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.

The Nobel Peace Prize: Does it go to the right people?

The following excerpt come the book by Frederik Heffermehl entitled, “The Real Nobel Prize” as reviewed in CPNN:

Considering the choices made by this committee over the years, Heffermehl says, “No doubt, the Norwegian committee has honored many fine people and purposes, humanitarian aid, democracy, resource conservation, the fight against poverty and child labor, for the environment, climate, human rights, education” but these do not correspond to Nobel’s testament as expressed in the following. Heffermehl concludes that only 36 awards over the 134 years pass the test.

“The words from the testament of Alfred Nobel: a prize ‘to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for creating the brotherhood of nations, for the abolition of reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.’”

The Nobel Peace Prize of 2022 was a perfect example of the errors pointed out by Heffermehl. The organization granted the prize from Ukraine was funded by the US Dept of State and the US National Endowment for Democracy as part of its support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. The organization asks the West to engage in war against Russia on Ukrainian side by imposing no-fly zone and delivery of armaments.

Fortunately, the Nobel Peace Prize of 2024 was one that corresponds to the Nobel’s testament. As Joseph Gerson has said, “The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Nihon Hidankyo is long overdue and could not come at a more important time. The Hibakusha (A-bomb witness/survivors) of Nihon Hidankyo have been among the world’s most courageous and steadfast advocates of nuclear disarmament. The organization has focused on three core demands: Preventing nuclear war, eliminating nuclear weapons, and obtaining essential medical care for A-bomb victims.

Here are the CPNN articles on this subject:
Uncategorized

Nobel Peace Prize 2024 to Nihon Hidankyo against the menace of nuclear weapons

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

Excerpts from presentation speech by Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, 10 December 2024.

Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again. . . . Thirteen Nobel Peace Prizes have been awarded, in full or in part, for peace efforts of this kind. On each occasion, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has warned against the menace of nuclear weapons. This year, that warning is more urgent than ever before. 


Frame from video of Tanaka’s speech

As 2025 approaches, the world is entering what many analysts characterise as a new, more unstable nuclear age. The role of nuclear weapons in international affairs is changing. The nuclear powers are modernising and upgrading their arsenals. New countries appear to be preparing to obtain nuclear weapons. Key arms control agreements are expiring without being replaced. And threats to use nuclear arms in ongoing warfare have been made openly and repeatedly. . . .

Nihon Hidankyo and the Hibakusha – the survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – have never wavered in their efforts to erect a worldwide moral and legal bulwark against the use of nuclear weapons. . .

To our dear guests from Nihon Hidankyo – to Terumi Tanaka, Toshiyuki Mimaki and Shigemitsu Tanaka – and to all the Hibakusha here today: It is an honour to be your hosts on this historic occasion, and we wish to express our deep gratitude for the outstanding and vital work you have performed in the course of your lives, and for all that you continue to do.

You did not resign yourselves to victimhood. You defined yourselves as survivors. You refused to sit in silent terror as the great powers led us through long periods of nuclear armament. You stood tall and shared your unique personal testimony with the entire world.  

A light in the darkest night. A path forward. You give us hope. . . .

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Excerpts from the speech of Terumi Tanaka on behalf of Nihon Hidankyo

Thank you for your introduction. I am Terumi Tanaka, one of the three Co-Chairpersons of Nihon Hidankyo. I am honored to speak on behalf of Nihon Hidankyo, the Nobel Peace laureate this year.

We established Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, in August 1956. Having ourselves survived the inhumane impacts of the atomic bombings, damage unprecedented in history, we launched this movement to ensure such suffering would never be repeated, with two basic demands. The first demand is that the State which started and carried out the war should compensate victims for the damage caused by the atomic bombs, in opposition to the Japanese government’s assertion that, “the sacrifice of war should be endured equally by the whole nation.” The second is to demand the immediate abolition of nuclear weapons, as extremely inhumane weapons of mass killing, which must not be allowed to coexist with humanity. . . .

I am one of the survivors of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. At the time, I was 13 years old, at home, around 3 kilometers east of ground zero.

It was August 9, 1945. I suddenly heard the buzzing sound of a bomber jet, and was soon after engulfed in a bright, white light. Surprised, I ran downstairs and got down on the floor, covering my eyes and ears with my hands. The next moment, an intense shock wave passed through our entire house. I have no memory of that moment, but when I came to my senses, I found myself under a large, glass sliding door. It was a miracle that none of the glass was broken, and I was somehow spared injuries.

Three days later, I sought out the families of my two aunts who lived in the area near the hypocenter. It was then that I saw the full devastation of the bombing of Nagasaki. Walking with my mother, we went around a small mountain. Reaching a pass, we looked down in horror. Blackened ruins spread out as far as the port of Nagasaki, some three kilometers away. . . .

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Question related to this article:
 
Can we abolish all nuclear weapons?

The Nobel Peace Prize: Does it go to the right people?

(Continued from left column)

By the end of that year, 1945, the death toll in the two cities is thought to have been approximately 140,000 in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki. 400,000 people are estimated to have been exposed to the atomic bombs, suffering injuries and surviving exposure to radiation. 

The survivors, the Hibakusha, were forced into silence by the occupying forces for seven years. Furthermore, they were also abandoned by the Japanese government. Thus, they spent more than a decade after the bombings in isolation, suffering from illness and hardship in their lives, while also enduring prejudice and discrimination.

