Category Archives: DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Colombia: The functions of the Congressional Peace Commission are strengthened

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from the Senate of the Republic of Colombia

This week, the Senate Plenary formally consolidated the Legal Commission for Peace. This comes after several years of efforts to ensure that this commission became part of the legal commissions that exist in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.


With Law 2405 of 2024, the Legal Commission for Peace and Post-Conflict was formally created.

As a member and president of the Commission, Senator Iván Cepeda, from the Coalition of the Historic Pact, explained, “It is a decision that has advantages, it has the possibility that the decisions that are taken, have greater binding force in Congress, different from the decisions of before.”

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(click here for the original version in Spanish).

Questions for this article:

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

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This Legal Peace Commission has a fundamental role in supporting the mechanisms of implementation of the peace agreements, as well as the realization of actions of a humanitarian nature, for the preservation and maintenance of peace.

In this way, studies and analyses of the social reality of the country can also be carried out, which contribute to promoting actions within the framework of the Culture of Peace, as well as the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The commission will be composed of eleven senators from the following political parties: Iván Cepeda and Aida Quilcué (Historical Pact), Liliana Benavides and Germán Blanco (Conservative Party), Fabio Amín (Liberal Party), Angelica Lozano (Green Party), Paloma Valencia (Democratic Center Party), David Luna (Radical Change Party), Norma Hurtado (U Party), Lorena Ríos Cuellar (MIRA-Colombia Justa Libres Party), Sandra Ramírez, Omar Restrepo, Pablo Catatumbo, Imelda Daza Cotes and Julian Gallo (Comunes Party).

The measure received the endorsement in the Plenary of 60 congressmen who agree on the construction of a peace policy that will contribute to the cessation of conflict by armed groups outside the law that persist in the national territory.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Eleven organizations call to “achieve a culture of peace” as a “collective duty” in Zaragoza, Spain

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Un artícle en El Diario (Google translation)

Representatives of eleven social organizations met this Friday (October 4) in the Aula Magna of the Paraninfo in Zaragoza to start a “campaign for peace and against wars.” After the reading of the manifesto by journalist Gervasio Sánchez, they gathered at the entrance to the University of Zaragoza.

These are the Federation of Neighbourhoods, WILPF Spain, the Peace Research Seminar (SIP), the Federation of Parents’ Associations of Students of Aragon, the Aragonese Federation of Solidarity-Circles of Silence, the Federation of Students, Casa Palestina, Welcome Refugees, Insumisos, Culture and Peace and, lastly, UM DRAIGA-Friends of the Sahara.

“We are a group of diverse people who, faced with the perplexity, indignation and discouragement of citizens over the bloody events in Palestine, Ukraine and a host of almost forgotten armed conflicts, have begun to attempt a campaign for peace and against wars,” they said in announcing the initiative.

“The idea is – they added – to claim Zaragoza as a city of peace, to remember previous mobilizations and to call on citizens to participate in various initiatives, some already underway and others yet to be developed.”

In the manifesto, entitled ‘Stop the war, win the peace’, they argue that “justice can only be ensured through peace” and that “justice alone brings equality”. “There is no true democracy if the goal of peace is not at the base of politics and at the heart of truth”, they point out.

Mentioning the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, they point out that by increasing “arms spending” “funds needed to meet urgent social needs, both near and far” are being diverted.

They also refer to the Law on the Culture of Peace approved in March of last year in the Cortes of Aragon and denounce that, far from being fulfilled, some of its objectives have been “drastically forgotten”, such as development cooperation.

Finally, they call for mobilization “from the most diverse social groups” to “denounce those who promote the culture of militarism.” “We call for seeking this commitment, and we are committed to working for it,” they conclude.

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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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Here is the full manifesto:

LET’S STOP THE WAR, LET’S WIN THE PEACE

Only through peace can justice be guaranteed. And only through justice can equality be born. There are no alternative paths, and no other perspectives can be dreamed of. There is no true democracy – whatever arguments you like – if the goal of peace is not at the foundation of politics and at the heart of truth.

Achieving a culture of peace is not only about rejecting war, but also – and these are the words of the United Nations – about supporting sustainable development, overcoming poverty and building a world of equality.

