In his talk, Peacemaking in a Time of Escalation, Paul Dziatkowiec and moderator, Janine Elgamal, discussed Paul’s work as a crisis mediator, highlighting both the challenges and necessities of modern peacebuilding. He discussed his transition from serving as a diplomat for Australia to engaging in behind-the-scenes, unofficial diplomacy, where he can facilitate sensitive negotiations outside formal channels.
Paul underscored the personal and professional skills essential for effective mediation, including strong interpersonal relationships, trustworthiness, discretion, and resilience. He noted that failure is common in this field, making persistence and curiosity critical to continuing the work.
He also outlined the structural components necessary for lasting peace agreements: clear, written terms; reliable verification mechanisms; and defined consequences for violations. Without these elements, agreements are unlikely to endure.
Importantly, he emphasized that many peace processes fall short due to limited inclusivity. Women and youth, in particular, are often excluded despite playing a crucial role in determining whether peace will be sustained over time.
Dziatkowiec expressed concern about broader shifts in the global order, noting that institutions such as the United Nations and the OSCE are increasingly sidelined, along with the subject experts within. He warned that the erosion of international norms—especially respect for sovereignty—creates conditions in which aggression becomes less taboo.
Finally, he reflected on the moral dimensions of global politics, lamenting not only the weakening of international systems but also a decline in fundamental human values such as kindness and mutual respect. Remembering to treat others how you want to be treated is foundational.
About the Speaker
Paul Dziatkowiec has spent 25 years in diplomacy and conflict mediation. Prior to his current role as Director of Mediation and Peace Support at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (since 2021), he managed various projects over a decade at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), an organization that mediates in armed conflicts. There he engaged in efforts to promote peace in Nigeria, Myanmar, Thailand and Ukraine among others, and ran the prestigious Oslo Forum for several years.
In his mediation and dialogue facilitation work, Paul has initiated and facilitated numerous confidential dialogue processes, including in the Ukraine-Russia context, the Caucasus, Middle East, Arctic, Asia and the US-China context.
Earlier Paul was an Australian diplomat for over a decade, including in Africa, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific. In his most recent posting in Nairobi, as Deputy and regularly Acting Ambassador he covered a range of countries including Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. Concurrently, he was Australia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Nairobi.
Previously Paul was posted to the Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv, and acted periodically as Australian’s Representative to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah during the second intifada.
During his diplomatic career, Paul engaged in multilateral negotiations at the UN, in Geneva, New York, and Nairobi, which included negotiating resolutions and delivering statements on behalf of Australia on diverse issues.
Paul is also a Senior Adviser to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Peace Dividend Initiative, an expert on UNDP’s crisis response roster, Fellow at the Oxford Global Society and World Academy of Art and Science, and member of Diplomats Without Borders and the Explorers Club. He has written on peacemaking in different regions, and delivered guest lectures on similar themes in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, North America, Europe and Australia.
About the Moderator
Janine hails from Cairo, Egypt where she rowed crew along the Nile for most of her youth. Janine had the unusual opportunity to mentor 50 USAID sponsored students from all governorates of Egypt during their studies at the American University in Cairo, where she provided leadership training, and mentorship.
She has a background in film production, experiential learning, and leadership training and holds a Master’s degree in Communication. She also freelances as an Arabic interpreter, and translator.
Janine works in graduate admissions and recruitment at The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.
The Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution employs cutting-edge theory, research, education, and practical work to identify and address the underlying causes of conflict and provide tools for ethical and just peacebuilding on local, national, and global stages.