The United States hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll on March 1, 1954 resulted in the exposure of Japanese fishing boats to deadly radioactive fallout, or the “ashes of death.” Among others, all 23 crew members of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru were exposed to radiation and developed acute radiation sickness, and the tuna they caught were discarded. This incident triggered a nationwide petition calling for a total ban on atomic and hydrogen bombs and tests, which spread like wildfire throughout Japan. This gained over 30 million signatures and in August 1955, the first World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs was held in Hiroshima, followed by the second in Nagasaki the following year. Encouraged by this movement, A-bomb survivors who participated in the World Conference formed the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations, Nihon Hidankyo, on August 10, 1956 in Nagasaki.

In our founding declaration, Nihon Hidankyo expressed our determination to “save humanity from its crisis through the lessons learned from our experiences, while at the same time saving ourselves.” We launched a movement demanding both “the abolition of nuclear weapons, and State compensation for the atomic bomb damage suffered.”

Our initial campaign resulted in the enactment of the “A-Bomb Sufferers’ Medical Care Law” in 1957. However, the content of the law was limited: besides issuing “Atomic Bomb Survivor Certificates” and providing free medical examinations, medical expenses would be paid only for illnesses recognized as atomic bomb-related by the Minister of Health and Welfare. . . .

In April 2016, A-bomb survivors around the world launched the “International Signature Campaign in Support of the Appeal of the Hibakusha for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons,” as proposed by Nihon Hidankyo. This campaign grew significantly, and over 13.7 million signatures were collected and submitted to the United Nations. We are overjoyed that on July 7, 2017, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted with the support of 122 countries.

It is the heartfelt desire of the Hibakusha that, rather than depending on the theory of nuclear deterrence, which assumes the possession and use of nuclear weapons, we must not allow the possession of a single nuclear weapon.

Please try to imagine — there are 4,000 nuclear warheads, ready to be launched immediately. This means that damage hundreds or thousands of times greater than that which happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki could happen right away. Any one of you could become either a victim or a perpetrator, at any time. I therefore plead for everyone around the world to discuss together what we must do to eliminate nuclear weapons, and demand action from governments to achieve this goal.

The average age of the A-bomb survivors is now 85. Ten years from now, there may only be a handful of us able to give testimony as firsthand survivors. From now on, I hope that the next generation will find ways to build on our efforts and develop the movement even further. . . .

To achieve further universalization of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the formulation of an international convention which will abolish nuclear weapons, I urge everyone around the world to create opportunities in your own countries to listen to the testimonies of A-bomb survivors, and to feel, with deep sensitivity, the true inhumanity of nuclear weapons. Particularly, I hope that the belief that nuclear weapons cannot — and must not — coexist with humanity will take firm hold among citizens of the nuclear weapon states and their allies, and that this will become a force for change in the nuclear policies of their governments.

Let not humanity destroy itself with nuclear weapons!

Let us work together for a human society, in a world free of nuclear weapons and of wars!

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DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, East Asia, global,

Slow Peace: Three Lessons from Grassroots Peacebuilders in Colombia

.. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ..

An article by Angela Lederach from Peace News (reprinted by permission)

Since 2014, I have had the privilege of learning from grassroots social leaders at the forefront of building peace in Montes de María, Colombia – one of the territories prioritized by the 2016 peace agreement between the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and the government. 


Youth Peace Provokers March for Peace 2016, photo by author

A human rights lawyer who works closely with the Colombian transitional justice tribunal told me in June 2024 that one of the biggest challenges for the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) was that the peace process was rushed. I have heard grassroots organizers frequently echo the sentiments of this human rights lawyer, admonishing the state for operating with “too much prisa [hurry].” 

As an anthropologist who studies the politics of peacebuilding, I was initially puzzled by the widespread critique of “prisa/hurry”. Indeed, sluggish, bureaucratic delays  have characterized the postaccord implementation  process across rural Colombia. Clearly, when grassroots peacebuilders criticize the state for operating with “too much prisa/hurry,” they are not suggesting that the accords are being implemented rapidly. What claims, then, are campesino peacebuilders making? And what does their approach to “paz sin prisa / peace without hurry” entail?

As I traversed the everyday landscapes of campesino peacebuilding, I began to realize that the call to “slowness” does not negate the pressing needs that animate the collective struggle for peace in Colombia. There is, in fact, a fierce urgency in the campesino call to slow down, take notice, and tend territorial relations of care in the wake of violence. Grassroots peacebuilders do not limit their understanding of time to speed (acceleration and deceleration) or duration (short and long-term frameworks). Instead, slowness is understood as a mode of attention and practice of presence. Slow peace  offers a relational framework that locates peacebuilding as a multigenerational, multispecies, and permanent process to cultivate a more just and livable world.
 
I have identified three lessons for building slow peace. 

First, slow peace is a multigenerational process

In August 2016, I interviewed Jorge, a campesino [small farmer] leader, in his palm-thatched home. Jorge did not begin his life history with the war. Instead, he recounted the ancestral history of the territory, emphasizing how nonviolent resistance and solidarity led to the formation of campesino communities across Montes de María as people sought refuge from enslavement and colonization. He closed our interview with a song he had composed. The war formed neither the opening nor closing stanza. Instead, Jorge sang about the multigenerational “campesino struggle” to “defend life and the right to life.”

Hours later, I learned that the Colombian government and the FARC-EP had reached a peace deal. With no internet or electricity, the historic announcement did not reach Jorge’s house. Jorge’s intimate recollections set against the distant and inaccessible backdrop of the government’s declaration of peace reflect the paradox of proximity that grassroots leaders face. 

Popular depictions of Montes de María, limited only to violence, erase the long histories of campesino organizing. A multigenerational lens challenges linear accounts that locate peace as something that comes after a negotiated agreement. Grafting their work into a wider struggle, campesino peacebuilders articulate an understanding of peace as an active, social process. In giving primacy to everyday life, slowing down widens the lens and focuses the frame of peacebuilding on the historical and material conditions that peace demands.