In the times in which we live, there are more than nine major armed conflicts, and many more of those that are called less intense. In the news around us, we learn daily of the consequences of two wars – the one that Russia started by invading Ukraine, and the one by Israel occupying and striking the territories of Gaza and the West Bank – that deny all principles, not only those of moral and social duty, but those of international law itself. Two wars with consequences that may be irreparable. The first of them, already converted into a war between Russia and NATO, which in fact reproduces the policy of blocs with all that this means in the cultural, commercial, technological and military fields; and the second, transformed into a true genocide against the Palestinian people, doomed by force, hunger and exile to disappearance.

At the same time, spending on weapons is increasing, diverting funds needed for urgent social needs, both near and far, turning the production and trade of weapons into a powerful root cause of wars and a profitable business for those who profit from death.

To condemn aggression, to work for peace, to create reasons for coexistence and to denounce the return to a policy of blocks in search of world hegemony, is a collective duty that must transcend personal pain and rejection, and become a movement capable of expressing the need to combat a state of war for no other reason than the interest and benefit of groups and individuals.

On March 9, 2023, the Cortes of Aragon approved the Law on the Culture of Peace, and unreservedly committed to promoting the commitment of institutions and society to education and research for peace, development cooperation and humanitarian action, dialogue, non-violent action and mediation. The approved law has been far from seeing, not only fulfilled, but promoted, its objectives, some of which – such as development cooperation – have, in fact, been drastically forgotten.

It is time, therefore, for a meeting to be sought from the most diverse social spheres of those who are seriously committed to peace and are willing to mobilize whatever human and material resources are necessary. Let the voice and action of those who are not determined to stand by and watch the current situation impassively and in pain, be raised to denounce those who promote the culture of militarism, leaving a record of why wars occur, what is behind what is done, what is intended, what consequences they have for those who suffer them and for everyone, and what response they deserve.

We call upon you to seek this commitment, and we oblige ourselves to work for it.

NO TO WARS

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

Coop-medias, the citizen cooperative that wants to give “a real breath of fresh air” to independent media

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION . .

An article by Mathilde Picard in Verts (translation by CPNN)

Coop a festive atmosphere. On Wednesday, October 9, the world of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and that of independent media met at the Académie du Climat in Paris to launch the Coop-medias cooperative. The goal: to consolidate the finances of the independents and strengthen the links between them in the face of the concentration of the press in the hands of a few billionaires.


Public radio broadcast on the occasion of the launch evening of the Coop-medias cooperative, at the Académie du Climat in Paris. © Margot Desmons/Vert

“Coop-medias creates a bridge between two worlds that did not speak to each other: that of the social and solidarity economy and that of independent media,” according to Mathieu Molard, editor-in-chief of Streetpress.

On Wednesday, October 9, the launch of this cooperative was a sell-out at the Climate Academy in Paris. The platform dedicated to financing independent media is now accessible to citizens so that they can take shares starting at €100. The goal? “To raise €500,000 in three months,” hopes Lucie Anizon, CEO of Coop-medias and Secretary General of the renewable energy cooperative Enercoop.

Politis, Vert, Blast, Médiacités, Les Jours…. Already 22 media and around ten companies from the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) have become members. Thanks to this fundraising, it will be possible to distribute initial financial aid in 2025 in the form of a call for projects.

To present how the cooperative works, journalists, members of the SSE and civil society took the microphone. The evening was broadcast as a public radio show, on the website of the cooperative media “Le moment”, in the form of a round tables to imagine a new economic model for independent media.

The general director of Coop-médias, Lucie Anizon, explained to Vert the origin of the project: “I was surprised that no independent media had said: let’s raise capital funds and pool our resources. They told us that they didn’t have the time, the energy or the know-how, so we did it with them by bringing our know-how from the SSE.”

“Taking information out of market logic”

In the room, everyone shared the observation of a critical weakening of media plurality. 81% of press sales are now held by eleven billionaires, according to the video launching the platform. Faced with this, Julia Cagé, an economist specializing in media, encourages us to “take information, which is a public good, out of the logic of the market and shareholders”.

At Coop-médias, there are no paid shareholders, and the governance for allocating funding is based on the model of one member = one vote. The result: “a real breath of fresh air” so as not to depend solely on calls for donations and “no longer be on life support”, says Paloma Moritz, a journalist at Blast.

