes multilateralism, humanitarian principles, and the importance of civilian protection in conflict zones.

Role in topic

DEU is a leading humanitarian donor and a strong proponent of a rules-based international order. Its approach to conflict resolution and humanitarian interventions often prioritizes diplomatic engagement, support for international organizations, and the protection of vulnerable populations.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

Innovative Approaches to Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution as a formal discipline emerged in the aftermath of the World Wars, with the establishment of the United Nations in 1945 institutionalising negotiation, mediation, and arbitration as alternatives to armed confrontation. Through the Cold War and the wave of civil wars that followed its end, classical state-to-state diplomacy proved insufficient for intra-state conflicts driven by ethnic, sectarian, and resource-based grievances. The Oslo Accords (1993), the Good Friday Agreement (1998), and the Colombian peace process (2016) illustrated both the potential and the limits of traditional negotiated settlements. In recent decades, practitioners have experimented with novel methods including Track II and Track III diplomacy, digital peacebuilding platforms, AI-assisted early warning systems (such as the UN's Global Pulse initiative), insider mediation, and the integration of women and youth networks as mandated by UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250. Restorative justice mechanisms pioneered in South Africa and Rwanda have also reshaped post-conflict reconciliation. These innovations seek to address root causes rather than freeze hostilities. Today, the field grapples with applying these tools amid hybrid warfare, transnational armed groups, climate-driven displacement, and the erosion of multilateralism. Debates centre on how to scale local mediation, regulate the use of artificial intelligence in conflict analysis, and reconcile state sovereignty with inclusive, bottom-up peace processes.

Key players

Crisis Communication in Humanitarian Contexts

Modern humanitarian communication evolved from the Red Cross movement of the 19th century into a sophisticated ecosystem after the Biafran famine (1967-70), which exposed the power of media imagery to mobilise global response. The 1994 Rwandan genocide and the Balkan wars further demonstrated how information vacuums, propaganda, and hate radio (notably RTLM) could accelerate atrocities, prompting the inclusion of strategic communications in humanitarian doctrine. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee and OCHA subsequently developed protocols on accountability to affected populations, including 'communication as aid.' The 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa showcased SMS-based information services, radio call-ins, and community feedback loops as life-saving tools, while also revealing the dangers of rumour and misinformation. COVID-19 globalised these challenges, with the WHO coining the term 'infodemic' to describe the parallel spread of disease and disinformation. Conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Yemen, and Myanmar have since shown how social media, deepfakes, and state-sponsored narratives complicate humanitarian access and protection. Current debates focus on protecting humanitarian workers and journalists, balancing transparency with operational security, countering disinformation without infringing on free expression, and ensuring that affected populations are treated as participants rather than passive recipients of information.

Key players

Mediation Techniques in International Conflicts

Third-party mediation has been a pillar of interstate diplomacy since the 1907 Hague Conventions codified peaceful dispute settlement. The UN Charter's Article 33 formally enshrines mediation among the obligations of member states, and the 2012 UN Guidance for Effective Mediation remains the central reference document. Landmark cases such as Camp David (1978), Dayton (1995), and the Iran-Iraq ceasefire (1988) illustrate the range from facilitative to directive mediation styles, often combining incentives, security guarantees, and confidence-building measures. The post-Cold War proliferation of regional mediators - the African Union, ECOWAS, ASEAN, the OSCE, and the Arab League - has decentralised the practice. Norway, Switzerland, Qatar, Oman, and Finland have built reputations as neutral facilitators, while powers such as the United States, China, and Russia bring leverage but also competing interests. The Saudi-Iran rapprochement brokered by China in 2023 marked a notable shift in mediation geography. Mediation has also expanded to non-state armed groups, raising legal questions under counter-terrorism frameworks. Contemporary challenges include the fragmentation of conflict parties, simultaneous and sometimes competing mediation tracks ('forum shopping'), the impact of sanctions regimes on mediator access, and the integration of gender and inclusion mandates. Delegates must consider how to reinforce mediator neutrality, sequence ceasefires with political agreements, and ensure enforceable implementation.