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Questions for this article:

What is the relation between the environment and peace

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

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Second, slow peace centers social-environmental relations 

“The earth suffered, too,” Jocabeth, a young campesina organizer reflected, detailing her experience of war. The violence of forced displacement disrupted multispecies relations  of care, forged through the daily labor of caretaking forest and soil life in Jocabeth’s community. The violent severing of humans from these ecological relations resulted in the death of the avocado forest, upending the social, economic, and ecological sustenance of her community. For Jocabeth, place-based peacebuilding practices that regenerate multispecies relations are vital for peace. 

As part of an intergenerational social movement, Jocabeth has worked with the Youth Peace Provokers to combine traditional ecological knowledge, reforestation, and agroecology with peace advocacy, nonviolent direct action, and community organizing. Here, slow peace cultivates moral dispositions attuned to the existence of the nearly imperceptible processes of life that persist amid violence – what I call an ethics of attention. As Ricardo Esquivia, the director of the local organization Sembrandopaz  reflected, “the work of the base (grassroots) is to see, feel, and grow the tree held within the seed – to be so close to the ground that you can feel the grass grow.”

Finally, slow peace demands a shift from technical projects to social movements. Campesinos cite the “clash in times” between their community processes and external peace interventions as one of the most difficult challenges they must overcome. Technocratic interventions  that rely on measurable outcomes and helicopter interactions designed to meet donor demands reduce peace to paper. In contrast, slow peace situates peacebuilding as an ongoing political process that prioritizes sustained proximity.

For example, the Regional Space for Peacebuilding in Montes de María  – a broad-based coalition that brings representatives from Afrodescendant, Indigenous, Campesino, youth, women, and LGBTQIA+ movements together – facilitates a sustained, monthly dialogue between these diverse grassroots peace organizations. The coalition has also convened unlikely encounters between community members and generals, paramilitary commanders, FARC representatives, and multinational corporations. These “improbable dialogues” have resulted in the formation of farming cooperatives between former combatants and victims, the return of dispossessed land, and formal apologies. The Regional Space’s approach to sustained dialogue demonstrates how a temporal shift from technical projects to community organizing deepens processes of social repair. The multigenerational, place-based, and permanent commitment to peacebuilding through sustained dialogue – exemplified in the work of the Regional Space – also allows grassroots organizations to build collective power desde la base – from the ground up.

In Montes de María, there is a traditional saying: “Slow down, because there is hurry.” Slowness emerges through an immersion into everyday life where the seeds of peace are continuously cultivated, cared for, and nurtured. “Slow peace” does not offer a prescriptive blueprint. However, reflecting on the relational practices, modes of attention, and quality of presence  that shape peoples’ experiences of time, relations, and power is vital for cultivating sustainable peace – with lessons for peacebuilders globally. 

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Angela J. Lederach (she/her/hers) is Assistant Professor of Peace and Justice Studies at Chapman University. She is the author of Feel the Grass Grow: Ecologies of Slow Peace in Colombia (Stanford University Press 2023) and co-author of When Blood and Bones Cry Out: Journeys Through the Soundscape of Healing and Reconciliation (Oxford University Press 2010). As a cultural anthropologist and peace studies scholar-practitioner, Lederach has worked on peacebuilding and restorative justice processes in Sierra Leone, Philippines, Colombia, and the United States.

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Latin America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Final Report of the 2023 Biennale of Luanda, “Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace”

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

The Third edition of the Biennale of Luanda, “Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace” took place from 22 to 24 November 2023, as described briefly at the time in CPNN. The final report is now available, and we provide excerpts from its executive summary as follows:

The Biennale of Luanda, “Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace”, is a joint initiative of the Government of the Republic of Angola, UNESCO and the African Union that aims to promote conflict resolution and prevention of violence, encouraging cultural exchange and intergenerational dialogue in Africa. It is a broad platform for reflection and promotion of objectives, projects, visions, principles and values, which brings together Heads of States and Governments, young leaders, international organizations, financial institutions, private sector, civil society, scientific and artistic communities and sports, to address, disseminate ideas and inspire emblematic and sustainable individual and collective actions in favor of peace in Africa and the world. . . .


Vladmir Cuba, young representative of Guinea-Bissau, during the Intergenerational Dialogue

The third edition of the Biennale brought together a notable contingent of world leaders and representatives from different nations. Four Heads of State, three Vice Presidents, four former Heads of State and Advisors of the African Union, in addition to representatives from 23 countries, honored the event with their presence. The participation surpassed the mark of 2970 participants from several continents, including Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. The opening ceremony presided over by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Angola, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, and marked by the presence of His Excellency the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Xing Qu, consolidated the Biennale as a forum for global dialogue to build a culture of peace.

Key outcomes included the recognition of youth and women as key actors in peacebuilding efforts, the importance of technology and education in achieving gender equality, and the role of Africa’s cultural heritage in promoting cross-cultural understanding. The event emphasized the need for intergenerational dialogue, collaborative partnerships, and innovative financing practices to drive positive change. Recommendations focused on fostering intergenerational collaboration, amplifying the voices of youth and women, effective resource allocation, and strengthening partnerships to advance the goals of peace and sustainable development in Africa. . . . .

The Luanda Biennale’s success in convening diverse voices, promoting dialogue, and empowering the next generation of peacebuilders reflects its commitment to serving as a pivotal platform for fostering peace, unity, and prosperity in Africa. The event’s legacy lies in its ability to inspire, connect, and empower individuals to contribute to the continent’s transformation, leaving a lasting impact on the discourse on peace and sustainable development in Africa. The Biennale’s strategic alignment with global and African agendas underscores its significance in shaping a narrative of progress, collaboration, and unity for the African continent.

