All posts by CPNN Coordinator

About CPNN Coordinator

Dr David Adams is the coordinator of the Culture of Peace News Network. He retired in 2001 from UNESCO where he was the Director of the Unit for the International Year for the Culture of Peace, proclaimed for the Year 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly.

Centers for Mediation, Conciliation and Restorative Justice in the State of Mexico

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Hacienda Cuautitlan (translation by CPNN)

PROCESS

STAGES OF MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION

The mediation and conciliation services provided by the Center can be initiated at the request of the interested party or by referral from the Public Prosecutor’s Office or the judge who hears the matter, when the willingness of the interested parties to resolve their disputes through any of these methods is confirmed. This can begin before starting a judicial process, during the process or after it has concluded.


Click on image to enlarge.

1. REQUEST FOR MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION

The person interested in resolving their conflict through these channels must go personally or, where appropriate, through their legal representative with power of attorney to the State Center headquarters closest to their home with the original and a simple copy of their official identification , as well as the location data of the person you want to invite (full name, address and telephone number, if you know it).

If you wish to expedite this service, you can have the Service Request Form printed with the requested data.

2. START OF THE MEDIATION OR CONCILIATION PROCESS

Each Center has Secretaries or Operational Secretaries, who will verify if the conflict is susceptible to mediation, conciliation or subject to a restorative process, in accordance with the law. If so, a file is started that includes the data of both parties.

Finally, you will be provided with the date for the initial mediation or conciliation session, the corresponding file number and the name of the Mediator-Conciliator or Facilitator who will assist you.

The Secretary and/or Operational Secretary will make the invitation and turn it over to the Social Worker so that he/she invites the other person or persons to attend on the scheduled date; In addition, he reports the matter to the Mediator-Conciliator and Facilitator who will be responsible for assisting him.

3. INVITATION

A social worker comes to the house of the invited person delivers the invitation, letting him know that there is a person interested in discussing the conflict in common to seek alternative solutions, through mediation or conciliation.

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(click here for the original version in Spanish).

Question for this article:

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

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4. MEDIATION AND/OR CONCILIATION SESSIONS

On the date and time indicated to the parties, the Mediator-Conciliator assigned to the matter waits for the parties.

If both parties show up, the session will begin, which takes place in a private and comfortable space. On the first occasion, the Conciliatory Mediator explains the purposes of the procedure, the rules that allow a respectful dialogue and ascertains the willingness of the parties to seek a solution to their dispute.

The Mediation or Conciliation sessions are oral and all that are necessary for the resolution of the conflict are carried out.

In each session, the people involved will have the opportunity to actively intervene, by expressing their needs, emotions, feelings and proposals, in an environment of trust, cordiality and respect guided by the assigned Mediator-Conciliator.

If the parties reach one or several points of agreement, it will be recorded in an agreement, a copy of which is given to those involved.

5. CONCLUSION OF THE MEDIATION OR CONCILIATION

In accordance with the Regulation of the Law of Mediation, Conciliation and Promotion of Social Peace for the State of Mexico, the request may be inadmissible or the mediation, conciliation or restorative justice procedure may be terminated, in case it becomes evident that the process of the alternative method is based on dishonest presentations.

6. AGREEMENT AUTHORIZATION

The head of the Mediation and Conciliation Center must ensure that the agreement does not contain dishonest consent, that it does not contravene morality or public order provisions, as prerequisites for its authorization.

When agreements are reached, they are signed by all the interested parties, include the fingerprints of the signatories, the signature of the Mediator-Conciliator who intervened and, finally, the signature of the head of the Mediation and Conciliation Center and the institutional seal.

7. EFFECTS OF JUDICATION

Once the agreement or agreement has been signed and authorized, it will have the same effectiveness between the parties as res judicata, and may be executed, in the event of non-compliance, by way of enforcement, provided for in the Code of Civil Procedures of the State of Mexico.

