Applications 

"Although I've been working in conflict situations for many years now, I found new understandings in this training. DPC gives me a framework in which I can operate more strategically. This training brought me a lot of new inspiration." Participant of DPC training in Canada, 2007

Suitable for many stages of Conflict
Conflicts differ in scale and context but often follow similar patterns. The way a ‘small’ conflict in a company evolves can mirror the same pattern of a large scale conflict between communities or countries. The DPC methodology can be used in both micro and macro conflict settings.
Read concrete cases 

"For me as family worker it was very important to find out what the crucial turning point is in a mediative process" Participant of DPC training in Northern Ireland, 2006

DPC is more than mediation
DPC facilitators learn to analyse a conflict situation and know when mediation is applicable. But DPC is more than mediation. The skills can be applied in different situations where formal mediation is not appropriate or not possible. Mediative behaviour is therefore the basic element of DPC and this is also very useful in the prevention stage.

Efficiency and Empowerment tool

DPC is also seen as an efficiency tool for the work place. DPC could be seen as the basic instrument for an employee in order to implement all other necessary tools and learnings. DPC creates a mediative culture within and between organisations. It can prevent conflicts and gives a tool to overcome division between employees (and their superiors). This all adds to the efficiency of the work. In community settings DPC is seen as an empowerment tool. It empowers community members in their communication with each other and with agencies, government, etc.  

"DPC should be trained to all my staff members. It creates a new culture in the organisation. Staff will be able to manage conflicts amongst themselves much better in stead of automatically turning to the superior for a solution." Participant of DPC training in Canada, 2007

Find the right strategy

Besides the mediative skills DPC also provides a framework for analysing the conflict and find the right strategy to overcome division. This depends a.o. on the stage of the conflict, the parties involved and the use of power. DPC is one of the tools that can be used besides trauma recovery, advocacy, etc.   
 

DPC in practice
DPC facilitators have experience with mediative processes in several regions of the world in different conflict situations in organisations, schools, churches, families, etc. Some examples of conflicts and the parties involved:

	In the Philippines DPC is being used to facilitate the engagement of indigenous people, local NGO’s and the Government on issues of social justice and historical conflict.
	In Chile DPC is working on developing a mediative dialogue within a number of Trade Unions that are trapped in a cycle of conflict with each other.
	In Palestine DPC is being used to open up a greater dialogue within the Christian divide often not recognised by the more obvious Palestine/Israel conflict.
	In Northern Ireland DPC is being used in bringing together victims of both sides of the Northern Ireland conflict to explore their common experience of anger and hurt.
	In Uganda a DPC education project is being developed to help facilitate a more effective learning climate between students and teachers.
	In Canada DPC is being used in several projects to overcome division between first natives, ‘canadians’, and migrants.
	In the Netherlands DPC is being used to build coalitions of different organisations who all have an interest in developmental cooperation.
	In the United States DPC is being used to overcome division within families and between communities of natives and migrants.