The forum discussed the need to strengthen the finances and visibility of independent media, an advertising agency for the SSE, the presence of independents on TNT channels and the role of social networks in the dissemination of their content.

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

Questions related to this article:

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

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


Robin Saxod, co-founder of Coop-medias and Lucie Anizon, CEO of Coop-medias. © Mathilde Picard/Vert

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Strengthening ties to fight against the far right

This rapprochement between independent media comes from the rallies against the far right, organized on June 27 and July 3 at Place de la République in Paris, on the occasion of the legislative elections (see our report). The cooperative is therefore “nonpartisan but deeply political,” says Robin Saxod, co-founder of Coop-médias.

Throughout the evening, the speakers encouraged us to continue the fight against the increasingly numerous reactionary speeches in the media bought by billionaires Vincent Bolloré and Pierre-Edouard Stérin. Speakers called for stopping the criminalization of political and social protests and for fighting against disinformation on climate change and feminism.

To strengthen the resources of journalists, Coop-médias proposes to pool certain services such as accounting, website management and legal aid… A welcome idea for Eloïse Lebourg, co-founder of Médiacoop, a local media outlet based in Clermont-Ferrand: “When I was threatened by fascist groups after investigating them, I was very happy to have someone who knew a lawyer. When you investigate the far right in a medium-sized town, you are more easily spotted, you sometimes feel isolated.” For her, Coop-médias must be an opportunity to “get out of the pattern of very Parisian independent media, there are independent structures everywhere in France, I would like us to have more visibility and to cooperate more.”

At the end of the evening, conversations continued around the buffet. Yan Pierre le Luyer, co-founder of Grow Studio, which produces podcasts, decided to take a share in the cooperative as he explains, to “rebalance the discourse in the media and therefore equip ourselves with the same means as our opponents”. The radio show will be broadcast on Aligre FM (93.1) and Radio Campus Paris (93.9) next Wednesday.

Vert has become a member of Coop-médias to help strengthen the ecosystem of independent media.

(Editor’s note: CPNN took part in this event and has also become a member of Coop-médias, for the same reason.)

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Character Strengths That Support Peacebuilding

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Special to CPNN from Dr. Steven Handwerker*

” Dialogue must transform recrimination…innovative justice has to displace vengeance…determination over a long period of time is required to overcome entrenched forces… (and a ) ..transformation of motivation must accompany action.” (Hopkins, 2000)

      Throughout the course of human history, there is no doubt, that often, the outcome of a violent and/or potentially violent encounter is dependent upon the character strengths of the negotiators and peace workers. In this practitioner’s 50-year history in the realms of peace building, as a clinician, mediator, and educator, five traits and qualities were essential.


Photo of Nobel Peace Prize winners on the cover of the Hopkins book

– First, is clarity and faith in intent to create peace (Hopkins 2000), (Nelson 2021) and (Alston 2010).

– Second, not necessarily in order of significance, is empathy/compassion and perspective taking (Hopkins 2000), (Hart 1997), (Groot 2023), (Rogers1980).

– Third, is the vital need to be authentic in all expressions and representations of effort to build peace (Stewart 2021), (Groot 2023).

– Fourth, is Hope (Saleem 2023).

– The fifth quality is perseverance (Zomeren 2018) in the intent and practice, with constant correction in modifying efforts, to move toward the goal of peace (Ueshiba 1992), (Valez 2021). 

From 1997, in the arena of the American Psychological Association, within the divisions of Humanistic Psychology, Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, Peace Psychology, and International Psychology, a working group was established to build peace in each of these venues through various efforts. This has been manifest in over 200 symposia, ongoing endeavors, newsletter articles, and working group meetings and discussions where examples of the applications of these character strengths were presented.

Community work in Haiti

For many years the international focus of our peace work has been focused on the economically and environmentally devastated population of Haiti. The work included humanitarian assistance and trauma relief as well as economic support. We worked with faith leaders, corporate leaders, NGOs and colleagues on behalf of these displaced and traumatized people. In addition, employment opportunities were created. The engagement of community-academic partnerships with community psychologists allowed for effective collaborative actions. Perspective taking within a cultural-relational perspective (Zomeren, 2018) helped to make our ongoing evaluation process reliable and effective. Many jobs for youths and sustainable projects in academic settings were created as byproducts. (Stewart 2021) addresses these issues and describes how important evaluative actions occur with trusted partners across community sectors to provide alternatives within socioeconomic levels.