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Question related to this article:

The Luanda Biennale: What is its contribution to a culture of peace in Africa?

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Exhibition by the artists of the ResiliArt Project

The event program, in addition to six discussion panels and parallel activities, had as its highlight an intergenerational dialogue between African leaders and young people. This interaction, under the motto “Young people, actors in promoting the culture of peace and social transformations on the continent”, provided a rich space for exchanging experiences and innovative ideas, strengthening the role of young people in building a more peaceful and fair future for Africa.

The High-Level Panel offered young leaders the opportunity to learn from the experience of the older generation and present their innovative ideas to promote peace and social transformation. This intergenerational dialogue was fundamental to strengthening the involvement of young people in decision-making processes and building a more promising future for the continent.

The Second Panel highlighted the importance of technology and education in achieving gender equality. Participants recommended the development of an action plan in partnership with UNESCO, aiming to promote digital education, science and the culture of peace and non-violence from childhood.

The Third Panel, dedicated to the role of women in promoting peace, security and development, recommended empowering women in decision- making processes and expanding their participation in peacekeeping missions. The implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and UN Resolution 1325 was highlighted as fundamental to achieving these objectives.

The Fourth Panel addressed the need to transform education and financing systems in Africa. Recommendations included the adoption of innovative policies, investment in research and the establishment of intergenerational partnerships to support economic and social projects for social development and the maintenance of peace on the continent.

The Fifth Panel discussed the challenges and opportunities for economic growth on the African continent. Among the recommendations were the stimulation of entrepreneurship, the simplification of business creation processes, the promotion of commercial exchanges between member states of the African Union. But also, encourage the construction of communication, transport, energy and water infrastructures, from the perspective of shared resources.

The Sixth Panel addressed climate change and its impacts on Africa. Participants recommended the use of the Clean Development Mechanism to generate financial benefits for the continent and invest in projects that promote adaptation to climate change and the mitigation of its effects.

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Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Drawing Contest of SNTE and CNDH promotes the Culture of Peace in Mexican schools

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Cronica

In a joint effort to promote the Culture of Peace, the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) and the National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) presented awards to the winners of the “Peaceful School Coexistence” Drawing Contest. Alfonso Cepeda Salas, leader of the SNTE, points out that the Culture of Peace is essential to transform schools into spaces of respect, inclusion and peaceful coexistence.


“Un mundo sin violencia”, painted by Ximena Andrea Fuentes Cima.
Click here to enlarge

The first three places were awarded to Ximena Andrea Fuentes Cima from Quintana Roo, with her drawing titled “A world without violence”; Ricardo García García from Tabasco, who created “The World is for Everyone” and Frida Alejandra Loera Campos from Jalisco, for “Zapotlatena”.

Alfonso Cepeda Salas, general secretary of the SNTE, highlighted the importance of the campaign “Arm yourself with courage for a Culture of Peace!”, which promotes respectful and reflective relationships in schools. “

People should be informed that public schools in Mexico are placing white canvases that identify their participation in favor of the Culture of Peace,” he explained.

He added that school communities are mobilized to reflect and analyze, register collective construction projects, develop proposals, take action and establish firm commitments to this agenda.”

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

Question for this article:

Do the arts create a basis for a culture of peace?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

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“Zapotlatena”, painted by Frida Alejandra Loera Campos  

In this third edition, participation increased due to the growing interest of students in topics such as inclusion, diversity and respect.

The head teacher said that in 2024, 61.6 percent of the participants were female students. He said that “we are determined to continue contributing to this transformation to forge a better country.”

For her part, Norma Angélica Molina Padilla, from the CNDH, said that the drawings make visible fundamental issues such as bullying, People with Disabilities, sign language, and the rights of indigenous communities.

The virtual exhibition of the drawings will be available on the platforms of the SNTE and the CNDH, to consolidate and disseminate the impact of this initiative that “reinforces comprehensive training in values ​​​​and the construction of a more just and peaceful society,” said Cepeda Salas.

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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Chile: Transforming conflicts: USS promotes a culture of peace

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Universidad San Sebastián (translation by CPNN)

In a world where conflicts are a constant in everyday life, the Universidad San Sebastián has launched the innovative Collaborative Project of Vinculación con el Medio (VcM) Transforming conflicts . Its objective is to strengthen the virtues and skills necessary to resolve disputes peacefully in the school community. Through this initiative, law students actively participate in mediation workshops at Colegio Providencia , promoting a culture of peace that transcends the classroom.

The initiative, which pays tribute to the Territorial Hito Program More Connected Citizens , seeks to introduce students from Colegio Providencia to the use of mediation and conflict resolution tools that allow them to address interpersonal tensions in a constructive and non-violent manner. The proposal, led by academic Alejandro Gómez, is carried out with the collaboration of law students from Universidad San Sebastián, who through talks and workshops contribute to the formation of a culture of peace in students.

“This project has a direct impact on both the professional and personal development of our students. Through mediation, law students not only apply the knowledge acquired in their degree, but also reinforce essential socio-emotional skills, such as empathy, active listening and assertive communication, which are fundamental to their comprehensive training, explains Alejandro Gómez, deputy director of the Center for Citizen Education at the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences of the USS.

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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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The intervention also involves Colegio Providencia and Colegio de Mediadores , who in a second phase of the project trained both students and teachers in advanced mediation techniques, allowing the entire educational community to have tools to deal with conflicts in a preventive and effective manner.

Varinia Penco, former president of the Colegio de Mediadores, highlights the importance of collaboration between the academic field and civil society organizations: “Joint work between academia and social organizations is essential to multiply the impact and generate real change in communities. This project has not only provided knowledge, but has also allowed us to build support networks that are the basis of a more empathetic and cohesive society.”

For her part, Laura Núñez, counselor at Colegio Providencia, highlights the value of the alliance with the University, “This collaboration has been fundamental. It has allowed us to introduce our students to concepts such as the culture of peace and non-violence, which not only enrich their academic training, but also have a profound impact on their personal development. The active participation of law students has been key for students to take ownership of these tools.”

Sebastián Pizarro, a USS law student, highlights how this experience contributes to his professional profile. “Participating in Transformando Conflictos has been an invaluable contribution to my training. Mediation work in schools has allowed me to apply the knowledge of my career in a real and significant context. It is not only an academic challenge, but also an opportunity to actively contribute to the construction of a more peaceful society.”

By integrating law and occupational therapy in the resolution of school conflicts, Universidad San Sebastián is contributing to the construction of a culture of peace and respect in future generations, demonstrating that education should not only train in knowledge, but also in values ​​that transform society.

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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Ecuador: culture of peace and democracy through the strengthening of Indigenous Justice

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from Manos Unidas

After almost four years (from March 2021 to November 2024) we have reached the end of the project “Promoting a culture of Peace and Democracy through the strengthening of Indigenous Justice”, developed in Ecuador and co-financed by the European Union and Manos Unidas.


In this project we have had four local partners, the Ecuadorian Central for Agricultural Services (CESA), the Indigenous and Peasant Movement of Cotopaxi (MICC), the Central University of Ecuador (UCE) and the Council of the Judiciary (CJ), the latter being equivalent to the General Council of the Spanish Judiciary.

The reason for this project arose in a context of a serious conflict in Ecuador in 2019, when indigenous peoples and the most vulnerable populations saw their rights and the possibility of having a dignified life increasingly limited (rising prices for basic goods, failures in public services, etc.). One of the most serious situations was the criminalization (arrest and prison sentences) of indigenous leaders for the application of Indigenous Justice. Hence the title of the project is to promote a culture of peace and democracy, seating both parties (indigenous peoples and the State) at the same table, with the support of civil society (CESA and Manos Unidas) and the Academy (UCE).

Let’s put some context to better understand the demands of the peoples and nationalities of Ecuador:

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

Question for this article

Indigenous peoples, Are they the true guardians of nature?

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The Ecuadorian Constitution of 2008 explicitly recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples, marking a milestone in the history of the country. In this regard, the Magna Carta establishes several provisions that seek to guarantee equality, justice and respect for the cultural, social and economic diversity of indigenous peoples. Among the most notable points we can point out the recognition of the plurinationality of the State (art. 1); the recognition of collective rights (art. 57), which includes the right to practice and promote their own forms of justice and traditional legal systems within their communities, as long as they do not contravene human rights; and finally, an intercultural justice system is established (art. 171) in which the possibility of indigenous peoples managing their own system of justice and conflict resolution is recognized, based on their traditions and customs, as long as they do not contravene constitutional principles and human rights.
High participation of women

The project has achieved great successes, as more than a thousand people from indigenous organizations have been trained in Indigenous Justice, Gender and New Masculinities and Community Communication, with a participation of women of more than 40%. A manual on Indigenous Justice with a gender perspective has been developed. Three public policies on intercultural dialogue, cooperation and coordination of dialogue systems between ordinary and indigenous jurisdictions have been approved, printing and distributing 3,000 copies of these policies so that they reach all ordinary justice operators in the country. Four courses on strategic litigation have been held in various regions of the country, with the participation of 200 people, and the project has closed with the II International Congress “Beyond Legal Pluralism”, with the collaboration of seven universities and more than 800 participants, including students, academics, professionals and authorities of indigenous peoples and nationalities.

The project was born in an attempt to reduce social tension and resolve cases of criminalization of indigenous leaders in the province of Cotopaxi. Unfortunately, we have been able to resolve few cases and the current context of Ecuador is not easy, but by building bridges we have generated a movement that will transform the entire country. The seed we planted is bearing fruit with the first applications of the policies of cooperation and coordination between ordinary and indigenous justice, allowing judges to delegate their powers to indigenous justice. The Indoamerican University has already committed to holding the third edition of the congress on legal pluralism and we have 20% more women in leadership positions in the communities.

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Latin America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Niger: Amid social challenges, youth advance culture of peace

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from Bahai

 In a region where youth are increasingly recognizing their capacity to contribute to social harmony, more than 300 young people from across Niger gathered in Maradi recently to explore the part they can play in building peaceful communities.

“Through Bahá’u’lláh’s vision of a peaceful world, we understand that young people must arise and bring about transformation, making their contributions to creating a modern and spiritually grounded civilization,” said Aboubacar, 24, one of the conference participants in comments to the News Service.

The conference, which brought together participants from 21 localities across the country, exemplified in its very structure the commitment to transcending barriers that divide people—conversations and study took place in four languages: French, Zarma, Hausa, and Gourmanchéma. Through this multilingual exchange, participants explored concepts such as the relationship between personal spiritual growth and service to society.

“We learned that these two aims reinforce each other,” explained Tahere, 18, another participant. “Spiritual development gives us the strength and motivation to serve, while service to humanity becomes a way to put spiritual values into practice.”

She described how the gathering itself became a transformative space, where participants from diverse backgrounds strengthened bonds of friendship while examining false dichotomies that often confront youth. “We sometimes think we must choose between our personal development and service to society, but the conference helped us see how these reinforce each other as we work to build a better world.”

Countering religious extremism

The significance of these efforts to contribute to social harmony was highlighted at the conference’s opening session by Illiassou Nomawou, Secretary General of the Maradi regional government, who attended on behalf of the Governor. Speaking to the attendees, he emphasized how the Bahá’í community’s educational initiatives are helping to foster constructive patterns of thought and action in a region where religious extremism poses challenges to social cohesion.