Key players

Peacebuilding Initiatives: Challenges and Opportunities

The concept of peacebuilding was articulated by UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali in An Agenda for Peace (1992), which distinguished it from peacekeeping and peacemaking by emphasising the long-term reconstruction of societies after conflict. Following critical reviews of UN missions in the 1990s, including in Bosnia, Somalia, and Rwanda, the 2005 World Summit established the Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Support Office, and the Peacebuilding Fund to coordinate political, security, development, and humanitarian efforts. The 2015 'Sustaining Peace' twin resolutions (UNSC 2282 and GA 70/262) reframed peacebuilding as a continuum spanning prevention, response, and recovery, applicable to all states rather than only post-conflict ones. Initiatives have ranged from disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) programmes in Liberia and Sierra Leone, to security sector reform in the Western Balkans, to transitional justice in Tunisia and Colombia. Yet persistent funding gaps, the militarisation of stabilisation agendas, and the relapse of countries like South Sudan, Mali, and the Central African Republic into conflict illustrate the fragility of these efforts. Today, peacebuilding confronts overlapping crises: climate change as a threat multiplier, the rise of military coups in the Sahel, geopolitical rivalry undermining UN consensus, and shrinking civic space. Opportunities lie in localisation, climate-security integration, and innovative financing such as the proposed assessed contributions to the Peacebuilding Fund.

Key players

Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response

International disaster response coordination took shape with the founding of UNDRO in 1971, later absorbed into the Department of Humanitarian Affairs and then OCHA in 1998. The 1990s 'International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction' shifted thinking from reactive relief toward risk reduction, culminating in the Hyogo Framework (2005) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030). The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 2010 Haiti earthquake, and 2011 Tohoku earthquake each catalysed reforms in early warning, cluster coordination, and cash-based assistance. Climate change has dramatically expanded the scale and frequency of disasters: the 2022 Pakistan floods, recurrent Horn of Africa droughts, Türkiye-Syria earthquake (2023), and Pacific cyclones have stretched the humanitarian system beyond capacity. Conflict-induced disasters compound natural hazards, as seen in Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine, where humanitarian access is itself contested. The 2016 World Humanitarian Summit launched the 'Grand Bargain' to localise aid and improve efficiency, while the COP27 agreement on a Loss and Damage Fund opened new financing avenues. Key debates concern anticipatory action and parametric insurance, the role of military assets in civilian relief, respect for International Humanitarian Law in access negotiations, and bridging the persistent funding gap - UN appeals routinely cover less than half of assessed needs. Delegates will weigh how to strengthen national capacities, reform the global humanitarian architecture, and integrate climate adaptation with emergency response.

Key players

Resources

News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for International Conference on Conflict Resolution and Humanitarian Interventions (ICCRHI - 26).

Recent reporting to ground your prep

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Lessons

Bite-sized lessons to build the basics

Engagement Strategies

Dynamic Analysis

Hidden Stakeholders

Stakeholder Mapping Workshop

Courses

Guided courses that go deeper on the topic

Conflict Resolution

Media & Press Relations

Persuasion & Influence

Cross-Cultural Communication

The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance

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Finland September 2026

By committee

Frequently asked questions

International Conference on Conflict Resolution and Humanitarian Interventions (ICCRHI - 26)

Sep 15–16, 2026Helsinki, FinlandVirtual

Registration open

Committees & topics

Topics
Innovative Approaches to Conflict Resolution · Crisis Communication in Humanitarian Contexts · Mediation Techniques in International Conflicts · Peacebuilding Initiatives: Challenges and Opportunities · Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

Finland

As the host nation, FIN is likely to emphasize its strong tradition in peace mediation and its commitment to international law and humanitarian principles.

Role in topic

United States

The USA often focuses on strategic interventions, capacity building, and the protection of civilians in humanitarian crises.

Role in topic

United Kingdom

The GBR typically advocates for a comprehensive approach, integrating security, development, and humanitarian efforts.

Role in topic

Germany

DEU emphasizes multilateralism, humanitarian principles, and the importance of civilian protection in conflict zones.

Role in topic