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Questions for this article:

How important is community development for a culture of peace?

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We examined underlying processes and thereby administered and maintained a humanitarian and sustainable initiative for several years. We were able to infuse hope into the populace for this period of time (Saleem, 2023) which significantly moderated the relationship between an intolerance of uncertainty and psychological wellbeing.  This highlighted the importance of hope as a protective factor within a highly compromised population. Hope is a critical coping strategy, within an environment of a humanitarian and sustainable initiative along with economic support (Saleem, Appiah-Boateng, 2023).  As Tolstoy expressed, “the strongest of all warriors (in the battle to create peace) are these two – time and patience.” 

* Dr. Handwerker is a licensed psychologist. His website is www.peacewk.org and his email is peacewk@peacewk.org.

References

Alston, B. (2010) editor. Chapter on “Promoting deeper values: lessons learned and some common themes” in Visions in Conflict: International Perspectives on Values and Enmity. ND Enterprises. Hawaii, USA.

Appiah-Boateng, S. , Bukari, K.N. (2023) Coping Strategies for Victims of Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Ghana. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 29(4), 448-458. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000655.

Groot, M., Schaafsma, J., Veerkamp, J. et. al. (2023) “Righting the Wrong”: A Multicounty Study on Peoples Perceptions of “Making  Things Right” in the Wake of Human Rights Violations. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 29(4), 394-408. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000691.

Handwerker, S. (2023) “On Building Societal Peace: A Humanistic and Humanitarian View. Society for Humanistic Psychology November Newsletter. 

Hart, T. (1997) Transcendental Empathy is the Therapeutic Encounter. The Humanistic Psychologist. 25(3),245-270. https://doi.org/10.1080/08873267.1997.9986885.

Hopkins, J. editor (2000). The Art of Peace. Snow Lion Publications, New York. ISBN: 1-55939-149-9. https://www.shambhala.com/snowlion_articles/the-art-of-peace/https://www.shambhala.com/snowlion_articles/the-art-of-peace/.

Nelson, L. (2021) Identifying determinants of individual peacefulness: A psychological foundation for peace education. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 27(2), 109-119.

Rogers, C. R.. (1980) A way of being. Houghton Mifflin. New York. 

Saleem, M. , Rizvi, T. & Bashir, I. (2023) The role of hope in buffering the influence of intolerance of uncertainty on student’s psychological well-being. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 29(4), 374-384. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000697.

Shifferd, K. , Hiller, P. and Swanson, D. (2016) A Global Security System: An Alternative to War. WORLDBEYONDWAR.ORG.

Stewart, D., Jesson, N., and Watson, F. (2021) Examining conflict mediation to prevent violence through multivector partnerships. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 27(2), 170-81.

Ueshiba, M. (1992) The art of peace. Shambhala. New York.

Valez, G. and Gerstein, L. (2021) Supporting peaceful individuals, groups and socieities. Peace psychology and peace education. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 27(2), 103-108.

United Nations (1948) Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

Yueh-Ting Lee and Holt, L. (2019) Chapter 6 Daoist Psychology, Peace and the Process of Transformation. in Dao and Daoist Ideas for Scientists, Humanists and Practitioners. Nova Science Publishers. New York. ISBN: 978-1-53616-544-9.

Zomeren, M. (2018) Social Movements and Political and Social Transformation: In Search of a Bigger Picture: A Cultural-Relational Perspective on Social Transformation and Violence. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 24(1), 171-76.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, global

The Olympic Games and the Culture of Peace

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Transcript on the website of the International Olympic Committee (boldface italics added by CPNN)

Please find below the full speech delivered by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach during the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 today, 11 August 2024. 

Dear President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron,

Dear President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, my fellow Olympian and dear friend, Tony Estanguet,

Dear Mayor of Paris, Mrs. Anne Hidalgo,

Dear Olympic friends,

Dear fellow Olympians,

Despite all the tensions in our world, you came here from all the 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, to make the City of Light shine brighter than ever before.

Your performances were amazing. You competed fiercely against each other. Every contest on the edge of perfection. Every performance sparking excitement around the world. You showed us what greatness we humans are capable of.

During all this time, you lived peacefully together under one roof in the Olympic Village. You embraced each other. You respected each other, even if your countries are divided by war and conflict. You created a culture of peace.

This inspired all of us and billions of people around the globe. Thank you for making us dream. Thank you for making us believe in a better world for everyone.

We know that the Olympic Games cannot create peace. But the Olympic Games can create a culture of peace that inspires the world. This is why I call on everyone who shares this Olympic spirit: let us live this culture of peace every single day.

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(Click here for the message in Spanish and here for the message in French.

Question for this article:

How can sports promote peace?

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These Olympic Games could only inspire the world, because our French friends have prepared the stage. And what an amazing stage it was!

Millions of people celebrating the athletes in the streets of Paris and all across France. Millions of spectators in iconic venues creating an overwhelming atmosphere. More than half of the world’s population sharing this spectacular celebration of the unity of humankind in all our diversity.

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 were a celebration of the athletes and sport at its best. The first Olympic Games delivered fully under our Olympic Agenda reforms: younger, more urban, more inclusive, more sustainable. The first ever Olympic Games with full gender parity.

These were sensational Olympic Games from start to finish – or dare I say: SEINE-sational Games.

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 were Olympic Games of a new era.

That is why I would like to thank all our French friends. First and foremost, my warmest thanks go to the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, for his tireless support. My heartfelt thanks goes to the Organising Committee, under the excellent leadership of my fellow Olympian, Tony Estanguet, for making these Games wide open. All my gratitude goes to the public authorities at all levels and to the public services, for their essential contribution.

All our thanks and recognition go to our Olympic community – the National Olympic Committees, the International Federations, our TOP partners and the Media Rights- Holders. Together, you have contributed to Olympic Games of a new era in every respect. And for this you can be proud forever.

A special thank you to all the wonderful volunteers. You will be forever in our hearts.

Dear French friends, you have fallen in love with the Olympic Games. And we have fallen in love with all of you.

Thank you Paris, thank you France!

Long live the Olympic Games! Long live France!

[Flame extinguishing]

And now, with my heart full of emotions, I have to perform one more task: I declare the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 closed.

In accordance with tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in Los Angeles, United States of America, to celebrate with all of us the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe, global,

US Labor Unions Call on Biden Administration to Immediately Halt All Military Aid to Israel

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America

A group of 7 unions have sent a letter  to President Biden calling on him to “immediately halt all military aid to Israel” in advance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. next week. The letter states that the unions “believe that immediately cutting US military aid to the Israeli government is necessary to bring about a peaceful resolution to this conflict.”


Union banner against visit of Netanyahu

The unions that signed on to the letter include the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), American Postal Workers Union (APWU), International Union of Painters (IUPAT), National Education Association (NEA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Auto Workers (UAW) and United Electrical Workers (UE). 
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Question related to this article:
 
What is the contribution of trade unions to the culture of peace?

How can a culture of peace be established in the Middle East?

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“Our unions are hearing the cries of humanity as this vicious war continues,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “Working people and our unions are horrified that our tax dollars are financing this ongoing tragedy. We need a ceasefire now, and the best way to secure that is to shut off US military aid to Israel.”

The unions expressed hope that President Biden’s three-part ceasefire proposal that he outlined in the final week of May would bear fruit, but expressed concern that it hasn’t been fully accepted yet while the violence continues. The letter states that “large numbers of Palestinian civilians, many of them children, continue to be killed, reportedly often with US-manufactured bombs. Rising tensions in the region threaten to ensnare even more innocent civilians in a wider war. And the humanitarian crisis deepens by the day, with famine, mass displacement, and destruction of basic infrastructure including schools and hospitals. We have spoken directly to leaders of Palestinian trade unions who told us heart-wrenching stories of the conditions faced by working people in Gaza.”

The letter declares that “the time to act decisively to end this war is now. Stopping US military aid to Israel is the quickest and most sure way to do so, it is what US law demands, and it will show your commitment to securing a lasting peace in the region.”