8. BREACH OF AGREEMENT

In case of non-compliance with the agreement, the parties have the right to choose whether to proceed to its execution by way of enforcement before the competent judge; or they initiate a new mediation or conciliation process.

http://www.pjedomex.gob.mx/conciliacion/#

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Indian Ministry of Law and Justice : The Mediation Bill, 2021

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

A project of law from PRS India

 The Mediation Bill, 2021 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on December 20, 2021.  Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where parties attempt to settle their dispute (outside courts) with the assistance of an independent third person (mediator).  The Bill seeks to promote mediation (including online mediation), and provide for enforcement of settlement agreements resulting from mediation.  Key features of the Bill include:

° Applicability: The Bill will apply to mediation proceedings conducted in India where: (i) all parties reside in, are incorporated in, or have their place of business in India, (ii) the mediation agreement states that mediation will be as per this Bill, or (iii) there is an international mediation (i.e., mediation related to a commercial dispute where at least one party is a foreign government, a foreign national/resident, or an entity with its place of business outside India).  In these cases, if the central or state government is a party, the Bill will only apply to: (a) commercial disputes, and (b) other disputes as notified by such government.

° Pre-litigation mediation: In case of civil or commercial disputes, a person must try to settle the dispute by mediation before approaching any court or certain tribunals as notified.  Even if the parties fail to reach a settlement through pre-litigation mediation, the court or tribunal may at any stage of the proceedings refer the parties to mediation if they request for the same.

° Disputes not fit for mediation: Disputes not fit for mediation include those: (i) relating to claims against minors or persons of unsound mind, (ii) involving prosecution for criminal offences, (iii) affecting the rights of third parties, and (iv) relating to levy or collection of taxes.  The central government may amend this list of disputes.
.
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Question for this article:

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

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° Mediation process: Mediation proceedings will be confidential.  A party may withdraw from mediation after the first two mediation sessions.  The mediation process must be completed within 180 days (even if the parties fail to arrive at an agreement), which may be extended by another 180 days by the parties.  In case of court annexed mediation (i.e., mediation conducted at a mediation centre established by any court or tribunal), the process must be conducted in accordance with directions or rules framed by the Supreme Court or High Courts.

° Mediators: Mediators only assist the parties to settle their dispute, and cannot impose a settlement on the them.  Mediators may be appointed by: (i) the parties by agreement, or (ii) a mediation service provider (an institution administering mediation).  Mediators must disclose any conflict of interest that may raise doubts on their independence.  Parties may then choose to replace the mediator.

° Mediation Council of India: The central government will establish the Mediation Council of India.  The Council will consist of a chairperson, two full-time members (with experience in mediation or ADR), three ex-officio members (including Secretaries in the Ministries of Law and Justice and Finance), and one part-time member (from an industry body).  Functions of the Council include: (i) registration of mediators, and (ii) recognising mediation service providers and mediation institutes (providing training, education and certification of mediators).

° Mediated settlement agreement: Agreements resulting from mediation must be in writing, signed by the parties and authenticated by the mediator.  Such agreements will be final, binding, and enforceable in the same manner as court judgments (except agreements arrived at after community mediation).  Mediated settlement agreements (besides those arrived at in court referred mediation or by Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat) may be challenged only on grounds of: (i) fraud, (ii) corruption, (iii) impersonation, or (iv) relating to disputes not fit for mediation.

° Community mediation: Community mediation may be attempted to resolve disputes likely to affect the peace and harmony amongst residents of a locality.  It will be conducted by a panel of three mediators (may include persons of standing in the community, and representatives of RWAs).

° Interface with other laws: The Bill will override other laws on mediation (except certain laws such as the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020).  The Bill also makes consequential amendments in certain laws (such as the Indian Contract Act, 1872, and the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996). 

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, South Asia

Council of Europe : Ministerial Conference on restorative justice concludes with the signature of the Declaration of Venice

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from the Council of Europe

Encouraging the use of restorative justice, especially when the offences involve minors, and considering it an essential part of training for legal professionals are two of the main recommendations made to the Council of Europe by the Ministries of Justice of the organization’s Member States who took part in the Conference of Ministers of Justice, on the theme of restorative justice, in Venice on 13th and 14th December.

Discussion question

Restorative justice, What does it look like in practice?

Organised within the scope of the Semester of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the conference “Crime and Criminal Justice – The Role of Restorative Justice in Europe” enriches the program of initiatives supporting the construction of a people-orientated future through the promotion of a citizen-friendly juridical system, one of the three priority areas for Italy’s Presidency. As part of this wider context, restorative justice supports the function of the sentence, both as an opportunity for rehabilitation of the offender and for recovery of the victim.

The two-day Ministerial Conference concluded with the signing of the Venice Declaration, a joint document that stimulates policies aimed at a wider dissemination of restorative justice, access to which “should be an objective of the national authorities”. There were two days of reflections, analysis and testimonies on the topic, such as those offered by Albie Sachs, the former Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, and by Professor Pumla Gobodo Madikizela of Stellenbosh University, who participated online. Both who shared their own accounts of reconciliation experienced in South Africa under Apartheid.

At the opening and closing of the meetings there were two speeches by the Minister of Justice Marta Cartabia, who defined restorative justice as “a new form of justice for the benefit of the victims, the perpetrators of the crime and for the whole society, which can rebuild the social bonds destroyed by crime. Restorative justice – she concluded – is not a utopia but derives from concrete experiences that have already taken place in many states”.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

Conakry: former deputies launch a new coalition for peace, rights and development, COFEPAD-Guinea

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from Guinee Matin (translation by CPNN)

Former members of the National Assembly of Guinea have created a platform, called “Coalition of women parliamentarians and actors for peace, rights and development in Guinea” (COFEPAD-Guinea). This organization was announced by a public declaration issued this Friday, January 7, 2022 in Conakry.


video of the press conference

COFEPAD-Guinea is led by Dr. Zalikatou Diallo, former MP and former Minister of Citizenship and National Unity, and its vice-presidents are Dr. Hadja Aïssata Daffé and Ms. Nanfadima Magassouba. Its main objective is to contribute effectively to the preservation and consolidation of achievements in the defense of the rights of women, children and vulnerable people in the Republic of Guinea.

DECLARATION

We, the women who have participated in the various legislatures of the National Assembly of the Republic of Guinea, as well as we, actors working for peace, the defense of the rights of women, children and vulnerable people, have taken the initiative to the establishment of the COALITION OF WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS AND ACTRESSES FOR PEACE, RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT IN GUINEA (COFEPAD-GUINEA).

The launch of the activities of this Coalition, whose head office is located in Conakry, in the Commune of Ratoma, in the district of Lambanyi, has as its primary objective to contribute effectively to the preservation and consolidation of achievements in the defense of the rights of women, children and vulnerable people in the Republic of Guinea.

COFEPAD-GUINEA has the following essential mission:

– Allow its members to interact in order to pursue the noble and exalting struggle for gender equality and the consideration of the gender dimension at all levels of the Guinean Nation, while promoting lasting peace, a society of cohesion, a culture of good citizenship and the other values ​​necessary for the socio-economic development of Guinea.

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(Click here for the original French version)

Questions for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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– Contribute to the maintenance and consolidation of achievements in favor of Guinean women in legal texts, favorable to gender equality, in order to enable Guinea to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): Nations Nations No. 5 as well as the provisions of the Maputo Protocol of the African Union, adopted on July 11, 2003 in Maputo and entered into force since November 25, 2005.

– Carry out advocacy and lobbying actions at the level of the authorities and bodies of the Transition, with a view to amending all provisions that discriminate against women and vulnerable people. Promote ctions that contribute significantly to the implementation of UN Resolution 1325 and its related resolutions.

– Recommend the strict application of criminal sanctions against perpetrators of rape and conduct awareness campaigns to reverse this trend in Guinean society.

– Work to strengthen lasting peace and national unity in the Republic of Guinea by an extensive awareness campaigns at all levels, supported by a synergy of action between our Coalition and the administrative and local authorities, as well as other actors involved in the same dynamic. These actions should put Guinea on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063. In particular with regard to Aspiration No. 6, namely: “An Africa whose development is people-driven, which relies on the potential of its people, especially women and young people, who care about the well-being of children.

In order to achieve the results produced, the members of COFEPAD-GUINEA propose a strategic plan accompanied by an action plan in accordance with the statutes of the Coalition.

Through multiple activities, COFEPAD-GUINEA proposes to :

– Contribute to strengthening a durable culture of peace, a sine qua non condition for the harmonious and balanced development of Guinea;

– Strengthen the partnership between men and women and the capacities of the members of the Coalition to better fulfill their missions of defending women’s rights while preserving what has already been achieved;

– Harmonize and strengthen partnership with other national and international institutions, organizations, and networks that promote gender equality;

To enable it to achieve this panoply of objectives, COFEPAD-GUINEA count son the support of administrative authorities, national and international institutions, as well as collaboration with NGOs defending the rights of women, children and vulnerable people in Guinean society.

Long live the women of Guinea

Long live gender equality

Long live peace, unity and the development of Guinea

May God bless Guinea and all Guineans

Amen!

Africa, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Spain : Films for peace – ten years of MUSOC

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article by Pablo Batalla Cueto in Lamarea86

A meeting place between cinema, social activism and critical thinking, which seeks to deepen the knowledge of human rights and the culture of peace: this is how MUSOC, the Social Film and Human Rights Exhibition, is presented ; a cinematographic event organized by Acción en Red Asturies. The event is supported by more than 40 organizations and groups and it has become an increasingly well-known reference –in Asturias and outside it– of the cultural programming related to the art of the cinema.


A frame from the film ‘Six Days Current’.

This year marks the decade anniversary : a special edition that will once again be displayed by several Asturian municipalities and educational centers in the region with film screenings (with the thematic sections Outskirts, Another Station, Creators looking to the South, Transits and Daughters of Guy) as well as some parallel activities: his Visible Dialogues , a colloquium between filmmakers, activists and the public; the MUSOCeduca pedagogical project, consisting of the dissemination of human rights and peace culture in eighty schools; and the delivery of the Chema Castiello Award.

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(Click here for the original Spanish version of this article.)

Question for this article:

Film festivals that promote a culture of peace, Do you know of others?

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The inauguration is on Friday, January 7. It will open the exhibition Six days current , directed by Neus Ballús, winner of the Chema Castiello 2022, Espiga de Plata in the last Valladolid Festival. The film features three workers from a small plumbing and electricity company on the outskirts of Barcelona. One of the workers, of Moroccan origin, has to demonstrate for a week that he is ready to be the replacement for his partner Pep after his retirement and dissolve the doubts of Valero, the other partner, who doubts that those who require the services of the small company will accept a worker from the Maghreb in their homes . 

On successive days, and until January 30, MUSOC attendees will be able to see films such as Mali Twist, by Robert Guédiguian, a film set in the revolutionary Bamako of the sixties, which will be screened at the Niemeyer Center in Avilés ; As Far As I Can Walk, by Stefan Arsenijevi ?, starring a Ghanaian migrant who meets his wife in a Serbian refugee center, which can be seen at the Philharmonic Theater in Oviedo on the 18th; or, at the Riera Theater in Villaviciosa, Nora’s Awakening, by Leonie Krippendorf, about the adolescent infatuation of two young Berlin girls, Nora and Romy.

Other films concern the trans pioneer and activist against AIDS Connie Norman, the rural exodus in Kenya, the criminalization of abortion in El Salvador, the life of the last republican mayor of Seville and the dramas about Kosovo, Mexico and India.

Oviedo, Gijón, Avilés, Cangas de Onís, Langreo, Siero, Navia, Castrillón, Villaviciosa and Llanes are the participating towns, distributed from west to east throughout the region, of this edition. They take into account the current pandemic by the observance of the COVID-19 protocols, with accesses and exits to the spaces in an orderly and staggered manner and the obligation to use a mask and hydroalcoholic gel.

Creativity, diversity, freedom, reflection and commitment: these are the values to which this festival seeks to embrace; these virtues are essential in increasingly tough times. Hence the title of another of the films in this MUSOC, which will be screened in Navia on the 13th: A Little Plan… How to Save the World.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe

Mexico: The government integrates the Mayan Train in the program Promotion of the Culture of Peace and Reconstruction of the Social Fabric

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from Polìtico MX

The Ministry of the Interior (Segob), has reached an agreement with the Undersecretariat of Democratic Development, Social Participation and Religious Affairs, and the National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism (Fonatur) for the integration of 13 municipalities on the route of Mayan Train in the program Promotion of the Culture of Peace and the Reconstruction of the Social Fabric.


Editor’s note: But the route is being contested by some of the indigenous communties that will be displaced.

The project reinforces the indigenous consultation process, according to the agency’s statement. In this way, it seeks to guarantee a state of well-being and security in the communities that are part of the development plan.

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(Click here for the Spanish version)

Questions related to this article:
 
How can tourism promote a culture of peace?

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Segob explained that among the municipalities that are integrated into the program are:

Quintana Roo: Isla Mujeres, Benito Juárez, Solidaridad, Tulum, Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Tabasco: Tenosique, Balancán

Campeche: Candelaria, Escárcega

Yucatan: Mérida, Maxcanú, Valladolid,

Chiapas: Palenque

The program for the Promotion of the Culture of Peace and the Reconstruction of the Social Fabric seeks to promote actions among local communities, municipalities, and the Government of Mexico to meet the 2030 sustainable development objectives, specifically those that refer to the reduction of inequalities; generation of spaces for equality and eradication of gender violence, as well as guaranteeing peace, security and justice to the communities.

Segob and Fonatur carried out a work tour in the last months of 2021, holding meetings with the municipal presidents to explain the program and to establish actions to coordinate their collaborative work.

Latin America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Dominican Republic: 11 Thousand People Train in Conflict Resolution and Culture of Peace in 2021

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article in El Nuevo Diario

The National Conflict Resolution System (Sinarec), reported this Tuesday (January 4) that in the past year 2021 it trained more than 11 thousand people in its citizen education programs for alternative conflict resolution and culture of peace. The programs are aimed at community leaders, members of the Public Ministry and administrative personnel of the public prosecutor’s offices of the country and abroad.

Sinarec highlighted that the trainings consisted of workshops, discussions, conferences, round tables, diplomas and specialized courses in mediation, alternative conflict resolution, culture of peace, human rights and non-violent communication, among other methods of violence reduction. .

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(click here for the original version in Spanish).

Question for this article:

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

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It was indicated that these preventive actions served as an extension to the daily work of Sinarec, which mediates between parties in conflict, providing guidance and support to reach agreements that avoid the need for judicial prosecution.

Sinarec added that during the year just ended, the mediators received hundreds of citizens and achieved peaceful resolutions in 90% of the cases.

In a statement, it was pointed out that these services are permanently available at the agency’s headquarters, located at 237 Barney Morgan Street, in the Luperón expansion, under rigorous measures. of biosafety and with the participation of personnel trained in mediation.

The director of Sinarec, Petronila Rosario Adames, explained that with the endorsement of the Institute of Higher Education National School of the Public Ministry, 78 members of the career of the Dominican and Chilean Public Ministry participated virtually and completed the diploma in Conflict Management and Mediation .

She added that participants included 315 professional members of the Dominican Association of Psychology (Asodopsi), the Integral Ethnic Foundation (Lafei), Dominican Association of Teachers (ADP), members of the National Police, community and ecclesiastical leaders.

Rosario Adames emphasized especially the Youth Mediation and Restorative Practices course, taught to 45 adolescents inmates at the Comprehensive Care Center for Adolescents in Conflicts with the Criminal Law (CAIPACLP), in Manoguayabo, where there was a positive change in the behavior of the participants after receiving training in peer mediation.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Colombia: Forum in the Valle del Cauca commemorates the five years of the signing of the Peace Agreement

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION . .

An article from Government of Valle del Cauca

On November 23, 2021, the Secretariat for Territorial Peace and Reconciliation of the Government of Valle del Cauca, in its mission to promote spaces for reconciliation between the various actors of the armed conflict and generate a culture of sustainable peace, held the forum “Towards a Colombian countryside”. The forum looked at the Final Peace Agreement from the perspective from Valle del Cauca, five years after the signing of the Final Agreement. The Forum was held in alliance with the Truth Commission, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), the ConPaz de la Pastoral program Social – Cáritas Colombiana, the Tuluá Mayor’s Office, the national initiative Tejiendo un Acuerdo para la Vida and the Central Unit of Valle del Cauca (Uceva).

Questions related to this article:

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

The event allowed the active participation of farmers, peasants, victims of the armed conflict, the reincorporated population and members of civil society.

An interdisciplinary and inter-institutional environment was fostered, allowing the exchange of knowledge regarding the implementation of Point 1 of the Final Agreement for the Termination of the Conflict and the Construction of a Stable and Lasting Peace, five years after its signature.

With this review of the event, the Secretariat for Territorial Peace and Reconciliation reaffirms its commitment to continue working for peace and reconciliation, fostering spaces for the exchange of knowledge, where different views are shared that generate reflection and dialogue around the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement.


Download here the review document that collects the perspectives of the dialogues held at the event.

(Click here for a Spanish version of this article.)

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

Brazil: Practices that promote a culture of peace at Funase had good results in 2021

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from the blog of Didi Galvão

Restorative justice actions, aimed at promoting a culture of peace in socio-educational units in Pernambuco, had good results in 2021. During this period, 77 circles of restorative justice were carried out with 458 participants, including adolescents and young people in compliance with socio-educational measures and employees of the Socio-Educational Service Foundation (Funase), an institution linked to the Department of Social Development, Children and Youth (SDSCJ) of Pernambuco.


Image: Divulgação/Funase

The face-to-face activities took place in a manner adapted to the health guidelines resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, with smaller groups of participants, in accordance with the protocol established by Funase. The training processes of multipliers, on the other hand, prioritized the virtual modality. In 2022, the idea is to continue expanding the work of the Center for Restorative Justice (NJR), a group of public servants established in 2019 with the objective of disseminating these practices in the socio-educational system in Pernambuco.

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(Click here for the original article in Portuguese)

Discussion question

Restorative justice, What does it look like in practice?

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Restorative Justice addresses issues such as conflict mediation and non-violent communication, encouraging accountability processes. Marcela Mariz, coordinator of the NJR, believes that the gains have been significant. “We see important results for those who participate. Compliance with the socio-educational measure is not easy. Welcoming, strengthening and empowering are essential actions. And Restorative Justice presents itself as a great tool for that”, she says.

The Socio-Educational Service Center (Case) Jaboatão dos Guararapes, in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, is one of the Funase units where restorative practices are implemented and in progress. “At first, some teenagers show resistance, but later they realize that that moment is theirs and that’s when they can reflect, tell stories and build an internal space for this practice”, explains psychologist and reference technician Cristiane Campelo.

In 2021, training courses were held for managers and technicians on the topic “Restorative Justice in the Socio-Educational System”, with the promotion of Funase in partnership with the Training Center for Public Servants and Employees of the State of Pernambuco (Cefospe). Trainings on coping with LGBTphobia and its parallels with restorative practices were also guided. Another highlight was NJR’s participation in the 1st Latin American Journey “Justice and Restorative Practices: reflections, tools and good practices”, an event held in September, remotely, based in Argentina.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

López Obrador and the offer of asylum to Julian Assange: honest politics in a time of double standards

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An opinion piece by Javier Buenrostro from RT (translation by CPNN)

Last Monday (January 3), in his first morning conference, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador appeared flanked by Jeremy Corbyn, a British MP and leader of the Labor Party between 2015 and 2020. Corbyn, who is one of the main references of the European left, has strong ties with Mexico since his wife, lawyer Laura Álvarez, is Mexican and for this reason maintains an important bond that extends to all of Latin America. For example, Corbyn does not stop pointing out that Gabriel Boric’s triumph in Chile a few days ago gives him joy and hope.A petition from United National Antiwar Coalition


Obrador (left) and Corbyn (right) at the January 3 press conference (photo from Reuters

Due to Corbyn’s presence, the Mexican press asked López Obrador about his offer of asylum to the Australian journalist Julian Assange , WikiLeaks founder and who is about to have served three years in a London jail and ten years deprived of his freedom, counting the time he was asylum in the Embassy of Ecuador in the United Kingdom.

The United States government is close to prosecuting Julian Assange on charges of espionage and attacking national security, after British judges accepted that the WikiLeaks leader could be extradited to that country. Given this , the possibility of asylum for Assange in a country has once again been considered , as a measure to protect human rights and freedom of the press and information.

Mexico, honoring one of its best traditions in foreign policy, which is that of giving refuge to those persecuted for political or ideological reasons, has on several occasions expressed its intention to provide asylum to Julian Assange, even in the face of the possible controversy and confrontation that could arise. ith the United States.

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Click here for the Spanish original of this article.

Question related to this article:
 
Julian Assange, Is he a hero for the culture of peace?

Free flow of information, How is it important for a culture of peace?

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López Obrador revealed that on December 23, 2020, he wrote a letter to Donald Trump asking the United States government to exonerate and pardon Julian Assange. In the letter, the Mexican president explained to his counterpart that, in his opinion, Assange was a person moved by ideals and principles, and that for that fact he should be worthy of compassion. Unfortunately, the letter was never answered.

Currently, according to Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s asylum offer to Julian Assange is still in place and his lawyers are in contact , however, for procedural reasons, the offer cannot be made effective at this time . After ten years, Assange is still trapped in legal situations that have kept him confined all this time and one wonders if the United States will ever allow him to enjoy freedom in a host country.

Less than a month ago, Chinese artist Ai Weiwei posted a video on social media where he runs on a treadmill. It is a campaign that has the hashtag #RunForOurRights and that seeks not only the release of Assange but also to raise awareness about the defense of press freedom and human rights.

Ai Weiwei visited Assange in London in October 2016, while the WikiLeaks founder was in asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy. Since then, the Australian activist’s health has deteriorated dramatically, even suffering from a stroke a couple of months ago. Thus, while the majority of people who believe in freedom of the press and information advocate that Assange should not die in prison, the United States, a country that calls itself the “defender of freedom” requests 175 years in prison for someone who defended the right to information of citizens. Such hypocrisy!

If things continue as they have in the last decade, it is more likely that we will see an extradition of Assange to the United States in the coming months rather than the approval of asylum in a country like Mexico. If Assange dies in prison, either in England or in the United States, his death should fall on the conscience of the justice systems of both countries and will be one more example of the false narrative of freedom of their societies that the official propaganda wants the world to believe, especially in the case of the United States.

Mexico, for its part, continues to uphold the tradition of asylum and refuge in some of the thorniest and most complicated cases in international geography. In the last century the Spanish Republicans, Jews and Communists and the thousands of Argentines, Chileans and Uruguayans who fled from military dictatorships were received in our country, in the López Obrador government Evo Morales was already given refuge following the coup in Bolivia. Now, the hand is outstretched for Assange and for freedom of the press and information.

If only the asylum could materialize, it would honor all involved international actors and put an end to an act of injustice and arbitrariness that the United States intends to carry out in continuation of its double standards and hypocrisy on freedom issues.

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America