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.

Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity Organization welcomes Morocco’s role in promoting the culture of peace and dialogue between the Libyan parties

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article from Le Matin (translation by CPNN)

The Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity Organization praised the role played by the Kingdom of Morocco in promoting and disseminating the culture of peace and dialogue between the Libyan parties. The organization expressed, in a statement, “its congratulations to the Libyan parties for their approach to political dialogue, their search for consensus and their desire to pursue with determination and constancy the political path to overcome the armed conflict in order to consolidate the legitimacy of the Libyan national civil state, which expresses the unity of the people and guarantees the stability of the country ”.


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Question for this article:

What is being done for peace in Libya?

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In this regard, the statement referred to the results of the second round of interlibyan dialogue organized from October 2 to 6 in Bouznika [Morocco]. In the final declaration of this second round, the delegations of the High Council of State and the Parliament announced that this round was consistent with the criteria and mechanisms for occupying positions of sovereignty in Libya as called for in Article 15 of the Libyan Skhirate Political Agreement [See the 2015 agreement].

(Click here for a version of this article in French.)

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Mideast

Côte d’Ivoire. Association and community leaders make their contribution to peace

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from Abidjan News (translation by CPNN)

“I love my country, I participate in peace” is the slogan of the NGO “Voice of Women” for its awareness campaign in favor of peace during this election period. Through a series of tours since September 22 in the municipalities of Abidjan, Voice of Women initiated a dialogue with the populations to promote their contribution to peace. The closing stage in Koumassi on Friday, October 09, 2020 at the mayor’s office was no exception. A round table allowed the people to make their contribution to a culture of peace.

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(Click here for the original French version)

Question for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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Yao Akissi Cedia Christelle, president of the NGO said that the original goal of Voice of Women was to fight against violence against women and children, to build effective leadership of women and young girls in order to ensure their autonomy and development, help these women victims in the judicial and psychological process, educate and sensitize children and adolescents, educate illiterate women and create a reception center. According to President Cynthia, these objectives can only be achieved within a framework of peace, hence the need during this election period for a woman’s voice to take up her pilgrim’s staff and to go out to meet the people to talk about peace.

Mr. Koffi Wilfried Kpondou Deputy Head of the Project Commission stresses the non-political nature of the NGO. In the same vein, the sponsor Kourouma Rokia informed the audience that the Voice of Women intends to maintain this apolitical character in order to achieve its objectives.

Touré Souleymane vice president of cultural and community affairs onveyed the support of Mayor Cissé Bacongo for this initiative, which bodes well for his municipality and the whole of Côte d’Ivoire. According to Mr. Touré, his long teaching career has enabled him to know “the importance of dialogue and above all of the interest of peace and of man at the center of the debates”, he said before declaring the round table open.

Africa, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

For a peaceful presidential election in Guinea: NGO CRGN launches awareness campaign for the Guinean population

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article by Daouda Yansané in Guinée Live (translation by CPNN)

If all goes as planned, the election of the President of the Republic of Guinea will take place on Sunday, October 18. Many Guineans are concerned that this election should take place in peace, understanding and acceptance. It is for this reason that the NGO Conseil de Réflexion pour une Guinée Nouvelle (CRGN) launched this Friday, October 10, 2020 in Dubréka, an awareness campaign for an inclusive, peaceful, transparent and credible election.

Meeting at the Higher Institute of Arts Mory Kanté of Dubréka, the representatives of the prefecture, local elected officials, the police, the actors of society and the CENI branches launched this activity.

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

Question related to this article:

How should elections be organized in a true democracy?

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According to the organizers, the objective of this awareness campaign is among others: Obtain a large participation of voters in the presidential election and guarantee an inclusive, peaceful, transparent and credible election; sensitize and educate citizens for a campaign without violence, civilized and peaceful, inform voters on how to vote in order to raise the turnout and thus make the ballot more credible, sensitize and educate citizens on the culture of peace, especially in times of elections; encourage a massive vote, etc.

In his presentation, CRGN coordinator Ismaël Koumbassa spoke at length about the importance of voting and asked everyone to participate in these presidential elections by voting on election day. He also asked everyone to preserve peace, social tranquility, national unity and above all to accept the results of the ballot box.

“We will deploy our agents not only in the prefecture of Dubréka, but also its six (6) sub-prefectures to carry out a door to door campaign before, during and after these presidential elections” added the coordinator of the CRGN.

After thanking the NGO Conseil de Réflexion pour une Guinée Nouvelle for the choice of its institute to host the launching ceremony, the Director General of the Higher Institute of Arts Mory Kanté of Dubréka, Professor Sidafa Camara invited each student to spread these messages to families and to neighborhoods in order to raise awareness among the majority of the population.

The ceremony ended with a note of hope for organizers including participants to have a peaceful presidential election.

Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Senegal: Launch of the National Initiative “Resilience at the Borders”

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the Agence de Press Sénégalaise (translation by CPNN)

The think tank Timbuktu Institute-African Center for Peace Studies Institute will launch, Wednesday [October 13], in Kedougou the initiative called “Resilience at the borders” to promote the culture of peace, APS has learned.


Photo from Tibuktu Institute

The launch of this initiative is part of the implementation of the think tank’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, and in particular Axis 3 relating to “ Promotion of the culture of peace through education and development of endogenous, cultural heritage and resilience-building resources.”

Timbuktu Institute-African Center for Peace Studies is launching the ‘Border Resiliency’ initiative in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

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(Click here for the original article in French.)

Question related to this article:

Solidarity across national borders, What are some good examples?

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“ In view of the strategic choice to favor border areas in terms of peace consolidation and resilience building, the Institute is launching this initiative with an inaugural session in Kédougou, ” said in a press release sent to APS.

“Building and strengthening resilience in an unstable regional environment: What role and place for young people and women?” Is the theme of the launching ceremony.

The session will be materialized by “a day of capacity building and participatory dialogue on security issues and the building of resilience in a context where the sub-region is deeply concerned by the crisis raging in neighboring countries”.

It will also include a component for the exchange of experiences and collection of strategic recommendations.

A conference will also be moderated by the Director of the Timbuktu Institute, Dr Bakary Sambe, on the theme: “Regional security situation and challenges of building community resilience: Complementary roles of state and local populations”.

Other interventions are also planned and will focus on various themes including “Women and conflict” and the radicalization of young people.

Africa, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Côte d’Ivoire : The traditional chiefs of Gagnoa call for peaceful elections

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from Yeclo

The traditional chiefs of Gagnoa have called for peaceful elections, expressed by the second vice-president of the National Chamber of Kings and Traditional Chiefs of Côte d’Ivoire and the president of the regional committee of traditional chiefs of Gôh, Gbizié Lambert, Monday 12 October 2020 in Gagnoa, at the opening of the awareness day for peaceful elections.

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

Questions related to this article:

How should elections be organized in a true democracy?

Can traditional chiefs help install a culture of peace in Africa?

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“For some time now, the presidential election has been preceded or followed by tension, crisis and / or violence,” lamented Chief Gbizié Lambert, explained the reason behind the peace awareness tours organized across the country by the National Chamber of kings and traditional leaders to help maintain social cohesion in different regions.

Addressing a hundred or so traditional leaders, community and neighborhood leaders, women and young people, Chief Gbizié reminded everyone that they must relay information back in their respective communities, in order to that the message be known and understood by all, and that everyone should be at the same level, so that peace reigns in Gôh.

With the approach of the 2020 elections, there is an “immobilization” within the communities as a result of the acts, actions and comments of the politicians, worried Chief Gadji Joseph, president of the departmental committee of the traditional chiefs of Gagnoa. According to him, it is therefore the duty of traditional leaders to continue to work for peace.

“We leaders are part of the culture of peace. And as we are your leaders, listen to us, ”he insisted.

Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Culture of peace: UN calls on Gabon’s youth

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the Gabon Review (translation by CPNN)

Dedicated to the prevention and resolution of conflicts in the sub-region of Central Africa, the creation of a network of “Young peace weavers” in Gabon, Chad and Cameroon was recently presented to the Minister of Decentralization Mathias Otounga Ossibadjouo by the head of the United Nations System in Gabon, Dr. Stephen Jackson.


Dr Stephen Jackson and Mathias Otounga Ossibadjouo, during a previous meeting in August 2020. copyright: Ministry of Decentralization

The creation of a “Network of Young Peace Weavers” was at the heart of recent exchanges between the head of the United Nations System in Gabon, the representative of UNESCO and the Minister of Decentralization Mathias Otounga Ossibadjouo. The UN intends to set up a program of “young people active in conflict resolution at the local level”. The Gabonese government is asked to help materialize this project.

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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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According to Dr Stephen Jackson, the aim will be to involve 1,800 young people from three countries in the Central African sub-region, including Chad and Cameroon, aged between 18 and 35. “We want young people who live there, who speak the languages ​​of these countries, so who are able to communicate, explain and present the project”, specifies Vincenzo Fazzino, UNESCO representative in Gabon .

As part of the creation of this network, UN officials in Gabon indicate that young people who will be identified in the three countries will be trained in conflict prevention and resolution techniques. They will also be equipped with means of communication, in particular to enable them to communicate with each other.

Ultimately, this project should make it possible to support the Conflict Resolution Network through an early warning mechanism within the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). The project will last 2 years, of which the first 3 to 6 months will be devoted to training network members.

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

Africa, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY, United Nations,

Iranian film “Castle of Dreams” wins at Religion Today filmfest in Italy

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from the Tehran Times

The Iranian award-winning drama “Castle of Dreams” has won the award for best feature film at the 23rd Religion Today Film Festival in Italy.

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Photo: “Castle of Dreams” by Reza Mirkarimi

Last Wednesday [September 30], Trento as the greenest Italian city hosted the closing ceremony of the festival, which selected the motto “Earth I Care”.

Directed by Reza Mirkarimi, the film is about two young children whose mother has just died, and their father, Jalal, after long years of absence, returns to sort things out, but he does not want to take the children with him.

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Question for this article:

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

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In addition, “Ojagh” by Iranian filmmaker Ali Bolandnazar also won the award for best short documentary. It is a study of the rituals of the Qashqai Turkic tribe regarding fire.

In the documentary competition, Iranian filmmaker Hamid Jafari’s “The Wind” received a special mention, while “Mother Fortress” by Italian director Maria Luisa Forenza was named best.

“The Wind” is about the Zar traditional ceremony in southern Iran. Spirits ride the wind of the seas and spread illness into the bodies of human beings. Zar is synonymous with the wind which carries illness. The Zar ceremony can free the body from evil spirits with the assistance of music and song.

The Grand Prize in the Spirit of Faith went to “Order and Soul” by Hungarian director Suzsanna Bak.

Founded in 1997, the Religion Today Film Festival is organized every year by Associazione BiancoNero. The event has been the foremost international and itinerant film festival dedicated to cinema and religions for a culture of peace and dialogue between faiths, cultures, peoples and individuals.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe, Mideast,

Spain: L’Alfàs participates in a conference on the Culture of Peace organized by the Fons Valencià de la Solidaritat

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from L’Alfas

The Councilor for Cooperation and Volunteering of the Municipality of l’Alfàs del Pi, Isabel Muñoz, attended the Conference ‘ODS 16: Ciutadania per la Pau, Educació en i per al Conflicte’, organized by the Fons Valencià per la Solidaritat in Gandía . The initiative is part of the ‘Valencia for Peace’ project, which is co-financed by the Diputación de Valencia, and whose main objective is to raise awareness and promote the Culture of Peace and SDG 16, regarding the construction of peaceful, fair and inclusive societies.

The event was attended by Federico Mayor Zaragoza, president of the Culture of Peace Foundation and former Secretary General of UNESCO, and Jesús E. Núñez, co-director of the Institute for Conflict Studies and Humanitarian Action. In addition to their speeches, the documentary ‘Els Fils del Tauler’, by the Collectiv Mirades, was screened, and a debate was opened with the director and with two refugees who star in the film.

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(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Questions for this article:

How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

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“These conferences have been of great interest to us, because they follow the same strategy that the City Council of l’Alfàs has been promoting for years, spreading the Culture of Peace through mediation in the educational and family sphere with workshops, courses and conferences aimed mainly at the educational community,” explained Isabel Muñoz.

L’Alfàs del Pi is a pioneer in the application of mediation in conflict resolution in the school environment, a project aimed at improving coexistence in classrooms and preventing violent attitudes. The school mediation program began a decade ago at IES L’Arabí and, given the good results, in 2015 it was extended to the three public Primary schools: Veles e Vents, Racó de l’Albir and Santíssim Crist del Bon Encert.

Following in the same vein, the City Council of l’Alfàs promoted four years ago the creation of a mediation service for families from the educational field whose main objective is to promote a climate of dialogue that enriches coexistence in the family environment.

The Councilor for Cooperation and Volunteering has reiterated “the commitment of l’Alfàs del Pi to the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda’, for which different activities and initiatives are promoted throughout the year.

L’Alfàs del Pi joined the Fons Valencià per la Solidaritat in 2019, an association in which more than a hundred municipalities of the Valencian Community are integrated to develop cooperation projects for development and awareness and education in values.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

Les Héritiers du Zouglou release a maxi single to raise awareness among Ivorians

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Linfodrome (translation by CPNN)

“Les Héritiers du Zouglou” released this Thursday, October 01, 2020 a maxi single of two titles, “Never again” and “My Zouglou”. Faced with the tense socio-political situation in Côte d’Ivoire, Bloco, one of the members of the group, confided that the objective is to sensitize the political class and the Ivorians, in particular the youth, to peace and social cohesion.


The Héritiers du Zouglou call on Ivorians to raise collective awareness.

A few weeks away from the presidential election scheduled for October 31, 2020, Les Héritiers du Zouglou are making their return to the Ivorian music scene with two titles, “Never again” and “My Zouglou”. In their songs, they particularly invite young people, political leaders and all the sons and daughters of the Ivory Coast to the culture of peace.

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(Click here for a French version of this article)

 

Question related to this article:

What place does music have in the peace movement?

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The strong lyrics of their maxi single call out. “We want peace. We don’t want any more war. Never again in my country. It is hand in hand that we will have development,.”

Bloco Héritier spoke of their source of inspiration. “It was the current events that inspired us. The events that took place in the different cities also inspired us,” he said.

In their maxi single, Les Héritiers du Zouglou make it clear that Ivorian politics and the future of Côte d’Ivoire are not necessarily linked to the three great political leaders who are Henri Konan Bédié, Gbagbo Laurent and the current president, Alassane Ouattara. “Their time will pass, but the Ivory Coast will always remain,” Bloco Héritier remarked.

Africa, EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Burkina Faso Center Region: 96 hours of activities for the culture of peace

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article by E.K. Samboé in Le Faso (translation by CPNN)

“Culture of peace, prevention and management of crises; guarantees of sustainable social cohesion ”. This is the theme of the 3rd edition of the “96 hours of the Center region.” The festivities were launched in Ouagadougou on October 1, 2020 by a panel organized at the Burkinabè Shippers Council (CBC). An opportunity for participants to reflect on the issues of the day, in particular peace, crisis prevention and management, social cohesion, etc.


For the governor of the Center region, Sibiri de Issa Ouédraogo, “the 96 hours intend to establish a period of reflection and action around ways and means for strengthening social cohesion in the Center region”.

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(Click here for the article in French)

Questions for this article:

The culture of peace at a regional level, Does it have advantages compared to a city level?

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The panelists, composed of historians, anthropologists and civil society actors, proposed solutions to strengthen social cohesion during the discussions. For the governor, “by dealing with social cohesion, this panel will put us on the need to unite for a useful whole, in order to fight against the scourges which hamper the peace of the populations and the harmonious development of our region”.

At the end of the panel, the governor expects the participants to work for a peaceful social climate, in order to contribute to the economic and social development of the Central region. But also, that they be ambassadors of social cohesion with the various parts of the population.

Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION