Category Archives: Latin America

Medellín and Barcelona advance in the project “Without Rumors We Build a Culture of Peace”, to avoid prejudice and stigmatization of vulnerable populations

TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY .

An article by Yenifer Yepes Román for the Alcadía de Medellin

The Medellín Mayor’s Office, together with the Barcelona City Council, the Regional Corporation and social organizations are working on the construction of the project “Without Rumors We Build a Culture of Peace”, to counteract the transmission of disinformation, rumours, stereotypes and prejudices that affect human rights of people from vulnerable groups.


Photographer: Photo Mayor’s Office of Medellin

The strategy, which is now in its first phase, hopes to have a positive impact on LGTBIQ+ populations, women, Venezuelan migrants, the Afro-descendant population, indigenous people, the population with disabilities and peace activists who live in Medellín and in municipalities of the metropolitan area.

“In the components of this project we do research, training, and participatory construction to generate an Antirumor Network of citizen culture and culture of peace. We invite all social organizations that want to join this work to contact us at the Secretariat of Non-Violence and together we fight against the rumors that affect citizens”, said the technical director for the Internationalization of the Secretariat of Non-Violence, Juan Camilo López.

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

Question for this article

How can we reduce prejudice and exclusion?

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This process is expected to increase the capacities of community organizations, institutions, social and sectoral networks in the city to detect and deconstruct rumors and stereotypes that affect coexistence, citizen dialogues for peace, recognition of diversities and inequalities. between the population, and to promote the peaceful settlement of conflicts.

The project has four phases that will continue until April 2023 involving journalists, businessmen, social groups, public officials and citizens in general. It is expected to create a broad territorial and citizen Antirumor Network, with 10 social and community organizations. The work has already begun in the 6-Doce de Octubre commune, the 16-Belén commune and the San Cristóbal district.

“For us it is extremely important to participate in the project without rumors because people with HIV have been victimized by rumors since the 80s. , This topic generally does not appear in the scenarios of human rights”, expressed the project director of the Fundación Más que Tres Letras, Aron Zea.

The strategy is advanced, in an articulated manner, with the Barcelona City Council, which already has experience in anti-rumour pedagogical processes. In addition, the Regional Corporation and organizations such as the Picacho with a Future Corporation, young people from the Warmi Pacha collective, the La f@brica Foundation and the Foundation for Community Development (FDC) of Barcelona, ​​Spain, participate.

“This process is the best way in which we can contribute to establishing a culture of peace in Medellín. As a signatory, you would help us a lot to remove the stigma that has done us all so much harm and open up a more inclusive society,” said Wilmar Sucerquia, a signatory of the Peace Agreement.

The project invites citizens, when they see information that causes discrimination to stop for a moment, think, not share, assess the effect of its disclosure, invite reflection and, if necessary, denounce the message.

Latin America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Colombia: Decriminalization of abortion is a triumph for human rights

. . HUMAN RIGHTS . .

An article from Amnesty International

The Colombian Constitutional Court’s ruling in favour of the decriminalization of abortion during the first 24 weeks of a pregnancy is a great triumph for human rights, said Amnesty International today.


Photo by: Daniel Romero/Long Visual Press/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

“We celebrate this ruling as a historic victory for the women’s movement in Colombia that has fought for decades for the recognition of their rights. Women, girls and people able to bear children are the only ones who should make decisions about their bodies. Now, instead of punishing them, the Colombian authorities will have to recognize their autonomy over their bodies and their life plans,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International.

“Following the legalization of abortion in Argentina last year and the recent decriminalization in Mexico, this ruling is yet another example of the unstoppable momentum of the green tide in Latin America. We will not stop fighting until the sexual and reproductive rights of all women, girls and people able to bear children are recognized in the entire continent, without exception.”

The Constitutional Court approved the ruling to decriminalize abortion today during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, with five votes in favour and four against. After 24 weeks, legal abortion will continue to only be permitted in cases of a risk to the life or health of the pregnant person; the existence of life-threatening fetal malformations; or when the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest or non-consensual artificial insemination.

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(click here for the article in French or click here for the article in Spanish.).)

Question related to this article:

Abortion: is it a human right?

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“Although decriminalizing abortion in the first 24 weeks is a vital step forward for abortion rights in Colombia, and for Latin America and the Caribbean, no one should ever be criminalized for accessing an abortion. It’s vital that we keep pushing for full access to safe and legal abortion in all circumstances in Colombia and beyond,” added Erika Guevara-Rosas.

Despite being a fundamental right established by the Constitutional Court in Decree C-355 of 2006, access to abortion is currently unequal and limited in Colombia. It is estimated that currently in the country there are 400,400 abortions performed each year, and that less than 10% of these procedures are performed legally, with a high concentration of services in the biggest cities.

Legal abortion is not only much safer than clandestine abortion, but also the cost of its provision in Colombia, compared to care for incomplete abortion,  is much lower  when performed in top-level institutions, using the techniques recommended by the World Health Organisation.

The criminalization of abortion exacerbates inequalities between women. The vast majority of those reported for clandestine abortions in Colombia are those who live in rural areas and almost a third  of them are survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence or personal injury. Therefore, instead of framework with greater guarantees of human rights, a framework of persecution against the most vulnerable women has prevailed.

Moreover, the criminalization of abortion has generated fear and stigma in health care providers,  causing them to avoid providing the service  of termination of pregnancy for fear of the social and legal consequences they may face. 

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact: Duncan Tucker: duncan.tucker@amnesty.org

HUMAN RIGHTS, Latin America, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Mexico : Renowned researchers share their experience of the UNESCO Chairs of the Latin American and Caribbean Region

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from ZHN Zacatecas Hoy

In order to investigate the alternatives and strategies to implement a culture of peace program in educational systems, professors from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ), participated in a discussion entitled “Experiences of the UNESCO Chairs of the Latin American and Caribbean Region”.


Adolfo Rodríguez Guerrero

To initiate these activities, the program coordinator of the education sector of UNESCO in Mexico, Adolfo Rodríguez Guerrero, indicated that the function of these Chairs is to support the solutions of the problems of sustainable development that are being presented during the last 20 or 30 years.

He explained that the UNESCO Chains is a program that contributes actions and reflections. they contribute to the collective intelligence, knowledge and innovation that is generated by universities in search of global citizenship.

Rodríguez Guerrero stressed that this specialized unit of the United Nations in our country is working for sustainable development through two elements: a global culture of peace and sustainability through an educational innovation, that is, a change in higher education that promotes knowledge and learning digital through new information technologies.

The coordinator of the UNESCO Chair of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Gloria Ramírez Hernández, focused on explaining the importance of human rights in the work that has been carried out in these Chairs since 1992, promoting values, attitudes and behaviors that reflect respect for life and eradicate violence in all its forms.

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(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Questions for this article:

How can we promote a human rights, peace based education?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

Will UNESCO once again play a role in the culture of peace?

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She pointed out that these actions seek to reinforce the human rights and freedoms of each person, visualizing the culture of peace as a preventive action through the construction of democracy and the management of conflicts, resolving them with peaceful means.

Explaining her experience as a coordinator of this chair in the UNAM, the speaker highlighted her work of developing consciousness about the application of human rights. This is done by research, teaching and dissemination through fields of knowledge, lines of research and projects that seek to prevent violent attitudes.

One of these projects is the National Program of Education in Human Rights, which has the objective of promoting a culture of defense, promotion and response in human rights in all types, levels and modalities in a comprehensive approach that favors governance, democracy and peace.

Finally, the professor stated that “peace cannot advance without women”, and she mentioned that “conflict and humanitarian crises impede the access of women and girls to progress, including the right to food, education, security and health, as we are immersed in a social and economic collapse, especially in a post-pandemic context”.

For his part, the coordinator of the UNESCO “University and Regional Integration” Chair, Axel Didriksson Takayanagui, spoke about the transformation that must take place in the public university of the Latin American and Caribbean Region for a curriculum in a culture of peace and critical and analytical thinking.

The professor stated that the development of the Chairs UNESCO, will provide bases so that May of this year the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education presents the importance of implementing a culture of peace, considering that as a priority human right for inclusion, equity and educational transformation.

With regard to this international conference, the renowned researcher commented that this is the third edition of this type of academic activity. It will take place at the University of Barcelona in Spain. “This will be a space in which models will be analyzed by innovators and visionaries in higher education from around the world.

The coordinators of these talks at the Autonomous University of Zacatecas were the university professors Juana Elizabeth Salas and Oscar Padilla.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, HUMAN RIGHTS, Latin America

El Salvador : MUPI promotes workshops on Culture of Peace

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Diario Co Latino (translation by CPNN)

The Museum of the Word and the Image (MUPI) continues the Culture of Peace workshops «Be authentic, non-violent» with a participatory methodology for the prevention of violence and education for peace, aimed at basic-high school teachers, community promoters and social and cultural managers.

Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

This free face-to-face course, which began on November 15 of last year, is carried out through a public invitation. 20 people are participating, 3 men and 17 women. Each participant has obtained a comicbook, a theoretical manual and a practical manual. They are working on the validation of new topics that will be incorporated into these materials. In March, the presentation of practical work and the delivery of diplomas will take place.

The Culture of Peace Course “Be authentic, non-violent” is facilitated by Claudia Anay García and the anthropologist Anna Theissen, cooperating with the Civil Service for Peace-SCP Germany, within the framework of the INTERPAZ-AGIAMONDO project.

(Click here for the original Spanish version).

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Leftist President of Honduras Blocks Indigenous Community’s Eviction

…. HUMAN RIGHTS ….

An article by Andrea Germanos from Common Dreams (reprinted according to Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

Honduras’ new leftist president on Wednesday intervened  to halt a court-ordered eviction of an Indigenous community from their ancestral lands following violent scenes of the attempted forced removal by police earlier in the day.

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Question related to this article:

What is the state of human rights in the world today?

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Human Rights Minister Natalie Roque shared  on social media that, with orders from President Xiomara Castro, lawyers and officials from her office went to the Tierras del Padre community, located just south of the capital of Tegucigalpa, to stop the evictions, saying the suspension was in accordance  with the law and authorized by the state.`

“We are not going to tolerate any aggression or blow against a pregnant woman or against a citizen or against a child,” presidential adviser Pedro Amador said on the scene,  according to  video circulated on social media

In a tweet, Roque accused judicial officials who’d approved the evictions of continuing “in the power of the dictatorship.” As  Agence France-Presse  reported  last month, “four of the five judges in the court’s constitutional chamber were named to their posts by the previous Congress, which was dominated by the right-wing National Party of former president Juan Orlando Hernandez.”

A statement from the country’s human rights ministry  called  the proposed expulsions—performed at the behest of a businessman and land developer who claims ownership of the area—a “clear violation of the human rights of over 100 families who live in the sector in an ancestral Lenca territory that dates from the year 1739.”

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, HUMAN RIGHTS, Latin America

Argentina : Federal Network of Centers for Community Mediation and Training in School Mediation with an Example from Province of Buenos Aires

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

Articles from the Government of Argentina and Colegio de Escribanos, Province of Buenos Aires (translation by CPNN)

On December 16, the National Directorate of Mediation and Participatory Methods of Conflict Resolution, held the “National Meeting of the Federal Network of Community Mediation Centers and Training in School Mediation”.

Participants were judiciary officials coming from national, provincial and municipal executive governments; Presidents of Associations and foundations; National and Provincial Universities, all being members of the Network of Community Mediation Centers .
It was an enriching meeting, where experiences and developments of public policies for the strengthening of the Network were shared.

For the year 2022, an agenda of successive regional meetings and an annual closing event for the month of September are projected.

The objective of the “Juan José Cinqualbrez” Institutional Mediation Center is to carry out voluntary mediation (Law 13951), to disseminate mediation, its principles and characteristics, to train mediators, to create the Centers in each of the Delegations of the Association of Notaries, to organize conferences, forums, conferences, workshops, courses, sign collaboration agreements with national and foreign entities.

Our vision is to promote active social participation in conflict management, which will allow the co-construction of peaceful coexistence, and our mission is to contribute through processes of consensus and dialogue to access to justice for all social components.

Who are the mediators?

People trained and trained in resources and techniques in the art of managing conflicts, and effective communication. Their functions are:
°Accompany the parties within the framework of a trustworthy space.
° Guide the process.
° Facilitate dialogue between the parties.
° Balance the differences.
° Promote active listening.
° Maintain a climate of respect.
° To not judge or decide for the parties.

Question for this article:

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

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The Advantages are :
° It provides a trustworthy space for dialogue.
° It is a short and inexpensive procedure.
° The parties agree on the solution to their conflict cooperatively.
° It ensures the secrecy of what is manifested, helping to maintain bonds and to balance power.

The parties :
° They are the protagonists of the mediation process.
° They will go from being two parties in conflict to being two parties to the conflict.
° They can go to mediation by themselves or accompanied by their lawyers.

What is the mediation clause?

It is a provision suggested by the College of Notaries to be incorporated into all contracts and regulations in which the notary intervenes. It is about adding a legend where it is stipulated that “in the event that divergences or adversarial conflict situations arise between the parties to the contract (…), the grantors voluntarily agree to submit to the Voluntary Mediation procedure for its solution (Law 13951), through the intervention of the mediators of the ‘Institutional Center of Mediation of the Association of Notaries of the Province of Buenos Aires’ with headquarters at Avenida 13 No. 770 of the city of La Plata (or its Mediation Center of the Delegation… of said Institution, domiciled at…”

Where can this clause be inserted?

This clause may be, for example, in: sales tickets; lease contracts; loan contracts; constitution of mortgages; business partnership agreements; constitution of use; room, servitude; constitution of usufruct; constitution of civil companies; constitution of sports clubs; association statutes; statutes of neighborhood and development societies; constitution of foundations; horizontal property regulations; constitution and dissolution of condominiums, among others.

Mediation centers:

To find out about the Mediation Centers, click here.

Suggested clause

To access the suggested mediation clause, click here.

(click here for the original version in Spanish).

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Panama : Management results in 2021 of the Coordination Office of the Community Mediation Program

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from the government of Panama (translation by CPNN)

The Coordination Office of the Community Mediation Program presented the main results achieved during the management period corresponding to the year 2021, in order to make visible the efforts and collaborative work carried out by each of the team members.

The presentation was given by Thaiska T. Tuñón Solano, head of the Coordination Office, and community mediators from the Administration Attorney’s Office participated.

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Question for this article:

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

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Tuñón highlighted that, despite the difficulties encountered in the current context generated by the public health situation, important results were attained. Among these, he highlighted the resumption of agreements with different local authorities and national and international organizations to guarantee the operation of the Community Mediation Centers, in addition to the participation in different virtual academic activities at the international level to strengthen national and international technical cooperation.

The actions carried out collaboratively with the Norwegian Council for Refugees were highlighted, as well as the sensitizations developed in the community by each of the Community Mediation Centers. Also, he mentioned that most cases continue to be initiated voluntarily, that is, that the citizen directly attends the Center to request the conflict management service without the intervention of a judge or other authority.

(click here for the original version in Spanish).

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

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

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Hacienda Cuautitlan (translation by CPNN)

PROCESS

STAGES OF MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION

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


Click on image to enlarge.

1. REQUEST FOR MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION

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

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

2. START OF THE MEDIATION OR CONCILIATION PROCESS

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

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

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

3. INVITATION

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

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(click here for the original version in Spanish).

Question for this article:

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

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4. MEDIATION AND/OR CONCILIATION SESSIONS

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

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

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

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

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

5. CONCLUSION OF THE MEDIATION OR CONCILIATION

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

6. AGREEMENT AUTHORIZATION

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

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

7. EFFECTS OF JUDICATION

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

8. BREACH OF AGREEMENT

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

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

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

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

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from Polìtico MX

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


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

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

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(Click here for the Spanish version)

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

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

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

Tabasco: Tenosique, Balancán

Campeche: Candelaria, Escárcega

Yucatan: Mérida, Maxcanú, Valladolid,

Chiapas: Palenque

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

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

Latin America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article in El Nuevo Diario

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

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

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(click here for the original version in Spanish).

Question for this article:

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

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

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

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

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

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

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

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America