Russian Peacemaker Receives ACR International Leadership Award

---

October 2008

-Print -Email -Comment -Subscribe  (free)

Austin, TX – In recognition of his leadership promoting creative processes that help people across the globe find peaceful solutions to conflicts, Shamil Fattakhov from Kazan, Russia, received the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) International Development Committee 2008 Outstanding Leadership Award. Former Indiana Congressman Lee Hamilton presented the award at ACR’s 8th Annual Conference on September 23. In presenting the award, Hamilton expressed his admiration for Fattakhov’s dedication and innovation. Hamilton told the conference attendees that “my hunch is that your skills will be needed even more in the months and years ahead.” In particular, Hamilton acknowledged the importance of programs that are designed to teach conflict resolution skills to future generations.

Fattakhov, who has a background as a television producer in Russia, tells a funny story about how he came up with the idea for his work. When Russia first opened to the rest of the world in the early 1990s, one of the first shows he saw was the Jerry Springer show. It struck him that the show – and several like it – tended to demonstrate the worst possible outcome for its guests. He wanted to design a television program that would promote positive constructive solutions. Fattakhov tapped in to his creative background to then develop a series of television programs, as well as other educational programs involving youth and drama, to promote and teach the skills of conflict resolution and ethical decision making. His program has been implemented in 63 countries, on five continents. In Russia alone his program has aired on live television and radio shows in 22 cities.

In accepting the award, Fattakhov said, “What was important for me in initiating the program was to help young people to analyze their behavior, to think about the consequences, and to make ethically-based decisions.”

Comments

---

Free subscription to comments on this article

Add Brief Comment

The views expressed by authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Resourceful Internet Solutions, Inc., Mediate.com or of reviewing editors.