“You have set an example through your dedication to unity and your prayers for the country,” Mr. Nomawou said. “The authorities are calling for greater fraternity… and this is precisely what you are doing.” The Secretary General observed how the spiritual and moral educational programs these young people participate in helps them develop the qualities and capacities needed for constructive citizenship. “This will truly contribute to the development of the country,” he added.

(Click here for this article in French.)

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Question related to this article:
 
Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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Overcoming passivity through service to society

Discussions at the conference examined the choices facing youth today and the harmful forces that breed passivity.

“Young people face a crucial choice,” said Abdourahaman, 23. “We can either arise to contribute to the spiritual and moral education of the rising generations, helping to create peaceful communities, or remain passive in the face of forces that threaten social harmony.”

He emphasized how indifference to seemingly small conflicts can have far-reaching consequences that eventually affect an entire community. “The conference helped us understand that we cannot be mere observers of harmful social forces affecting our neighborhoods and villages—we must be active participants in building peace.”

The conference highlighted how one of the most powerful ways for youth to act on this commitment is to accompany younger generations through the same educational programs that had awakened their own minds to the possibilities of what could be and nurtured in them capacities to serve.

“If we want to contribute to positive change, then we need to support each other through all trials and difficulties,” said Illia, 25. “We must be like the strands of a broom tied together by a single knot.”

Collective vision galvanizes action

Through sharing their experiences, participants saw how their modest efforts, when viewed together, revealed a powerful pattern of transformation—that the moral and spiritual education of children and youth enables them to apply principles such as the equality of women and men, unity in diversity, and consultation to the building of agreement and the overcoming of conflict in their daily lives.

Seeing this pattern of transformation in their collective experience galvanized participants to strengthen their commitment to fostering communities characterized by unity and peace.

The youth realized that to sustain and expand these efforts, more young people would need to arise to serve as facilitators of educational programs in their neighborhoods. In the weeks following the conference, some 100 participants dedicated themselves to intensive periods of study and practice to take on this role, preparing to facilitate moral and spiritual education programs for children and youth in their communities.

“The conference helped us understand that youth represent the future of our country,” said Badi, 17. “By serving society, we can simultaneously grow personally and increase our ability to contribute to social progress.”

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Africa, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview to Tucker Carlson, Moscow, December 6, 2024

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

Excerpts from the transcript of video provided by Russian Ministry

Question [from Tucker Carlson]: Minister Lavrov, thank you for doing this. Do you believe the United States and Russia are at war with each other right now?

Sergey Lavrov: I wouldn’t say so. And in any case, this is not what we want. We would like to have normal relations with all our neighbors, of course, but generally with all countries especially with the great country like the United States. And President Vladimir Putin repeatedly expressed his respect for the American people, for the American history, for the American achievements in the world, and we don’t see any reason why Russia and the United States cannot cooperate for the sake of the universe.


video of interview

Question: But the United States is funding a conflict that you’re involved in, of course, and now is allowing attacks on Russia itself. So that doesn’t constitute war?

Sergey Lavrov: Well, we officially are not at war. But what is going on in Ukraine is that some people call it hybrid war. I would call it hybrid war as well, but it is obvious that the Ukrainians would not be able to do what they’re doing with long-range modern weapons without direct participation of the American servicemen. And this is dangerous, no doubt about this.

We don’t want to aggravate the situation, but since ATACMS and other long-range weapons are being used against mainland Russia as it were, we are sending signals. We hope that the last one, a couple of weeks ago, the signal with the new weapon system called Oreshnik  was taken seriously.

However, we also know that some officials in the Pentagon and in other places, including NATO, started saying in the last few days something like that NATO is a defensive alliance, but sometimes you can strike first because the attack is the best defense. Some others in STRATCOM, Thomas Buchanan is his name, representative of STRATCOM, said something which allows for an eventuality of exchange of limited nuclear strikes.

And this kind of threats are really worrying. Because if they are following the logic which some Westerners have been pronouncing lately, that don’t believe that Russia has red lines, they announced their red lines, these red lines are being moved again and again. This is a very serious mistake. That’s what I would like to say in response to this question.

It is not us who started the war. Putin repeatedly said that we started the special military operation  in order to end the war which Kiev regime was conducting against its own people in the parts of Donbass. And just in his latest statement, the President Putin clearly indicated that we are ready for any eventuality. But we strongly prefer peaceful solution through negotiations on the basis of respecting legitimate security interest of Russia, and on the basis of respecting the people who live in Ukraine, who still live in Ukraine being Russians, and their basic human rights, language rights, religious rights, have been exterminated by a series of legislation passed by the Ukrainian parliament. They started long before the special military operation.

Since 2017, legislation was passed prohibiting Russian education in Russian, prohibiting Russian media operating in Ukraine, then prohibiting Ukrainian media working in Russian language, and the latest, of course there were also steps to cancel any cultural events in Russian, Russian books were thrown out of libraries and exterminated. The latest was the law prohibiting canonic Orthodox Church, Ukrainian Orthodox Church. . . .

The Minsk agreements  were signed. We were very sincerely interested in closing this drama by seeing Minsk agreements implemented fully. It was sabotaged by the government, which was established after the coup d’état in Ukraine. There was a demand that they enter into a direct dialogue with the people who did not accept the coup. There was a demand that they promote economic relations with that part of Ukraine. And so on and so forth. None of this was done. . .
.
The people in Kiev were saying we would never talk to them directly. And this is in spite of the fact that the demand to talk to them directly was endorsed by the Security Council. And putschists said they are terrorists, we would be fighting them, and they would be dying in cellars because we are stronger.

Had the coup in February 2014 had it not happened and the deal which was reached the day before between the then president and the opposition implemented, Ukraine would have stayed one piece by now with Crimea in it. It’s absolutely clear. They did not deliver on the deal. Instead they staged the coup. The deal, by the way, provided for creation of a government of national unity in February 2014, and holding early elections, which the then president would have lost. Everybody knew that. But they were impatient and took the government buildings next morning. They went to this Maidan Square and announced that they created the government of the winners. Compare the government of national unity to prepare for elections and the government of the winners. . . .

Question: I want to go back to what you said a moment ago about the introduction or the unveiling of the hypersonic weapons system that you said was a signal to the West. What signal exactly? I think many Americans are not even aware that this happened. What message were you sending by showing it to the world?

Sergey Lavrov: Well, the message is that you, I mean the United States, and the allies of the United States who also provide this long-range weapons to the Kiev regime, they must understand that we would be ready to use any means not to allow them to succeed in what they call strategic defeat of Russia.

They fight for keeping the hegemony over the world on any country, any region, any continent. We fight for our legitimate security interests. They say, for example, 1991 borders. Lindsey Graham, who visited some time ago Vladimir Zelensky for another talk, he bluntly, in his presence said that Ukraine is very rich with rare earth metals and they cannot leave this richness to the Russians. We must take it. We fight.

So they fight for the regime which is ready to sell or to give to the West all the natural and human resources. We fight for the people who have been living on these lands, whose ancestors were actually developing those lands, building cities, building factories for centuries and centuries. We care about people, not about natural resources which somebody in the United States would like to keep and to have Ukrainians just as servants sitting on these natural resources.

So the message which we wanted to send by testing in real action this hypersonic system is that we will be ready to do anything to defend our legitimate interests.

We hate even to think about war with the United States, which will take nuclear character. Our military doctrine  says that the most important thing is to avoid a nuclear war. And it was us, by the way, who initiated in January 2022 the message, the joint statement  by the leaders of the five permanent members of the Security Council saying that we will do anything to avoid confrontation between us, acknowledging and respecting each other’s security interests and concerns. This was our initiative. . . .

Question: If I could just go back to the question of nuclear exchange. So there is no mechanism by which the leaders of Russia and the United States can speak to each other to avoid the kind of misunderstanding that could kill hundreds of millions of people.

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Question related to this article:

Is the media an arm of the culture of war?

(Continued from left column)

Sergey Lavrov: No. We have this channel which is automatically engaged when ballistic missile launch is taking place.

As regards this Oreshnik hypersonic mid-range ballistic missile. 30 minutes in advance the system sent the message to the United States. They knew that this was the case and that they don’t mistake it for anything bigger and real dangerous.

Question: I think the system sounds very dangerous.

Sergey Lavrov: Well, it was a test launch, you know.

Question: Yes. Oh, you’re speaking of the test, okay. But I just wonder how worried you are that, considering there doesn’t seem to be a lot of conversation between the two countries. Both sides are speaking about exterminating the other’s populations. That this could somehow get out of control in a very short period and no one could stop it. It seems incredibly reckless.

Sergey Lavrov: No, we are not talking about exterminating anybody’s population. We did not start this war. We have been, for years and years and years, sending warnings that pushing NATO closer and closer to our borders is going to create a problem.

In 2007, Putin started to explain to the people who seemed to be overtaken by the ‘end of history’ and being dominant, no challenge, and so on and so forth.

And of course, when the coup took place, the Americans did not hide that they were behind it. There is a conversation between Victoria Nuland and the then American ambassador in Kiev when they discuss personalities to be included in the new government after the coup. The figure of $5 billion spent on Ukraine after independence was mentioned as the guarantee that everything would be like the Americans want.

So we don’t have any intention to exterminate Ukrainian people. They are brothers and sisters to the Russian people. . . .

Question: So, what are the terms under which Russia would cease hostilities? What are you asking for? . . . .

Sergey Lavrov: Well, the terms, I basically alluded to them. When President Putin spoke in this Ministry of Foreign Affaires on the 14th of June  he once again reiterated that we were ready to negotiate on the basis of the principles which were agreed in Istanbul and rejected by Boris Johnson, according to the statement of the head of the Ukrainian delegation.

The key principle is non-block status of Ukraine. And we would be ready to be part of the group of countries who would provide collective security guarantees to Ukraine.

Question: But no NATO?

Sergey Lavrov: No NATO. Absolutely. No military bases, no military exercises on the Ukrainian soil with participation of foreign troops. And this is something which he reiterated. But of course, he said, it was April 2022, now some time has passed, and the realities on the ground would have to be taken into account and accepted.

The realities on the ground are not only the line of contact, but also the changes in the Russian Constitution  after referendum was held in Donetsk, Lugansk republics and Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. And they are now part of the Russian Federation, according to the Constitution. And this is a reality.

And of course, we cannot tolerate a deal which would keep the legislation which are prohibiting Russian language, Russian media, Russian culture, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, because it is a violation of the obligations of Ukraine under the UN Charter, and something must be done about it. And the fact that the West (since this russophobic legislative offensive started in 2017) was totally silent and it is silent until now, of course we would have to pay attention to this in a very special way. . . .

Question: In the last month since the election, you have all sorts of things going on politically in bordering states in this region. In Georgia, in Belarus, in Romania, and then, of course, most dramatically in Syria, you have turmoil.
Does this seem like part of an effort by the United States to make the resolution more difficult?

Sergey Lavrov: There is nothing new, frankly. Because the U.S., historically, in foreign policy, was motivated by making some trouble and then to see if they can fish in the muddy water.

Iraqi aggression, Libyan adventure – ruining the state, basically. Fleeing from Afghanistan. Now trying to get back through the back door, using the United Nations to organize some ‘event’ where the U.S. can be present, in spite of the fact that they left Afghanistan in very bad shape and arrested money and don’t want to give it back.

I think this is, if you analyze the American foreign policy steps, adventures, most of them are the right word – the pattern. They create some trouble, and then they see how to use it.

When the OSCE monitors elections, when it used to monitor elections in Russia, they would always be very negative, and in other countries as well, Belarus, Kazakhstan. This time, in Georgia, the monitoring mission of OSCE presented a positive report. And it is being ignored.

So when you need endorsement of the procedures, you do it when you like the results of the election. If you don’t like the results of elections, you ignore it.

It’s like when the United States and other Western countries recognized unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo, they said this is the self-determination being implemented. There was no referendum in Kosovo – unilateral declaration of independence. By the way, after that the Serbs approached International Court of Justice, which ruled that (well, normally they are not very specific in their judgment, but they ruled) that when part of a territory declares independence, it is not necessarily to be agreed with the central authorities.

And when a few years later, Crimeans were holding referendum with invitation of many international observers, not from international organizations, but from parliamentarians in Europe, in Asia, in post-Soviet space, they said, no, we cannot accept this because this is violation of territorial integrity.

You know, you pick and choose. The UN Charter is not a menu. You have to respect it in all its entirety. . . . .

Question: What do you think of Donald Trump?

Sergey Lavrov: I met him several times when he was having meetings with President Putin and when he received me twice in the Oval Office when I was visiting for bilateral talks.

Well, I think he’s a very strong person. A person who wants results. Who doesn’t like procrastination on anything. This is my impression. He’s very friendly in discussions. But this does not mean that he’s pro-Russian as some people try to present him. The amount of sanctions we received under the Trump administration was very big.

We respect any choice which is made by the people when they vote. We respect the choice of American people. As President Putin said, we are and we have been open all along to the contacts with the current administration. We hope that when Donald Trump is inaugurated, we will understand. The ball, as President Putin said, is on their side. We never severed our contacts, our ties in the economy, trade, security, anything.

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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Cameroon: young African scholars rally to cultivate culture of peace

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from News Watch Cameroon

Young people are generally vulnerable to radicalisation by extremist groups, but experts say the young people, especially in Africa, are hardly invited to the dialogue table where peace processes are being discussed. Some young African scholars want to change the narrative.

Drawn from over 20 countries on the continent, the students of the Pan African University Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences (PAUGHSS), the African Union’s premiere institution of higher learning, have taken part in a strategic discussion on how to promote a culture of peace on the continent.


Inaugural panel of two-day strategic discussion on “Cultivating a Culture of Peace”

Hosted by PAUGHSS in collaboration with Civic Watch, implementing organisation of the #defyhatenow initiative in Cameroon, the two-day strategic discussion on “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” in Cameroon and across Africa held at the campus of the University of Yaounde II, Soa on the outskirts of the Cameroon capital from November 28 to 29. It was organised as part of activities to mark the UN International Day of Peace, albeit belatedly. The day is observed globally on September 21 of each year.

Desmond Ngala, Founder of Civic Watch and #defyhatenow Country Project Manager for Cameroon said conflicts affect young people on a daily basis and there is need that the age group be brought to the dialogue table to discuss peace processes. By organising the two-day discussion, with varsity dons, experts and the young African scholars, he said, they want to get expertise “but also experiences from different countries across Africa”.

“I must tell you that more and more, young people are not invited to the dialogue table as far as questions of peace are concerned. By organizing this strategic discussion, we are also pushing out the highest call—let’s bring young people to the table”, said Ngala.

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(Click here for another version in French of this article)

Question related to this article:
 
Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

(continued from left column)

Organisers of the two-day gathering said this year’s theme, “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” matches their institutions’ mutual objectives of fostering peace, unity, and understanding amongst the people in Cameroon and Africa, and is also a powerful reminder that for peace to be possible, everyone must play a part.

New threats require new reforms

In his inaugural lecture, Prof Joseph Vincent Ntuda Ebode, Director of the Center of Research for Political and Strategic Studies of the University of Yaounde II said at the end of the Cold War, the African Union put in place a Peace and Security mechanism to prevent conflicts and ensure stability of countries across the continent. However, the emergence of new threats that were inexistent at the time the instrument was put in place require new reforms at the level of the continental body.

“For example, the AU peace and security mechanism focused on combatting inter-tribal conflicts within countries. By the time it was established, terrorism was not a general threat as it is today. This new threat cannot be managed like inter-tribal conflicts. So, to solve the problem of terrorism for example, we need a new reform at the level of the AU that will put in place forces to fight it,” said Prof Ntuda Ebode who is an expert in International Security and Defense.

Diverse cultures, one objective

In order to promote peace across countries of the continent today, it is undeniable that young people must be taught values such as dialogue, diversity and social cohesion, according to Dr Biloa, PAUGHSS Deputy Director. He said during the two-day discussion, they were going to imbibe in the young scholars the idea that the values will lay the foundation for the construction of Africa and the development of African countries.

“The two-day discussion has brought together young people from different regions of Africa—with diverse cultures, but with one objective—cultivate a culture of peace across the continent,” said Dr Biloa.

Like the other speakers, Prof Arrey William Herman of the Protestant University of Central Africa said it important include all segments of the population in peacebuilding processes for as he puts it: “any peace built for the people without the people is peace built against the people”.

Besides masterclasses and panel discussions with experts from UN agencies, development partners, diplomatic corps, government, and academia, the young scholars also shared experiences of what peace means to them.

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Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION