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.

Culture of peace: Oyem, Gabon, to host the cross-border project “young weavers of peace in Central Africa”

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from Gabon Media Time

Following an exploration mission in Woleu-Ntem province recently led by Salah Kaled, Unesco Regional Director for Central Africa and Representative of the Unesco Office in Gabon ad interim, Oyem was chosen to accommodate the future headquarters of the project entitled “young people, weavers of peace in the cross-border regions of Gabon, Cameroon and Chad”. The project is intended to counter insecurity and growing crime on the borders of the three countries.


Governorate of the province of Woleu-Ntem © D.R.

(Click here for the original French version of this article)

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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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During his mission, the UNESCO representative made a point to present to Jules Djéki, Governor of the province, the challenges of this project which plans to mobilize nearly 1,800 young peace weavers aged 15 to 35 for conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the cross-border regions of the three countries.

Note that this project also aims to achieve 4 major results. According to Juste-Joris Tindy-Poaty, in charge of the Human and Social Sciences program, we can cite, among others:

– the strengthening of the Central African Early Warning Mechanism (MARAC) of ECCAS in the prevention of conflicts and violence with the participation of young people in each of the border areas;

– the involvement of young people in the trafficking of wildlife, natural resources and other forms of crime,

– improvement of national coordination and monitoring mechanisms by local authorities, in order to provide a more effective and more balanced response to the challenges posed by cross-border crime and the risks of insecurity ”.

Africa, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Côte d’Ivoire : Social cohesion and peace in Daoukro: The king and the NGO Wanep help bring communities together

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from Fratmat

Peace has returned to Daoukro, after the recent inter-community conflict between Baoulé and Malinké. To ensure peace between all the communities and particularly between the belligerents, a meeting took place yesterday [30 November] in the royal court of Daoukro, in the presence of King Kongo Lagou III. The meeting was attended by administrative and political authorities, law enforcement, religious and community leaders.


King Kongo Lagou III, Ong Wanep officials and meeting participants after the exchanges. (Dr)

Initiated by the NGO Wanep (West African Network for the Construction of Peace in Côte d’Ivoire and West Africa), this meeting aimed, according to its representative, Dano Servel Pacco, to contribute to the social cohesion and lasting peace in Daoukro.

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

Question related to this article:

How can we develop the institutional framework for a culture of peace?

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“We are here to put into operation the endogenous mechanism for the prevention and resolution of conflicts identified during the community discussions last September, after the August conflict. This meeting should facilitate actions to be carried out by the communities, within the framework of the endogenous mechanism, “said Dano Servel, who welcomed the contribution of the King of Daoukro to bring the communities together.

Thus, the actors directly or indirectly involved in the conflict, the administrative and political authorities, the traditional chiefdom, the heads of all the communities, the youth leaders, the representatives of the political parties, the police forces and the religious leaders have, during the discussions, expressed their expectations for a lasting peace and mentioned the actions to be taken in Daoukro in this direction.

Satisfied with the proposals, King Kongo Lagou III, through his Kangah Kouadio cane holder, declared that an internal meeting will be held to decide what to do, in terms of sacrifice, to rekindle the flame of living together.

Those in charge of Ong Wanep were also satisfied that their actions for peace bore fruit. Dano Servel said they are instilling the culture of peace in communities. “This is not our first meeting in Daoukro. And the satisfaction can be read on the faces of the participants, because in-depth work is being done for lasting peace, “he said.

He added that there will be follow-up, as the NGO has early warning monitors in the area. “From now on, if conflict resumes, we will ask the gendarmerie and the police to investigate and appoint those responsible. Because there are people who cause these killings. And if we manage to get our hands on them, they will leave our village for good, “King Kongo Lagou III warned before closing the meeting.

Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Past Virtual Events: December 1 -9

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Here are events from December that were previously listed on the CPNN page for upcoming virtual events. Unless otherwise noted the events are in English.

Dec 1, 2020 18:30 PM in London

Students say No to War on Yemen
The war in Yemen has entered its sixth, devastating year. Over 100,000 people have died and millions are the brink of famine. The British Government is complicit in this war; over £5 billion worth of arms have been sold to the Saudi coalition since the start of the war and RAF personnel have maintained Saudi planes and directed the bombings. Stop the War Coalition, alongside organisations around the world, has called a global day of action against the war on Yemen on 25th January 2021. Students have played a major role in fighting against British involvement in the war, organising protests across the country over the summer, and will have a vital role in building the day of action. Join us to discuss how we can take action on the 25th January and end the war on Yemen.
— Speakers (tbc):
Lucy Nichols, Stop the War
Malak Mayet, Campaign Against the Arms Trade
Adhiyan Jeevathol, London Students for Yemen
Lamar Campbell, Young Labour International Representative
Hasan Patel, Young Labour Under 18’s Representative
Register here

December 3-5

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
Development, Environment and Peace Nexus (DEEPEN): Peace Making in Borderlands
— Violence and conflict in borderlands are inseparable from environmental degradation and hinder social development. This close connection, however, also provides the potential to reverse the vicious cycle of conflict, disruption to nature and social exclusion and move, through a holistic transformative approach, toward a virtuous cycle of peace, ecological integrity and inclusive development. At this uniquely multidisciplinary conference, speakers will explore the complex relationships between development, environment and peace in borderlands, challenging conventional approaches and introducing innovative theories and practices for sustainable and peaceful development.
— Click here for the program
— The on-line event is open to a global audience and free of charge. Register here.

Friday 4th December 2020 9.15am–12pm GMT

Mayors for Peace European Chapter, NFLA and ICAN joint webinar
European peace and security through the 2020s,
how do we create a safer, more peaceful continent free of nuclear weapons?
— The webinar will bring together mayors and experts on nuclear disarmament, and will concentrate on the important role of local towns and cities in creating safe, resilient, sustainable and more peaceful communities.
— This meeting will be hosted on Zoom and will also be streamed live on You Tube. The meeting will be held in English, with English-Spanish simultaneous translation offered by the City of Granollers.
— Register here

December 5 and 6

United for Intercultural Action : European Network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees
Conference for climate justice and peace
— We want to invite you to join us online for a conference which is going to take place online on December 5th and 6th, 2020 on the 10th anniversary of thePrague Spring 2 network.
This time the following questions are going to be raised:
— How can we organize a campaign in all parts of Europe for an eco-social transformation and disarmament and a Nuke Free Europe and Climate Justice?
— How can communities strengthen each other across borders finding ways to build trust and resilience through local food production and stronger solidarity economies?
— How can we dismantle authoritarian, military, trade and financial international regimes that support the continuation of racist colonial and neocolonial oppression and where and what can be the contribution of our organizations like trade unions, peasant and Human Rights organizations to peace and democracy?
— Click here for the program
— Register here. Zoom link will be sent by email.

9 December 9:00 -10:30 (Mexico City)

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Defenders Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Mexico invites you to the webinar “Protecting Human Rights Defenders: the commitment of the European Union”. With the participation of human rights defenders in Mexico.
— Registration required: http://bit.ly/39umEMv

Mercredi 9 décembre 10H-12H France (en français)
(
Le désarmement conventionnel, influence t-il le désarmement nucléaire ?
— L’Union européenne, et plus largement les Etats du continent européen ont une approche très variée concernant le sujet du désarmement nucléaire. . . Dans le domaine du désarmement conventionnel l’unité est plus forte, tous ayant adhéré aux différentes normes internationales. La récente fin du Traité sur les forces nucléaires à portée intermédiaire (qui visait à éliminer des missiles emportant aussi bien des charges nucléaires ou conventionnelles) a montré une nécessité de renforcer une voie européenne du désarmement (face à la Russie, la Chine, les Etats-Unis). Mais cette voie commune peut-elle exister au niveau du désarmement conventionnel et nucléaire ? Ou c’est l’unité face aux enjeux de désarmement classique qui peut permettre d’entrainer (une sorte d’étapes par étapes) une position plus forte et commune sur l’interdiction et l’élimination des armes nucléaires ?
— ICAN France, avec le soutient de la Heinrich Boell Stiftung Paris, vous invite à entendre des chercheurs et parlementaires sur ces réflexions, puis à débattre avec eux.
— Inscription : https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dkTCQ7d7SDaK2vBwghTtcw

9 December 2020, 3.00 PM – 4.30 PM CET

Webinar on human rights, peace and security in the Americas
Welcome to a webinar on human rights, peace and security in the Americas, organised by the Swedish Foundation for Human Rights together with the Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies at Stockholm University.
— In the seminar we will discuss the impact of the Inter-American Commission and Court* on the situation for human rights, peace and security in different countries of the Americas. We will also examine the limitations to their power and the possibilities to influence the ongoing crises we see in for example Venezuela and Nicaragua. We are very pleased to be able to draw on the knowledge of prominent experts in different fields to guide us on the topic of the webinar, including the finalists of the Swedish Foundation for Human Rights student essay competition 2020!
— Panellists and presenters:
— Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano, Director of the Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies.
— Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Professorial Lecturer in Residence and Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law (WCL).
— Pär Engström, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights at the Institute of the Americas, University College London.
— Amalia Ydrefelt Hanell, law student, Uppsala University.
— Lovisa Kårelius, law student, Uppsala University.
— Helmer Jonelid, law student, Uppsala University.
— Moderator: Sofia Fotini Ekarv, Swedish Foundation for Human Rights
— Please register for the webinar here

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, global

Madrid : Fifth edition of the Film and Human Rights Festival

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Soy de Madrid

The V edition of the International Film and Human Rights Festival begins on December 4 and ends on December 13. For the first time, it will be held online.

The V edition focuses on issues that are included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, from a pluralist vision and based on reconciliation and the culture of peace, It takes into account the authoritarian drift spreading around the world and the events of the pandemic.


Human rights are threatened in Spain and in the rest of the world, due to the democratic, economic, social, political, environmental and health crisis, to which is added the one derived from the pandemic. The Film Festival will screen films about the situation caused by covid-19, seeking the hope of humanity.

This year’s programming has selected more than 50 films. The Official Section is divided into Full-length Feature Films, Medium-length Films, Fiction Short Films and Documentary Short Films.

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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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As a result of the diversity of the works, the Festival will add topics on social conflicts, disability, the elderly, culture of peace, women’s rights in the world, intolerance and extremism, development and cooperation projects, children’s rights, immigration, poverty, etc.

The films will be open and free on the festival website online for 10 days.

The Jury for the Official Section includes personalities such as Sécun de la Rosa, known for his television and film work as a comedian actor, Aida Folch, known for her role as Françoise Alcántara in the television series Cuéntame como pasa, and Mario Marzo, actor and pianist known for playing Lucas in Los Protege, among others. Click here for the rest of the jury.

Films:

The state of Texas and Melissa: directed by Sabrina Van Tassel. Her name is Melissa Lucio and for more than 10 years she has been waiting for her fate on death row. Melissa was the first Hispanic woman sentenced to death in Texas.

Under fire: directed by Sjoerd van Grootheest and Irene Vélez Torres. A group of peasant coca growers in southwestern Colombia watch the peace process break down. Over the course of three years it is shown how they survive in the midst of the most difficult circumstances.

The Conscience of Clothing – Directed by Patrick Kohl. Fashion blogger Willy Iffland and journalist Helen Fares travel to Cambodia, where they meet workers, factory owners and union activists campaigning for fair wages.

Behind the blood: directed by Loretta van der Horst. Behind the blood shows the true story of a man fighting rampant gang violence in Honduras.

Click here to consult the rest of the program.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe

Mexico: Virtual seminar on peace building in schools

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Asi Sucede

In order to create a virtual space for the exchange of thought, research and successful experiences around peacebuilding, so that teachers can acquire harmonious intervention skills in the classroom and at school, the Secretary of Education, Gerardo Monroy Serrano, inaugurated the Virtual Seminar, Construction of Peace in the School Environment.


The Secretary of Education, Gerardo Monroy Serrano, supports the State Government in initiatives that promote the Culture of Coexistence and Social Peace in schools. (Photo: special).

The Secretary welcomed the participants convened by the Council for School Coexistence (Convive), to discuss topics such as Gender Equality, Human Rights, School Coexistence and Peaceful Conflict Management. He extended the greeting of Governor Alfredo Del Mazo Maza and his willingness to support initiatives that consolidate a Culture of Coexistence and Social Peace in schools from an early age and at all levels.

In this sense, he said that this year the Ministry of Education has trained teachers, students and parents in violence prevention and school mediation. In this way, knowledge was provided to eradicate discriminatory behavior and abuse in the schools and at the same time strengthen the culture of peace.

(Click here for the original Spanish version).

Question for this article:

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

Where is peace education taking place?

Likewise, he assured that the specialists will address topics with content that reinforce the activities in this health contingency, since the isolation of the school community can emotionally affect its environment. What is sought is to provide information that encourages tolerance, solidarity and respect within families and schools.

For this reason, he pointed out that continuous training on pedagogical, socio-affective, communication and culture of peace aspects is also offered to teachers, highlighting the preparation on School Mediation for the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts, where teachers provide students the possibility of having a third party sit down with them to discuss their problem.

The first participation in the Seminar was by María Isabel Sánchez Holguín, head of the Secretariat for Women, who gave the conference “Mechanisms for the incorporation of the gender perspective in study programs in basic education.”
She mentioned that, to generate educational programs with a gender perspective, it is necessary to respect the rights of girls, adolescents and women and to ensure public obligations for their security and full development at all educational levels.

Similarly, she expressed that for the fulfillment of the right to quality education, new attitudes and capacities are necessary on the part of all those who make decisions and are in charge of public policies, so that there is a comprehensive attention to gender issues.

For her part, Elizabeth Ozuna Rivero, General Director of Convive, pointed out that this Virtual Seminar, which will last for four days, will allow teachers to broaden their knowledge in order to bring learning that consolidates peaceful environments to their communities.

When making the inaugural statement of the seminar, Gerardo Monroy Serrano urged all participants to endorse the commitment that students should have a full, prosperous and safe life, in healthy environments, while receiving an inclusive, equitable and excellent education.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Costa Rica : An act of good sense, with global impact

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article from El Pais-Costa Rica (translation by CPNN)

Remarks by Armando Vargas Araya, Ambassador of Costa Rica in Australia to a
Webinar on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the abolition of the army in Costa Rica. Australian National Center for Latin American Studies, Canberra, December 1, 2020.

The history of 72 years without a permanent army in Costa Rica, demonstrates in a convincing way that it is possible and positive to organize a State on the principles of mutual trust, peace and non-violence. Furthermore, it is consistent proof that the military, the spending on arms and wars of aggression are incompatible with the construction of a culture of peace. Nations can enjoy internal security and external defense guaranteed by the institutions of democracy, the rule of international law and multilateral organizations. The decision to abolish the army is an act of good sense, of civilizing exaltation and a bet on the common sense of human cooperation.

On transferring the Bella Vista barracks to the Ministry of Education for the National Museum, statesman José Figueres said on December 1, 1948: “We are supporters of the ideal of a new world in America. To that country of Washington, Lincoln, Bolívar and Martí, we want to say today: Oh, America! Other peoples offer you their greatness. Little Costa Rica wishes to offer you its love for civility and democracy.”

On that bright day, long-desired ideals came true. In 1825, four years after achieving independence from the Spanish Colonial Empire, the first Head of State Juan Mora Fernández warned, «”The public force – which in other States is an indispensable element of the Government – has sometimes been an ominous instrument of tyranny, a dark source of anarchy and disorder, or a plague that has devoured men and their property. Our State relies on the free consent of its children. Our militia is composed of honest citizens, peaceful farmers, artisans and workers honestly and constantly dedicated to their particular tasks … who have no other aspiration than to fulfill their domestic duties and defend the State when the authority calls them.” And in 1891, the leader of radical liberalism Félix Arcadio Montero proposed: «There will be no permanent army when peace reigns. To maintain order and ensure the safety and tranquility of citizens, the institution of the police is established.”

As stated by the French historian Fernand Braudel, “That rural town of 825,000 inhabitants, a true republic of coffee grown on the steep mountain ranges of the center of the country – where the frequency of obstacles forces us not to take our eyes off the road and to always keep our footing – chose the course of work and peace. The mountain is the refuge of freedoms, democracies and the ‘peasant’ republics’.”

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(Click here for the original version in Spanish.)

Question(s) related to this article:

Does Costa Rica have a culture of peace?

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Here are five, among many, benefits from the abolition of the army.

Greater investment of economic resources in educational and social programs: 7.4% of GDP in education, 7.36% in public health, life expectancy of 80.4 years.

A civil and pacifist culture, which is transmitted to all aspects of daily life: 11.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants (2019), compared to 25.9 in Central America.

– World recognition as a free, democratic and peaceful nation: two external armed invasions repelled, without reestablishing the army. In the Central American security crisis of the 1980s, hegemonic pressures were resisted to restore the army.

– Institutional and political stability: since 1948 there have been 71 coups d’état in Latin America, none in Costa Rica. Eighteen consecutive presidential elections and counting.

– Attraction of foreign direct investment: US $ 2,764 billion (2018), the eighth largest recipient of FDI in Latin America.

The abolition of the army was not an isolated event but the consequence of a national trajectory. It is a dynamic process that requires adjusting to changing conditions and challenges such as rising ocean levels due to climate change, threats to public health due to viral pandemics, the exploitation of our marine wealth by foreign fleets, the indiscriminate destruction of biodiversity, terrorism and concomitant crime (attacks cybernetics), the weakening of multilateralism and new subtle forms of hegemony. Defining and updating a National Security and Defense Doctrine is a complex task as there are no examples to emulate. Demilitarization is not a bed of roses.

Costa Rica’s trajectory continues with the development of legal institutions and human rights linked to peace. In the most recent four decades, the republic made a legal commitment to the international community to comply with strict neutrality, expanded fundamental rights to include the right to peace guaranteed to each inhabitant, prohibited the manufacture and import of weapons of war, decided to educate to the new generations in a culture of peace and mutual trust, hosted the headquarters of the University for Peace. In multilateral forums, it has promoted initiatives such as the Arms Trade Treaty, the Central American Peace Plan or the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. With good reason, the candidacy presented by Scandinavian academics and parliamentarians for five consecutive years prospered, when the People of Costa Rica were awarded the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize.

There are 23 member states of the United Nations that do not have a permanent army: the Principality of Andorra, the Republic of Costa Rica, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, the Republic of Haiti, Iceland, the Republic of Kiribati, the Principality of Liechtenstein , the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Mauritius, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Principality of Monaco, the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Palau, The Republic of Panama, the Independent State of Samoa, the Republic of San Marino, the Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu, the Republic of Vanuatu and the Vatican City State. Perhaps the time has come to bring these nations together with objectives such as giving voice to positions against the arms race and war, fostering the development of a culture of peace and mutual trust, promoting academic studies and comparative research on security and defense in countries without permanent army, share their experience with other peoples who choose the same peaceful path, recognize with an annual award those who stand out in their struggles for peace and mutual understanding.

In their struggles for peace and mutual understanding. Classical Greece and the Helvetic Federation guided the course of humanity. Like them, in the future, these nations located in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, Europe, the Indian and Pacific Oceans could also do.

A Mediterranean philosopher advanced: “If humanity writes the future, not with blood, but with spirit, Costa Rica, I predict, will contribute in a valuable way to the rational and reasonable reunion of men.” Our conviction is that, in the space of ideas and the perspective of constructive initiatives, there are no large, medium or small countries: all States are equal. War and peace affect us all equally. Blessed are the peacemakers.

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

United Nations General Assembly adopts annual culture of peace resolution

DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY .

Information from United Nations Press Release

The Assembly concluded its consideration of its agenda item on the culture of peace . . .   acting without a vote, it adopted the resolution “Follow-up to the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace” (document A/75/L.28). 

The resolution was sponsored by Angola, Armenia, Bangladesh, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Morocco, Qatar, Russian Federation, Singapore and Viet Nam:

Here are the 19 operative sections of the resolution.

1. Reiterates that the objective of the effective implementation of the
Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace is to strengthen further the globalmovement for a culture of peace following the observance of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001–2010, and calls upon all concerned to renew their attention to this objective;

2. Welcomes the inclusion of the promotion of a culture of peace in the 2030Agenda for Sustainable Development;

3. Invites Member States to continue to place greater emphasis on and expandtheir activities promoting a culture of peace at the national, regional and international levels and to ensure that peace and non-violence are fostered at all levels;

4. Invites the entities of the United Nations system, within their existing
mandates, to integrate, as appropriate, the eight action areas of the Programme of Action into their programmes of activities, focusing on promoting a culture of peace and non-violence at the national, regional and international levels;

5. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization for strengthening efforts to mobilize all relevant stakeholders within and outside the United Nations system in support of a culture of peace, and invites the Organization to continue to enhance communication and outreach, including through the culture of peace website;

6. Commends the practical initiatives and actions by relevant United Nationsbodies, including the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) and the Universityfor Peace, as well as their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, in particular the promotion of peace education and activities related to specific areas identified in the Programme of Action, and encourages them to continue and further strengthen and expand their efforts;

7. Underlines that early childhood development contributes to the developmentof more peaceful societies through advancing equality, tolerance, human development and promoting human rights, and calls for investment in early childhood education, including through effective policies and practices, towards promoting a culture of peace;

8. Encourages Member States, United Nations entities, regional and subregionalorganizations and relevant actors to consider instituting mechanisms to involve youth in the promotion of a culture of peace, tolerance and intercultural and interreligious dialogue and develop, as appropriate, an understanding of respect for human dignity, pluralism and diversity, including, as appropriate, through education programmes, that could discourage their participation in acts of terrorism, violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism, violence, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination;

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Question for this article:

What is the United Nations doing for a culture of peace?

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9. Encourages the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations to increase its
activities that focus on peace education and global citizenship education in order to enhance an understanding among young people of values such as peace, tolerance, openness, inclusion and mutual respect, which are essential in developing a culture of peace;

10. Encourages the United Nations peacebuilding architecture to continue to
promote peacebuilding and sustaining peace activities, as outlined in its resolution 72/276, and to advance a culture of peace and non-violence in post-conflict peacebuilding efforts at the country level;

11. Urges the appropriate authorities to provide age-appropriate education inchildren’s schools that builds a culture of peace and non-violence, including lessons in mutual understanding, respect, tolerance, active and global citizenship and human rights;

12. Encourages the involvement of media, especially the mass media, in
promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, with particular regard to children and young people;

13. Commends civil society, non-governmental organizations and young
people for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including through their campaign to raise awareness on a culture of peace and the peaceful settlement of disputes;

14. Encourages civil society and non-governmental organizations to further
strengthen their efforts to promote a culture of peace, inter alia, by adopting their own programme of activities to complement the initiatives of Member States, the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, in line with the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace;

15. Invites Member States, all entities of the United Nations system and civilsociety organizations to accord increasing attention to their observance of theInternational Day of Peace on 21 September each year as a day of global ceasefireand non-violence, in accordance with its resolution 55/282 of 7 September 2001, and of the International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October, in accordance with itsresolution 61/271 of 15 June 2007;

16. Reiterates its request to the President of the General Assembly to considerconvening a high-level forum, as appropriate and within existing resources, devoted to the implementation of the Programme of Action on the occasion of the anniversary of its adoption, on or around 13 September, and requests the Secretariat to provide required logistical support for its effective organization within their respective mandates and existing resources;

17. Invites the Secretary-General, within existing resources, in consultationwith the Member States and taking into account the observations of civil societyorganizations, to explore mechanisms and strategies, in particular strategies in the sphere of information and communications technology, for the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action and to initiate outreach efforts to increase global awareness of the Programme of Action and its eight areas of action aimed at their implementation, including through public information activities by the Department of Global Communications of the Secretariat;

18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its
seventy-sixth session a report, within existing resources, on actions taken by Member States, on the basis of information provided by them, and those taken system-wide by all concerned entities of the United Nations to implement the present resolution and on heightened activities by the Organization and its affiliated agencies to implement the Programme of Action and to promote a culture of peace and non-violence;

19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-sixth sessionthe item entitled “Culture of peace”.

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, global, United Nations,

Germany Culture of Peace Weekend December 4-6

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Information received by email from the Kultur des Friedens Society (translated by CPNN from the German original)

Webinar December 4
The role of the US – AFRICOM, Stuttgart with representatives from the USA and various African countries.

Nationwide day of action December 5, 2020, DISARMING INSTEAD OF ARMING! NEW POLICY NOW! I.


Photo from the website of abruesten.jetzt.

On Saturday, December 5th, 2020, 1.30 p.m., Marktplatz Stuttgart, CALL with Jürgen Wagner (Militarization Information Center Tübingen)
Henning Zierock (Society for Culture of Peace) Sidar Carman (ver.di District Stuttgart) Ekkehard Rössle Duo (on saxophone and drums)
Information on the nationwide day of action, https://abruesten.jetzt/

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Question for this article:

How can we be sure to get news about peace demonstrations?

(continued from left column)

We demand: an immediate stop in the procurement of armaments, a reduction in the defense budget, and an increase in social spending in the areas of housing, health and education
No purchase of armed drones Signing of the nuclear weapons ban treaty by the federal government, building a partnership relationship with China and Russia Eucom and Africom close – creating social housing, extensive investments in climate protection
Organizer: FRIEDENSTREFF Stuttgart-Nord Supporters: DFG-VK Stuttgart, DGB Stuttgart, DIDF Stuttgart, DIE LINKE Stuttgart, DKP Fellbach, DKP Stuttgart, FRIEDENSTREFF Cannstatt, Society Culture of Peace, IPPNW Stuttgart, Naturfreunde Stuttgart, Life Without Armor, Pirate Party Stuttgart, SÖS Stuttgart, Ver.di district of Stuttgart, Waldheim Stuttgart eV / Clara Zetkin House, future forum of the Stuttgart trade unions

On the day of action there is an alliance of the peace and refugee movement to show solidarity with refugees on Saturday December 5th. at 3 p.m., Tübinger Platanenallee
followed by a demonstration “Moria is not forgotten. Evacuate the refugee camps”. Speeches, etc. of the culture of peace and the anti-rig alliance of Tübingen
especially about the connection between armament, militarization and the cause of flight war.

December 6, 2 pm. “Freedom for Julian Assange” rally on December 6th, 2020 at 2 pm on the Schlossplatz in Stuttgart.

Save Julian Assange’s life! Stuttgart Peace Prize Laureate 2020 Julian Assange’s clock is ticking – on January 4th, 2021 the verdict on his impending extradition from London
to the USA. Call for a worldwide rally from Stuttgart:
Die AnStifter, The nationwide vigils for Julian Assange (freeassange.eu./Free Assange Committee Germany), Reporters Without Borders, German journalists and
Journalists Union, Society Culture of Peace, pax christi, Chaos Computer Club Stuttgart, Amnesty International Stuttgart, EcolLeaks, “Art Action” Anything to say ”
Link to the rally on Sunday, December 6th, 2020 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDD77Z9agEM&feature=youtu.be

Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Bolivia: Choquehuanca meets with the UN to “strengthen the culture of peace”

DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY .

An article from Pagina Siete (translation by CPNN)

Vice President David Choquehuanca met on Wednesday with the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Organization for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, Miroslav Jenča, to “strengthen” the culture of peace.


Vice President Choquehuanca in meeting with Miroslav Jenča / Photo: ABI

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

Question for this article:

What is the United Nations doing for a culture of peace?

“We had a meeting with Brother Miroslav Jenča, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas. We promote the culture of peace and dialogue, that is our path, the path of unity and brotherhood “, wrote the Vice President, through his Facebook account.

At the time of assuming the Vice Presidency of the State, Choquehuanca made several reflections with a view to seeking balance and the recovery of the rule of law with impartial justice and the full exercise of democracy, reported the state ABI.

“Bolivians see each other as equals and we know that united we are worth more, we are in times of being Jiwasa again. It is not a question of me, it is a question of us. Jiwasa is the opposite of self-centeredness,” he said on November 8, upon taking office.

The UN delegation is in Bolivia to consolidate peace, in relation to the acts of violence that occurred after the resignation of Evo Morales in 2019.

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Latin America

La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico: Training of basic education teachers on the culture of peace

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article by Karina Lizárraga in El Sudcaliforniano (translation by CPNN)

More than 1,500 preschool, primary and secondary school teachers from the five municipalities of Baja California Sur participated via zoom in the seminar called: “Socio-emotional education, child and adolescent participation and the culture of peace in Mexican schools”, according to the general director of basic education of the Ministry of Public Education, Martina Camacho Higuera.

(Click here for the original Spanish version).

Question for this article:

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

Where is peace education taking place?

The official said that this training had the objective of offering pedagogical resources for the development of socio-emotional skills and the participation of students in the culture of peace, an action aimed at promoting the construction of an inclusive and democratic coexistence, for protection from the pandemic, as well as for the return to classrooms once determined by the health authorities.

Camacho Higuera highlighted that this event was offered by the Undersecretary of Basic Education, Marcos Bucio ,and the Directorate of Educational Management of the Federal SEP directed by Marlene Mendoza, who were kind enough to take into account the South Californian teachers in this educational journey.

In this sense, he added that it is the responsibility of authorities, teachers, students, parents and mothers to take actions to build environments of cordiality and harmony that go beyond the classrooms, to develop a culture of peace that impacts on the development of society.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America