Contact: Media@seiu.org

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Mideast, North America,

Transforming Youth from Violence to Champions of Peace in Uganda

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . . .

Special to CPNN

Access Youth Initiative Uganda is implementing a project “Amplifying Community Voices for Sustainable peace in Rwenzori Region” in selected communities of Maliba and Bulembia sub counties in Kasese district. The project aims at promoting reconciliation and social cohesion by reinforcing the resilience of youth indoctrinated along cultural, religious and political lines and their capacity to face hate speech in Kasese district, in South Western Uganda. The project is implemented by Access Youth Initiative Uganda and supported by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations through its Youth Solidarity Fund, 2024 edition.

The project also focusses at preventing re-radicalization in a bid to prevent the targeted youth from sliding back into acts of violence. To achieve this, it is built on 3 main components of peace building; mentorship, capacity building and sports.

The project places youth at the center of its programming by empowering Youth Peace Champions to engage in peace-building sensitization and awareness activities including mobilizing communities through sports activities, dialogue campaigns and peace camps.

It also involves working with religious, cultural and community leaders through capacity building interventions to work as supportive agents in peace building.

According to Ibrahim Kakinda, Executive Director of Access Youth Initiative Uganda, the project places the youth and community leaders at the center of decision making – identifying the “what” needs to be done and “how” it should be done through meaningful engagement of young people.

Questions related to this article:

Can a culture of peace be achieved in Africa through local indigenous training and participation?

Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

Kasese district in the Rwenzori Region of Uganda has witnessed longstanding inter and intra ethnic conflicts and tensions orchestrated by geo-ethno-political, cultural, religious and economic diversities compounded further by the uncontrolled influx of refugees from D.R Congo and Rwanda. These divides have widened the “revenge attitude” leading to formation of violent youth brigades and alliances intensifying community polarization, with a recent example being an attack on Lhubiriha secondary school killing over 37 students in June 2023.

“the project is implemented in an inclusive and active participatory manner with active participation of youth, women, girls and other actors like community members, community religious and cultural leaders, local government leaders, CSOs, existing community infrastructures for peace, – applying a “whole of society” approach of transforming conflicts and promoting and sustaining peace, says Bridget Achaakit, the project coordinator.

Morris, a “Community Peace Mediaor” says the project is now referred to as a model best practice for transforming the lives of youth – especially in conflict and post-conflict contexts and we hope the learnings from the project will make other actors to initiate similar projects in other areas. “Many of us who used to be looked at as perpetrators have transformed from champions of violence to ‘champions of peace’ and we are trusted as agents of peace in our communities,”
About Access Youth Initiative Uganda

Access Youth Initiative Uganda (AYI-Uganda) is a grass root youth-led Non-Governmental Organization fostering a culture of justice, peace and respect for human rights in Uganda.
Feel free to reach out: Email: kaksterry@yahoo.com, Link: www.accessyouthuganda.org

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Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

South Kanem, Chad: the ADM promotes the culture of peace and peaceful cohabitation

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . . .

An article by Djidda Mahamat Oumar in Alwihda Info (translation by CPNN)

The Association “Développement du Mondo” (ADM) launched a campaign yesterday Wednesday June 26, 2024, an ambitious initiative aimed at combating intercommunity conflicts in the Kanem-Sud department.

During the event, the ADM distributed solar-powered radios to around fifteen local listening clubs.

This initiative, led by the President of the Association, Ali Younous Ali, aims to provide communities with easy and regular access to educational and awareness programs on conflict management and prevention.

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

Questions related to this article:

Can a culture of peace be achieved in Africa through local indigenous training and participation?

How can peace be promoted by radio?

“Our goal is to promote a culture of peace and peaceful cohabitation through effective communication and community education,” said Ali Younous Ali, during the launching ceremony. The solar radios will play a crucial role in allowing members of the listening clubs to stay informed, and participate in constructive discussions on conflict resolution.

This action is part of a broader strategy of the ADM, aimed at strengthening social cohesion and encouraging peaceful dialogue between the different communities in the region. The beneficiaries of these radios expressed their gratitude for this valuable support, emphasizing the importance of having communication tools to promote peace and mutual understanding.

“These radio stations will allow us to stay connected and informed on best practices for conflict management,” said a member of a local listening club. The ADM reiterates its commitment to continue its efforts to promote peace and stability in South Kanem, in close collaboration with local communities and international partners.

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Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Report of World Peace Foundation activities in DR Congo

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE . .

Special to CPNN from John Mukhuta Muhiana (translation by CPNN)

We are an organization called the World Peace Foundation in DR Congo. During this period of war in our Country, we organized many activities on Peace with different categories of the population, especially with students from different schools always within the framework of promoting Peace.

The World Peace Foundation asks the authorities to get involved in promoting the culture of Peace while always respecting our motto: Peace, love and unity. Also with the following objectives: to educate children, adolescents and adults for a culture of Peace, non-violence and justice; educate children, adolescents and adults in conflict resolution; Intervene in cases of conflict resolution between individuals, between families, between companies, businesses, NGOs or between members of a group, different groups or social or administrative institutions; supervise children; create schools; create universities for learning conflict resolution; celebrate the International Day of Peace every year.

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

Questions related to this article:

Can a culture of peace be achieved in Africa through local indigenous training and participation?

What is the relation between peace and education?

A constant fact we have noticed is that it is a challenge for the supervision of youth; they commit acts of violence, killing, theft. These young people are commonly called coulouna in Kinshasa and in my province they are called shegués. Despite the restoration of certain young people, the community does not find Peace, there is an African proverb which says, the small tree of today will become the forests of tomorrow, if today the organizations of civil society, the government is not totally involved, this means our planet is in danger. We have an obligation to make all our efforts to supervise these young people and achieve the objective of promoting the culture of Peace and non-violence and create a possible world. Our planet earth needs Peace.

We believe that with globalization no one can live as an island, so we are obliged to live together or we say that without Africa there will be no America, without America there will be no Asia, without Asia there will be no Europe and without Europe there will be no Oceania, and without Oceania there will be no Africa. This is why our Organization asks the Congolese population to use a simple diagram of cups for Peace, where you will find “love, kindness, charity, dignity, honesty, joy, peace, prosperity and unity. » which could bring our planet Earth to its full development.

If we use this simple diagram, we will see a real change in our planet Earth.
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Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Speech by Alba Barusell i Ortuño, President of Mayors for Peace European Chapter

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

Text from speech on youtube

It is a pleasure and an honor for me as president of the European Chapter of Mayors for Peace and mayor of the city of Granollers, to be her with you and to share this space for reflection and peacebuilding. I thank Basel Peace Office for once again inviting Mayors for Peace to participate in this event on “Peace, Climate Protection, and the United Nations: The role of cities and young people”.

The first recommendation of the new peace agenda, which will be presented at the United Nations Summit of the future, is the elimination of nuclear weapons and the promotion of new preventive and diplomatic mechanisms. The more than 8,000 city members of Mayors for Peace are committed to global peace and nuclear disarmament.

We have six years left to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, and we are falling behind. The roadmap for reducing poverty, hunger in the world, climate change, and peacefully resolving armed conflicts is not only stagnating but also receding. Accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda is a fundamental condition for achieving the objectives proposed by the New Agenda for Peace. It must be nurtured and inspired by the peace policies that are implemented at the national, regional, and, above all, local level by the municipalities.

(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Questions for this article:

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

The new generations have a big challenge ahead of them. The participation of young people is essential to ensuring compliance with the 2030 Agenda. Its contribution increases the legitimacy and sustainability of decision-making and peace processes. All over the world, we find young people fighting for justice, gender equality, human rights, and climate protection. Cities must listen to them and work with them to take advantage of their power as peacekeepers.

Cities build peace by focusing on preserving and guaranteeing the rights of all people, regardless of their condition, and thus reducing the causes of violence in our cities and territories. We build inclusive societies that allow all the people who live in them to feel involved and leaders of their own future. This is a way to strengthen and take care of democracy. Not leaving anyone behind is our global goal. An objective that must be worked on by our municipalities, our territory and our cities.

From Mayors for Peace we consider it important that there are spaces as significant as this forum, in which different actors willing to work for peace in the world converge. We have our most sincere and profound respect for all the efforts made in organizing this forum, and I thank you very much for allowing us to participate and contribute to it.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe