Tag Archives: Latin America

Women from Chile and Bolivia meet in La Paz to build a “neighbor friendship”

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article by Pagina Siete

This Thursday, November 3 and Friday, November 4, women from Chile and Bolivia will meet in the first meeting of the group “Bolivia-Chile Group: women building neighbor friendship.” The event will be held in the city of La Paz.


The Bolivian and Chilean flags. Telesur

This initiative emerged in May 2021 as a civil society group, characterized by plurality and united by the conviction of the importance of incorporating the voice and thought of women in international politics, according to the group.

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(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Questions related to this article:
 
Do women have a special role to play in the peace movement?

Solidarity across national borders, What are some good examples?

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During the session on Thursday, the challenges of regional integration and the need to open paths of good neighborliness, based on a culture of peace and binational cooperation, will be analyzed.

Friday’s program includes a panel on Feminist Foreign Policy, which will be held at the Universidad Nuestra Señora de la Paz and will include the participation of the Ambassador of Mexico, María Teresa Mercado, and the Ambassador of Spain, Javier Gassó Matoses.

For this occasion, the Deputy Minister of Institutional and Consular Management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia, Eva Chuquimia, and the Consul General of Chile in La Paz, Fernando Velasco, will be present.

The binational meeting has the support of the Institute of International Studies of the University of Chile, the San Simón de Cochabamba University and the Nuestra Señora de la Paz University, in addition to the Friedrich Ebert Foundation based in both countries.

The inauguration will be broadcast through the Zoom platform, whose registration link is enabled in this link.

Latin America, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Education for Peace dialogues hosted by National Ministry of Education in Cartagena, Colombia

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from the Global Campaign for Peace Education

With more than 150 attendees from different regions of the country, the Education for Peace dialogues took place in Cartagena for two days. Teachers, teaching directors, officials from the secretariats of education, students, representatives of higher education institutions, and social organizations from different parts of the country participated in the dialogues.

The scenario served for the socialization of recommendations for education for peace, school coexistence and non-stigmatization. In different conversations and workshops, the importance of explicitly having socio-emotional, citizen and reconciliation education in undergraduate degrees was discussed, so that teachers leave with tools that allow them to present solutions and initiatives to communities.

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(Click here for a version in Spanish)

Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

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The importance of forming a culture of peace was expressed, with support networks, for children and adolescents, taking into account the social context to which they belong, to promote the concept of peace in their territory, recognizing the needs of students. and their participation, to transform contexts. Likewise, generate strategies based on art and culture that allow emotions to be managed for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and for reconciliation.

On the other hand, the need was identified to strengthen the training of teaching directors and teachers to lead pedagogy strategies and construction of learning strategies and networks around peace and violence mitigation in order to guarantee the rights of children. and young people; as well as supporting pedagogical projects focused on restorative justice, peace, reconciliation, human rights and coexistence, which must be transversal.

Another point that was addressed referred to the understanding of the processes of self-education, respect for the knowledge of the communities and the promotion of research in the classroom. In this way, peace must be promoted by teachers from all areas and the commitment also of the secretaries of education so that they can generate actions.

The regional meeting on education for peace was organized by the Ministry of National Education and had the support of the Secretary of Education of Cartagena, the Japan Cooperation Agency JICA, EducaPaz and the Norwegian Council for Refugees.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

In Bolívar, Ecuador, the month of the culture of peace was commemorated with the event “justice, peace and art”

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from Diario los Andes

With the purpose of commemorating the Month of the Culture of Peace, the Provincial Directorate of the Council of the Judiciary (CJ) of Bolívar, developed the event called “Justice, Peace and Art”, an activity that took place in the Theater of the House of Culture – Nucleus of Bolívar, with the participation of provincial authorities, Justices of the Peace, and citizens in general.

Bolívar province has 12 justices of the peace in the parishes: San José del Tambo, Régulo de Mora, La Magdalena, La Asunción, San Sebastián, San Vicente de San Miguel and San Lorenzo. At the national level there are 479 justices of the peace, who through conciliation and dialogue contribute to the peaceful solution of individual and neighborhood conflicts, generating savings for the state of 6,936,708, if we take into account that a conflict resolved by ordinary means generates a cost to the state of 613 dollars.

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(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Discussion question

Restorative justice, What does it look like in practice?

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The Provincial Director of Bolívar, Ab. María Soledad Solano, recognized the justices of the peace for their responsible and altruistic work, bringing justice services closer to citizens living in rural areas of the province. She highlighted the benefits of the Justice of the Peace System and reiterated the commitment of the #CJ to promote actions that promote equity, well-being and effective enjoyment of rights. During the event, a discussion was held, with the participation of important social actors of the province, in which the following topics were addressed: “Conciliation and Culture of Peace as an Alternative to Conflict and Construction of Social Justice”, “Justice of Peace as an Element of Social Peace” and Justice of the Peace in Urban Marginal Parishes”.

Within the framework of the event to commemorate the month of the Culture of Peace, a rug was delivered and donated to the Provincial Director of Bolívar, made by artisan weavers from the Salinas, Simiatug and Facundo Vela parishes, with the slogan “We are Art, Culture and Peace – Bolívar”.

Olivo Vargas, Justice of the Peace of the San José del Tambo parish, Zone 3, explained that justices of the peace know and resolve individual and community conflicts on the basis of conciliation and equity, since they know the social and cultural reality of their communities.

The “Justice, Peace and Art” event was complemented with the artistic intervention of the Chamber Group of the Guaranda Symphony Orchestra and the exhibition of handicrafts by the group of women artisans from the Salinas and Simiatug parishes.

The Justice of the Peace System is an instance of administration of justice, recognized in the Constitution of the Republic and in the Organic Code of the Judicial Function, it is oriented to guarantee quick and effective access to justice services by the citizens who live in rural and marginal urban areas of the country.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Panama promotes the practice of values ​​for a culture of peace by students

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from the Ministerio de Gobierno, República de Panama

The Ministry of Government, the Administration Attorney’s Office and the Norwegian Refugee Council have implemented the project “Cultivating Builders of Peace” with the aim of promoting the practice of values ​​in students for the construction of a culture of peace.

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(Click here for the original article in Spanish.)

Question related to this article:
 
What is the best way to teach peace to children?

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It was the Minister of Government, Janaina Tewaney Mencomo, who started the pilot plan at the Justo Arosemena Institute to the joy of fifth graders. The Minister expressed the importance that each student plants the seeds of peace and tolerance, the values ​​that we need as human beings. In the same way, she exhorted them to each be a peacemaker to resolve conflicts at school, at home and in the community.

The project will be developed through three thematic axes: Values ​​to build peace, Learning to live together and Techniques for the peaceful resolution of school conflicts. The development of each phase will be the responsibility of the technical personnel of the organizations that are part of the project, who should motivate the participation of the students for meaningful learning. As for the students, they should explore their prior knowledge, relating concepts to daily life and the learning experiences acquired.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

IFLAC World Peace Festival : First edition in Argentina

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Le Nouvelliste

Evans Okan, General Director of Educultura Educación Sin Fronteras and International Director for Latin America of IFLAC World (International Forum for Literature and Culture of Peace), talks about the first edition of the IFLAC World Peace Festival that he conducted this year in Argentina from September 21-25, 2022.

Ticket: What is the iFLAC World Peace Festival? (Tell us a bit about the festival; Date of creation, objective, etc.?)

Evans Okan: The first edition of the iFLAC World Peace Festival, which took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from September 21 to 25 this year, brought together around 30 poets, artists and cultural leaders, from countries such as Sri Lanka , Argentina, Colombia, United States of America, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Bolivia, Uruguay, Chile, Haiti, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, among others. This international event has been promoted by several cultural and educational organizations such as Educultura, IFLAC World, Fundación FEPAIS, Universidad de la Marina Mercante, La Casa del Poeta del Reino Unido, La casa de la Cultura de Buenos Aires and Asociación Civil Casa Paraguaya.

I had the great honor of leading the festival this year as International Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of IFLAC World, but also as Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the event, accompanied by three renowned poetesses of the region: Samiri Hernández Hiraldo, festival coordinator, originally from Puerto Rico, Jennifer García from Colombia was in charge of promoting this great event and Alicia Muñoz Veri from Argentina, as vice-president of the committee.

We have the firm conviction that peace is born from the heart and becomes an act and an immediate presence when the word manages to penetrate and deeply move souls, deciphering their dreams and clarifying their uncertainties. It is therefore from poetry, art, creative thought and culture that the world can change and in fact it does, despite the great differences and conflicts that sometimes divide us and seek to isolate.

Ticket: How is this event important to you as a Haitian?

Evans Okan: First of all, we must consider that Haitian literature is a literature of resistance, which is directly associated with the struggle for freedom and the promotion of universal peace, as mentioned by Dr. Reina Sotillo, Minister Plenipotentiary of Argentina, in his opening speech. Our literature was born at the time of the revolution and culminated with the great epic of Toussaint Louverture and the proclamation of independence in 1804.

Yet the first free country in Latin America and the Caribbean suffered from foreign harassment from the start, starting with the abusive debt of independence that France demanded from our country and that took more than a century to liquidate.

For me, as a Haitian, faced with this harsh reality and in a world largely marked by war, borders and discrimination, the IFLAC World Peace Festival Argentina 2022 was the perfect opportunity to:

1. Remind our brothers in Latin America of the great cultural richness and social ties that unite Haiti to the other countries of the region in a common dream of freedom, peace, greatness and prosperity, beyond linguistic differences or others. It is this wave of love and fraternity that has united us. The love of our roots, of what we really are and not of what the other wants us to be.

2. Advocate for a more humane political and social system in our region, whose sole purpose is development and the common good.

3. On the other hand, it was also an opportunity to plead, through art, for real social justice in our countries, for a fairer distribution of wealth and opportunities. We cannot speak of peace when, before our very eyes, neighboring countries are dying of hunger and whole populations sinking into violence, conflict and disease.

4. To say that in 2022, it is UNACCEPTABLE that many countries in the Caribbean region and Latin America, such as Haiti, the first black republic, the country that was the first to rise up against slavery to obtain freedom from colonialism, be plagued by internal conflict and ruined by the burden of international debt for Third World countries.

5. Draw the attention of our leaders and the various sectors in Haiti to this, to remind them that the only way out is to be able to decide for ourselves and take charge of the future of our people. Together we can eradicate hunger, poverty, injustice, violence, mental slavery and domination.

6. Remind everyone that Haiti is a land of art, culture, spirituality and mystery, far from being the poorest country in the Americas.

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(click here for the French original of this article)

Question for this article:

How can poetry promote a culture of peace?

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Ticket: The festival brought together different countries including Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, among others. What explains the choice of these countries in particular?

Evans Okan: The International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace (IFLAC), is a voluntary association founded and directed by the Egyptian-born Israeli writer Ada Aharoni (Ph.D), since 1999, in addition to her vice-president, writer Elena Vargas, who lives in England, the organization enjoys a global reach, with 22 years of promoting peace and representations in several countries around the world. But, this particular festival was sponsored by the regional representation that I lead, which includes Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain.

In this context, poetry, art and the different cultural manifestations of the countries of the region were present in a fraternal encounter full of hope, with the aim of creating new links and spaces of solidarity, recognition and cultural diffusion. through the voice of our poets, writers, artists, journalists, teachers and cultural promoters as the most effective, authentic and powerful way to build a better, more harmonious and more humane society in pressing and difficult times like the ones we are experiencing .

Ticket: Why the choice of Indran Amirtanayagam as one of the two personalities to be honored within the framework of this first edition?

Evans Okan: It was a wonderful opportunity, as part of the official program, to highlight and recognize two important personalities in the international literary world who represent two different generations, namely Indran Amirtanayagam from the United States, IFLAC World PRIZE World Poet and young Colombian poet Jennifer García, IFLAC World Entrepreneurship And Poetry PRIZE.

These awards are now part of the official activities and initiatives of IFLAC World, to stimulate, promote and exalt the life and work of writers, artists and cultural leaders committed to the ideals of peace that define them.

For IFLAC World and Educultura, awarding this prize to these two great literary references is a unique opportunity to celebrate their fundamental principles and values ​​expressed in a poetry full of meaning and quality, always attentive to the evolution of history and realities. of our peoples.

The life and work of the poet Indran Amirthanayagam, is a categorical example of consecration and humanism in our century, not only for his immense creative talent, but also for his very high quality as a human being, as a leader, as a diplomat, as a teacher and as a friend to all.

Ticket: Who were the representatives of Haiti at this first edition of the iFLAC World Peace Festival?

Evans Okan: We all know that literature is a strong point of Haitian culture, on this occasion Haiti was represented by me, not only as international director of IFLAC World Latinoamerica but also as a writer, because in addition to n being in charge of the direction of the festival, I participated in two reading tables where I presented some of my poems written in French.

Jovanie Jean Pierre, a young student from the city of Jérémie, who is participating in the Educultura study program in Argentina, did me the honor of reading the Spanish translation of my poems, which was a very moving moment for me. and for all the public.

On the other hand, the Haitian poet Martine Milard, residing in France, was also invited to participate in the event, but could not attend for personal reasons.

Ticket: A review of this edition? What are your prospects for the other years to come?

Evans Okan: During the four days of the festival, cultural and educational activities were carried out, which the local people received with great affection, enthusiasm and gratitude. The IFLAC World Peace Festival, Argentina 2022 has successfully fulfilled its mission to bring a message of peace to the world and to summon the highest commitment, responsibility and love for our people, our country, our continent.

Haiti has long been considered a symbol of peace and freedom, however, due to the social, political and economic problems the country is currently facing, this image has weakened. We are aware that art, education, culture and creative thinking are the best way to recover communities, strengthen their connection with the world and contribute to their development. For this reason, we are working so that the location of the next IFLAC World Peace Festival is Haiti, because among other things, we recognize its great cultural richness, its heritage and all that it can offer to the other peoples of Latin America.

The fact that the first edition held in Argentina was led by a Haitian artist and cultural ambassador opens the door for this project to be enthusiastically welcomed by my people next year. The IFLAC World Peace Festival, Haiti 2023, is now our main focus. We hope to bring poetry, art and other cultural manifestations to this community, through a fraternal encounter, which generates new bonds and spaces of solidarity, recognition and cultural diffusion.

Finally, I would like to thank the whole team at Le Nouvelliste for allowing me to reconnect with my roots through this interview and for giving me the opportunity to remind our society that our country still retains many values ​​and the hope of a future change.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Latin America and the Caribbean: International Day of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

A survey by CPNN

The following 52 events in 12 Latin American countries include those listed in Google during the weeks of September 17-28 this year under the key words “International day of peace”, “Dia Internacional da Paz” and “Día Internacional de la Paz” The events also includes some listed on the facebook page of the International Cities of Peace.

About 48 events are listed in One Day One Choir and Montessori schools singing for peace, but there is no indication which events took place this year and which took place only in previous years.


Brazil, the Satsung Spring Ball, September 21

ARGENTINA, FORMOSA

The Directorate for Alternative Conflict Resolution is organizing a talk open to the general public on dialogue and good interpersonal relations, which will take place on the 21st of this month at 6:00 p.m., in the Judicial School room, on the sixth floor of the Court building, 641 San Martín street in the city of Formosa. The activity is part of the International Day of Peace that is commemorated on September 21 of each year. In the cities of Clorinda and El Colorado and with different speakers, the same talk will be replicated on the same day at the same time. . . The director of the area of Alternative Conflict Resolution, María Irma González, said that the unit under her charge intends to celebrate the Day of Peace with various inclusive activities, which will be aimed at the community in general, in order to promote dialogue, listening, empathy, and non-violence.. . . The activities will consist of making a drawing or a phrase that represents peace, which will be to design almanacs for the year 2023, which will be distributed in the different offices of the Judicial Power of the province, concluding with a release of white balloons, as a representation of peace.

ARGENTINA, JUJUY

City councilors participated in the act in commemoration of the International Day of Peace, an opportunity in which they delivered diplomas and exhibited a bell-shaped model, as a symbol of Peace, to different educational institutions in the city.

ARGENTINA, MALARGUE

Meeting of Sculptors for the International Day of Peace. From the Rotary Club Malargüe, every year they carry out activities in the department, for the International Day of Peace,

ARGENTINA, OLIVOS

Celebration of the International Day of Peace. Campaign for one million hearts and smiles for peace. Come make and exchange your origami heart to announce peace. 21 September, 10:30, 2502 Maipu Avenue, Olivos.

ARGENTINA, POSADAS

In commemoration of September 21, which is the International Day of Peace, promoted by the United Nations General Assembly in order to promote the ideals of peace in all nations and peoples of the world, the Government Secretariat of the Municipality of Posadas presents the third meeting “Posadas Dialogues for Peace” to be held in the “Tierra Sin Mal” Auditorium of the Villa Cultural La Estación . . . This event is possible thanks to the articulated work of the areas of the General Directorate of Human Rights and the General Directorate of Participatory Methods for Conflict Resolution and Citizen Strengthening, which propose a celebration of the month of Peace with a discussion that addresses the issue from different looks and looks.

ARGENTINA, RIO GRANDE

At least 30 runners will star this Sunday 18 (concentration, 8:45; start, 9:30) the 12th 5K Provincial Championship (10th International Day of Peace Run), organized by the End of the World Athletic Group (AAFM ) and the Rotary Club Isla Grande (RCIG).

ARGENTINA, USHUAIA

The activities will be first of all on September 17 at Casa Beban starting at 5:00 p.m., where the southern peace movement, the Sembrando Cultura foundation and the Municipality will promote the Peace Day “Build your own crane”, inviting neighbors to make a paper crane, a millennial symbol of happiness and part of the Children’s Peace Monument that represents Sadako Sasaki, a victim of the Hiroshima bomb. Already on September 21, at 11:00 a.m. the event will be held in the framework of the International Day of Peace and the 10th Anniversary of the Plaza Campana de la Paz, the Austral Peace movement, the Mil Milenios de Paz Foundation , the Cooperativa Sembrando Cultura and the Ministry of Culture and Education will carry out an activity in commemoration of the date.

BOLIVIA, EL ALTO

In commemoration of the International Day of Peace, Fundación CONSTRUIR participated on Thursday, September 22, 2022 in the “XIII Fair for the International Day of Peace, at an end to discrimination. Build Peace”  organized by different institutions such as SEPAMOS, CEBIAE, OMAK, CHASKI, among others. The event took place in the city of El Alto, in the vicinity of the Red cable car in the 16 de Julio area.

BRAZIL, ARANGUA

This Wednesday’s rain did not disturb the celebrations of the International Day of Peace promoted by the Casa da Fraternity together with different religious segments and society in Ararangua. The night was exciting and the atmosphere of harmony and peace between the leaders who participated was beautiful!

BRAZIL, BELEM

On the 24th of September , the League of Combatants together with the ADFA (Association of the Disabled of the Armed Forces) will hold the “ March for Peace 2022 ”, within the scope of the International Day of Peace. The March will begin at the entrance of the Museu do Combatente/Forte do Bom Sucesso, in Belém, and the route will be as usual along Avenida Brasília to the Museum of Electricity/MAAT and back, arriving at the same place next to the entrance. from the Combatant Museum/Forte do Bom Sucesso.

BRAZIL, BELO HORIZONTE

To celebrate the date and its meaning, DIÁRIO DO COMÉRCIO and Brahma Kumaris hold, on September 25 , the Walk for Peace .The event is free and open to the public, departing at 8 am from Marco Zero, in Lagoa da Pampulha , heading to the Ecological Park.The route of about 2 kilometers will be an opportunity to reflect on peace, exercise and have fun with playful surprises along the way.At the end, in the midst of nature, there will be a special closing moment with group meditation and musical presentation by the handpan player Thiago Peixoto .

BRAZIL, CAMPINAS

I MARCHA DA PEACE, JOY AND ART 2022″ , on the 25th of September 2022, also motivated by the celebration of the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE.

BRAZIL, CURITIBA

A special invitation from Brazil for peace and the planet. Paulo Barddal, International Cities of Peace, Curitiba, Brazil, Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace

BRAZIL, FLORIANAPOLIS, SANTA CATARINA

Alesc receives seminar “Best Practices for a Culture of Peace”. Assembleia Legislativa de Santa Catarina. To celebrate the International Day of Peace, the Legislative Assembly hosted this Wednesday (21) a seminar on good practices for a culture of peace.

BRAZIL, GUAIBA

On the International Day of Peace, this Wednesday (21), students from the Gomes Jardim State Institute of Education formed a hug around the Farroupilha Cypress, a tree that is a symbol of Guaíba and a cultural heritage of the state. In the place where the Farroupilha Revolution began 187 years ago, students asked for more peace, unity, solidarity, positive energies for the city and the planet. The prayed Our Father for the 403 people who died as a result of the pandemic in Guaíba. On the way to the Historic Site, they distributed free hugs to traders and people on the streets and distributed messages and the dove of peace.

BRAZIL, GUARULHOS

In celebration of the International Day of Peace (September 21), the City of Guarulhos promotes the second edition of Guarulhos de Mãos Dadas pela Paz, in the main tent of Bosque Maia. The program begins with a Tai Ji Qi Gong class, a body practice that helps to strengthen breathing, which will be led by physical educator Manoel Eloildo Felix da Silva at 9:15 am. Then, at 9:45 am, there will be the Circular Dances for Peace workshop, a movement virtually created by Friedel Klokle-Eibl, a leading exponent of circular dances from the Netherlands, who invited practitioners from different countries to contribute, by holding hands in a circle, to dance for peace and for a world open to tolerance. To conclude, at 11:15 am, the construction of a human mandala will begin with the participants as a symbol of reciprocity and harmony, under the coordination of Renate Sewing de Paula, an artist from the city dedicated to the creation of mandalas. The work will be donated to one of the municipal health facilities as a decorative art and a symbol of peace.

BRAZIL, IGARASSU

Hands providing peace. Today, September 21, 2022, was one of the best experiences of my life in the construction of cultures of peace. I was invited to accompany the kids in a local school in an action for peace. The kids offered hearts, smiles and hugs to others who responded to the invitation with smiles and hugs. Peace is more than possible, it is real and it begins with each little act of the heart. Edmario Jobat, International Cities of Peace, Igarassu, Brazil, Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace, Living Peace International.

BRAZIL, JUAZEIRO

In order to reflect on the culture of peace, schools in the municipal education network of Juazeiro, held on the morning of this Tuesday (06), the traditional walk alluding to the International Day of Peace, celebrated in the month of September. The action is also part of the calendar of pedagogical activities of the municipality related to September 7, and receives full support from the City of Juazeiro, through the Secretary of Education and Youth (Seduc). In all, 10 municipal schools participated in the occasion, bringing together students, family members, managers, the school community and the local community.

BRAZIL, MARECHAL CÂNDIDO RONDON

Students and pedagogical team from Colégio Paulo Freire, in Marechal Cândido Rondon, carried out on the morning of this Wednesday (31 agosto) the Peace Walk, which is part of the Family at School project, carried out by the Association of Parents, Teachers and Employees ( APMF), and is sponsored by Itaipu Binacional. The purpose of the march was to promote reflection on the culture of peace. In addition, the students and the school administration delivered to the Rondonian Executive, represented by the deputy mayor Ilario Hofstaetter, a document with strategies to promote peace in the municipality. Among the measures presented to the deputy mayor is the implementation of the International Day of Peace in Marechal Rondo to generate awareness in the community about the culture of peace.

BRAZIL, PROCASA

More than 300 children, students, parents, education and health professionals took to the streets of the Procasa community, in Barreiros, this Wednesday morning (21) to ask for peace. The 7th Peace Walk is a promotion of the Municipal Basic School (EBM) Altino Corsino da Silva Flores, which invites other health and educational institutions nearby to join in this cause. . . . Each participating educational institution addressed the theme in the classroom and prepared elements to symbolize peace. EBM students Altino Corsino da Silva Flores carried paper hearts, EVA birds and smiling emojis. . . . Children from CEI Santos Dumont, on the other hand, produced mini flags with drawings and affectionate messages with white paper.

BRAZIL, SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS

The 2022 edition of the Spring Satsang, in São José dos Campos, will feature five days of celebration and experience in honor of the International Day of Peace and the beginning of the new season.  With experiences of circular dances, guided by João Paulo Pessoa and Guataçara Monteiro, the Spring Ball has as its theme the awakening of a new season. The main idea is to create a peaceful atmosphere that connects everyone who wants to participate with the essence of the Brazilian people’s culture of peace.

BRAZIL, VICENTINA

This Saturday (24), Parque Vicentina Aranha hosts the 10th edition of the Festival Te Ofereço A Paz, under the theme Reconnection. The program starts at 9 am and will take place in different areas of the Park, with more than 15 activities that encourage lightness and well-being through direct contact with people, methods, techniques and therapies that promote the search for peace on three levels. : with oneself, with the other and with nature. Conceived by psychologist Sonia Redi, the multidisciplinary festival takes place in celebration of the International Day of Peace (September 21), an initiative established by the United Nations. Among the programmed activities are yoga, reiki, quick massages, music, circular dance, lectures and experiences with bioenergetics, in addition to an exclusive space for children.

CHILE, CHIGUAYANTE

Concepcion Chiguayante School. In the context of the International Day of Peace and Nonviolence, the English Department celebrated this event at all levels of the school. The students participated in marches for peace (pre-school), creation of crafts and door decoration (basic education), work with the song “all you need is love” and creation of stickers (5th and 6th grade), creation of posters (7th to 1st grade) and discussions about types of violence in the school context and actions we can take (2nd to 4th grade)

COLOMBIA, ABBA FOUNDATION

In commemoration of the International Day of Peace 2022, Abba Colombia joins and highlights the work it is doing for peace, non-violence and non-discrimination in Colombia; for this reason, some young beneficiaries of Abba Colombia tell us about the importance of contributing to peace regardless of race, nationality, culture, economic or social status through our social media.

COLOMBIA, BOGOTA, PALACE OF JUSTICE

From this Wednesday, September 21, and until Friday, September 23, the Palace of Justice will be sheltered within the framework of the International Day of Peace and as a citizen demonstration to remember the rights to peace, a dignified life and the reconstruction of the collective memory of who have been victims of the Armed Conflict in Colombia. The Colombian house of justice will be covered with woven fabrics that were hand-made by dozens of people throughout the national territory and in 24 countries in Latin America and Europe, a sign of the commitment of those who believe in absolute peace as a path to non-repetition. In addition to the symbolic act, called Covering of the Palace of Justice, for three days there will be cultural exhibitions, academic talks and a fair of enterprises of victims of the armed conflict and signatories of the Agreement.

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Question related to this article:

What has happened this year (2022) for the International Day of Peace?

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COLOMBIA, BOGOTA, RED CROSS

Colombian Red Cross; Come and celebrate with us the International Day of Peace. Wednesday, 21 September, 2;00 PM, Bogotá Plaza Hotel. Through the synergy of the private and humanitarian sectors, we can achieve sustainability, development and peace.

COLOMBIA, MEDELLIN, UN MISSION

In Medellín, the celebration of the International Day of Peace began at the Presbítero Antonio José Bernal Londoño Educational Institution, where children painted peace. This activity, organized within the framework of the Month for Peace, will be extended during September and October in other schools and with the sons and daughters of the peace signatories in the different regions of Antioquia, with the support of Redepaz and the Mission of United Nations verification in Colombia.  

COLOMBIA, MEDELLIN, CONCERT

Every September 21, the United Nations General Assembly celebrates the Intentional Day of Peace : an opportunity to strengthen the ideas of peace and Non-Violence. To be part of the celebration, the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra invites you to the concert “Peace, music and silence”, to invite you to look at diversity, peace and respect life. The music of Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Joseph Haydn will be the protagonists of this concert that will be directed by Adrian Chamorro, Colombian director, pedagogue and soloist. 

COLOMBIA, OCAÑA

Campaign seeks to keep children away from violence in regions of Colombia Football as a generator of social change is what inspires the Fundación Selección Colombia and Spirit of Soccer to carry out programs such as Goals that Save Lives, designed so that nearly 300 children and adolescents have a life option in sports, far of violence. The first of the football festivals was held in Villavicencio (Meta) on September 13 and 14 . . . These programs will continue in Santander de Quilichao (Cauca), on the 16th and 17th of the same month, and Ocaña (Norte de Santander), on September 20th and 21st. . . It is an effort motivated by the celebration of the International Day of Peace of the United Nations, on September 21, but one that can be sustained over time and can benefit many more minors.

COLOMBIA, PALMIRA

With cultural events, plays, sporting events and the intervention of a mural in Bolívar Park, the International Day of Peace was celebrated this Wednesday, September 21, in Palmira.

COSTA RICA

The Ministry of Justice and Peace, the Ministry of Culture and Youth, the Ministry of Public Education and the Fire Department commemorated this September 21, the International Day of Peace, with the award ceremony for the “Song for Peace” Contest. “Today we celebrate the International Day of Peace and what better way than to do it through art and youth. Song for Peace is an example of the preventive work that the Ministry of Justice and Peace has been carrying out through the Vice Ministry of Peace, thanks to the commitment and joint work with public institutions and private companies”, said Sergio Sevilla, Vice Minister of Peace. .

CUBA, HABANA

 The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) celebrated today the award ceremony of the national contest “Children paint and write for Peace”, an act that adds to the extensive program of activities that are carried out in this day, on the occasion of celebrating the International Day of Peace .
During a simple activity, the pioneers of the Arturo Montori elementary school made drawings related to peace and learned about the results of the national contest organized by the José Martí Pioneers Organization (OPJM) and ICAP.

ECUADOR, MANABI

The Provincial Directorate of the Judicial Council (CJ) of Manabí commemorated, this Monday, September 12, 2022, the International Day of Peace, with a dialogue in which experiences were shared about the work carried out by justices of the peace in their communities. The event took place in the House of Culture of Manabí and was attended by the Provincial Director of the CJ in the Disciplinary Field, Shamir Briones, the President of the Provincial Court of Justice, Carlos Zambrano, the Public Defender, Mauro Ponce, the Manabi artists, Danny Coveña and Eduardo Mendoza, justices of the peace, representatives of social organizations, students and teachers of the San Gregorio de Portoviejo University. The Provincial Director, Shamir Briones, in his speech mentioned that the Culture of Peace is a mechanism that has been promoted by the Council of the Judiciary in order to further expand the access of citizens to the justice system, especially in communities where through this mechanism, conflicts have been resolved without the parties having resorted to the Judicial Units.

ECUADOR, PORTOVIEJO

The Directorate of the Judicial Council of Manabi commemorated the International Day of Peace, with a dialogue in which experiences of the work carried out by justices of the peace in their communities were shared. The activity took place at the Casa de la Cultura, in Portoviejo, with the participation of justices of the peace and representatives of social organizations. La Direccion del Consejo de la judicatura de Manabi conmemmoro el Dia Internacional de la Paz, con un dialogo en el que se compartieron experiencias del trabajo que realizan los jueces de paz en sus comunidades. La actividad se efectuo en la Casa de la Cultura, en Portoviejo, con la participacion de jueces de paz y representantes de organizaciones sociales.

FRENCH GUYANA

Yesterday, Wednesday September 21, 2022 was the International Day of Peace. On this occasion, the NGO Club Soroptimist International went to the Saint-Paul nursing home to celebrate this day with the residents.

GUATEMALA, ESCUINTLA

In commemoration of the International Day of Peace, administrative staff of the Departmental Directorate of Education (Dideduc) of Escuintla, teachers and students carried out a civic act in the cultural center of the municipal seat. The notes of the marimba were heard in that room, in which students from the Intercultural Normal School made various performances. The activity was replicated in different establishments in the department. One of the schools that joined the celebration was the primary school of the Cañaveral II village, in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa.

MEXICO, BACALAR

Event poster: 21 September, International Day of Peace, May peace prevail on earth. Even free for all the family. In the Municipal Park of Badalar. 10:00 AM. Ceremony of banners. Peace declarations. Circular dances.

MEXICO, CAMARGO

The celebration of the International Day of Peace was held at the Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez Primary School. The director of the campus, Berenice de León Caro, stressed that directors, teachers, students and parents participated in this important date.

MEXICO, CANCUN

The municipal government of Benito Juárez, through the Directorate of Religious Affairs, commemorated the International Day of Peace with a significant participation of public servants who formed the word “Peace” and the symbol of the dove allusive to said message on the esplanade of the Plaza de la Reforma. The person in charge of the office of the Municipal Presidency, Lourdes Latife Cardona Muza, thanked the people who dressed in white, a color alluding to this day, which is celebrated every September 21, for their assistance. She emphasized that “with peace we will achieve a Cancun where we can all see each other as brothers and we can continue building and rebuilding the social fabric.”

MEXICO, COZUMEL

To commemorate the “International Day of Peace”, the Municipal Government, through the Education subdirectorate, held a civic ceremony this Wednesday morning called “Put an end to racism. Build peace”, with which a call is made to build a more peaceful community. Within the framework of this event that took place in the Quintana Roo park, the secretary general of the Cozumel City Council, Ociel González González, representing the municipal president, Juanita Alonso Marrufo, explained that peace is much more than the absence of a conflict, it is understanding others, it is educating the new generations to be good people, to understand that each one of us can rebuild our present and create everything we want through words, especially through our actions, since we all have the same circumstances in common, we share the same problems and the same conditions.

MEXICO, CULIACAN

Culiacan: Sinaloa will have a day of activities for peace, announces Building Spaces for Peace.
The activities will take place from September 19 to 24, since the International Day of Peace is commemorated on September 22

MEXICO, FELIPE CARRILLO PUERTO

The National System for Integral Family Development in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, carried out a Mayan ceremony on the esplanade of the Expomaya premises in the framework of the commemoration of the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated on September 21, every year, to raise awareness about the importance of having an environment free of violence.

MEXICO, GUANAJUATO

Within the framework of the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated on September 21 of each year, this Monday in Guanajuato began the ninth edition of the School Week for Peace 2022, which presents a program of more than 300 activities in which institutions The basic, upper middle and higher levels of the state will participate from September 19 to 23. . . . During the Week for Peace, the educational institutions of basic, upper secondary and higher education carry out cultural and recreational activities with the coordination of state and municipal agencies; through: workshops, conferences, webinars, cultural events and physical activations.

MEXICO, LÁZARO CÁRDENAS

By resolution of the United Nations Organization, September 21 is the International Day of Peace, and to commemorate the Fundación el Sol, based in Mexico, two concerts for peace will be held in this city, offered by the Philharmonic Orchestra by Lazaro Cardenas. at the concert on Wednesday 21, they will award recognition to humanitarian social leaders, who are . . . those who have contributed to peace in Lázaro Cárdenas.

MEXICO, MIGUEL ALEMAN

Within the framework of the celebration of the International Day of Peace , teaching staff and students from different elementary schools, carried out different student dynamics on the fields of their respective educational institutions. . . the basic level students carried out different group dynamics under the roof of the respective schools, after providing a detailed explanation by their teachers in relation to this date, as it is the International Day of Peace .

MEXICO, SAN LUIS POTOSI

Within the framework of the International Day of Peace and with the purpose of eradicating discrimination and contributing to the prevention of crime, the Family Welfare Coordination of the State DIF offered awareness talks on the culture of peace and free environments of violence.

MEXICO, TOLUCA

The City Council of Toluca invites the population to the commemorative event of the International Day of Peace, which will take place on Saturday, September 21 at 10:00 a.m. at the Morelos Theater. With the aim of raising awareness among Toluqueños to generate a healthy coexistence and promote the Culture of Peace as a lifestyle, the General Directorates of Social Welfare and Promotion and Guidance for Social Coexistence join this world celebration, in which will highlight topics such as the Rescue of Values, Conflict Resolution and Positive Attitude.

MEXICO, VERACRUZ

In order to promote the culture of peace , the community of Colegio Keystone Riviera Veracruzana held a peaceful march in Boca del Río . Dressed in white and with some posters with messages of peace, teachers and students from kindergarten, primary, secondary and high school, accompanied by their families, marched on Vicente Fox Boulevard. Rossana de Velasco, general coordinator of the Keystone Riviera Veracruzana School, explained that this activity is carried out within the framework of the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated on September 21.

MEXICO, ZACATECAS

The Secretariat of Women of the State of Zacatecas (Semujer), will carry out, on September 21, the State Meeting of Women:  “Traveling together towards equality, love and peace” . It is organized during this day to commemorate the International Day of Peace. Women from the public administration of the state will participate in this event, as well as the media, academia and women from the business sector.  From this meeting, it will be possible to generate ties between women and promote projects in which the participation of women has an impact on the daily and social life of the state. The importance of this space refers not only to recognizing the work that women carry out day by day from different trenches, but also to open a path for new generations.

NICARAGUA, ESTELI

Within the framework of inter-institutional collaboration and social bonding, volunteer students and teachers from FAREM-Estelí commemorated the international day of peace with activities carried out at the María Auxiliadora School, in district III of the city of Estelí. The first activity was carried out with third level children; Through songs, they reflected on the importance of promoting a culture of peace. Later, a piñata was held where peaceful attitudes, respect for order and the joy of living in peace were put into practice, with the motto “children want peace”. The second activity, carried out with fifth and sixth grade students, consisted of a deeper reflection on what it means to live in peace and its importance for the development of the community. Finally, drawings alluding to peace were made and their meaning was shared in plenary. In turn, the importance of peace in our lives was emphasized.

VENEZUELA

To the rhythm of a lively batucada followed by the dance therapy girls and the children from the INCES sports initiation schools, the march to celebrate the International Day of Peace fulfilled its mission of going through the streets of the point and circle, a route that was accompanied by a group of apprentices and workers from the General Management of Culture, Sports, Recreation and Community Participation of INCES. “ Walk for peace. End racism. Build peace”, was the slogan of a day that was accompanied by institutions such as: Terrestrial Transit, the PNB, the UNES, the National Institute Against Racial Discrimination, the National Service for Voluntary Disarmament, among others.

VENEZUELA, JUAN JOSE MORA

A large colloquium was held this Wednesday, September 21, for the International Day of Peace in the municipality of Juan José Mora. . . . . During the meeting, the institutions present spoke about the contribution that each represents to the development of peace in the municipality. . . .The activity was attended by representatives of the Preventive Front, Carabobo State Police, Municipal Police, National Police, Police Chaplaincy, Senamecf, SEGNA, Idenna, MINEC, Municipal Firefighters, Rescue Group 3000, teachers from the UBV, Insalud and other institutions. who with their daily work contribute to the establishment of a sense of peace and security.

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

USA: House Dems Voice ‘Grave and Urgent Concerns’ Over Chilean Plebiscite Misinformation

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article from Common Dreams (licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.)

U.S. House Democrats on Friday shared their “grave and urgent concerns” to leading social media companies over right-wing misinformation about this weekend’s Chilean constitutional plebiscite being shared on their platforms.

In a letter  to Mark Zuckerberg, Parag Agrawal, and Shou Zi Chew—the respective CEOs of Facebook parent company Meta, Twitter, and TikTok—the lawmakers “strongly implore” the social media companies to “act with urgency to combat corrupt disinformation campaigns that undermine a fair and democratic process” in Chile.


Thousands of people take part in a closing rally for the “I approve” option to change the Chilean constitution in Santiago on September 1, 2022. (Photo: Lucas Aguayo Araos/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

“This Sunday, Chileans will decide whether to approve a new constitution or default to the existing version written by the Pinochet dictatorship’s military junta,” states the letter, which is signed by Reps. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Jesús “Chuy” García, Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), and James McGovern (D-Mass).

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Question related to this article:

Is the media an arm of the culture of war?

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The lawmakers were referring to the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, who seized power in a 1973 coup supported by then-President Richard Nixon and successive administrations as well as  U.S. business interests.

“In the context of such an important and sensitive democratic process, we believe that technology corporations like yours have an obligation to ensure that their platforms do not serve to disseminate hate, lies, and disinformation across the electorate,” the letter continues. “Yet just this week Reuters reported that inaccurate information about Chile’s new constitution is widespread.”

As Common Dreams noted  Wednesday, a far-right misinformation campaign—replete with lies that the new constitution would change Chile’s flag, national anthem, and even the country’s name—could imperil its approval.

The lawmakers’ letter laments that “thousands of Twitter profiles regularly circulate patently false claims regarding the new constitution” in “an attempt to delegitimize and discredit” the proposed document.

“Even more troubling, these attacks often use hate speech to target women and Indigenous leaders,” the Democrats noted.

“We urge you to act swiftly against the spread of disinformation,” they added. “Continued inaction could abet interference in this historic referendum.”

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America, North America,

Mexico: First “Festival of the Heroines of Independence”

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from Page 3 (translation by CPNN)

From 5 to On September 11, the “First Festival of the Heroines of Independence” will be held in the City of Oaxaca. It will contribute to the construction of a culture of peace by recognizing the women who, with their effort, courage and even with their lives, have contributed to the foundation of our country.

Music, theater, history, cinema, poetry and gastronomy will serve as vehicles to pay tribute and make visible the women who have been systematically erased from the history of Mexico.

At a press conference to publicize this Festival, the general director of the “Las Heroínas” Collective, Martha Toledo Mar, explained that the idea of ​​the project arose as a result of the Bicentennial Celebration of the Independence of Mexico, which only gave tribute to heroic men.

“There we realized that there was a deep historical void in the psyche of the Mexican people; It is not that those who write the history books forgot, it is not something free, it is on purpose, it is a matter of the system, of the patriarchy, ”she remarked.

This Festival, said Toledo Mar, seeks to recognize all those women with names and surnames. She mentioned that there is a record of more than 50 women who fought for independence, however, the majority of the population only remembers two: Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez and Leona Vicario.

“We believe that for a culture of peace to exist, it is necessary to recognize and give the place that corresponds to each of these women and thus reduce the historical debt. We firmly believe that what is not named, does not exist”, underlined Martha Toledo Mar. And she added that precisely for this reason, on this occasion the Festival will pay tribute in life to the historian, researcher and activist Margarita Dalton.

In a subsequent interview, the co-director of the Consortium for Parliamentary Dialogue and Equity, Yésica Sánchez Maya, stressed that it is essential for this organization to continue to influence the visibility of all the contributions of women in all structures of society; hence, she pointed out, the importance of this artistic project by Martha Toledo Mar.

“This festival seemed like a fundamental proposal to us because historically we have been unrecognized, always made invisible. This exercise of women for women is a long-term commitment to the construction of peace that seeks to generate new ways of recognizing and dignifying, through the arts, singing and creativity, to those women who were not recognized at the time,” he said.

In this sense, Sánchez Maya welcomed the support of the municipality of Oaxaca de Juárez for making available public spaces where some of the activities will take place. This will make art and culture more accessible for Oaxacans.

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(Click here for the original Spanish version.)

Questions for this article

Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

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For her part, Rocío Morales, singer-songwriter and cultural manager added: “telling a story in a song is a challenge. This is documented in the book Addicted to the Insurgency by Celia Palacios which makes known and honors the women whom history does not mention.

Similarly, Jade Midori, an Oaxacan plastic artist, remarked: “I think it is very important to make women visible within social movements, not only on commemorative historical dates such as Independence, but also within historical and contemporary social struggles.”

The women to be honored by artists are:

Tonena,
Leticia Gallardo,
Martha ToledoMar,
Olympia Silvavarez,
Anastasia Sonaranda,
Evelyn Acosta,
Rosalia Leon,
Dolores Sanjuan,
Ana Diaz,
Coyolicatzin,
Reina Valenzuela,
astrid hadad,
Olinka,
Violet Parrandera,
Athena Ochoa,
Salma Corres,
Nancy Zamer
Elo Vit,
Rocio Morales and
Akna.

Toledo Mar explained that through her music, the participants will honor:

Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez,
Leona Vicar,
Gertrudis Bocanegra,
Maria Ignacia “La Güera Rodríguez”,
Altagracia Market,
Maria Manuela Medina “The Captain”,
Mariana Rodriguez del Toro
Luisa Martinez,
Antonia Nava from Catalan “La Generala”,
Rita Perez de Moreno,
The Women of Miahuatlan,
Rafaela Lopez Aguado,
Cecilia Villareal,
Maria Josepha Martinez,
Manuela Herrera and
Anonymous heroines.

As part of this Festival, two plays will also be developed at the “Juárez” Theater by the Compañía Nacional de Teatro Novohispano and the Compañía de Teatro “Lola Bravo”, in addition to 3 conferences by historians Margarita Dalton, Rebeca Orozco and Celia del Palacio; a round table, four projections of historical films and the presentation of three commemorative murals. Poetry readings, literary gatherings and themed dinners are also planned.

The “Las heroínas” Collective is made up of the Zapotec singer-songwriter and priestess Rocío Morales, the decimist and former Goddess Centéotl, Evelin Acosta, the singer and cultural manager Nohemí Mondragón, and the singer-songwriter and composer Anastasia Sonaranda.
It also includes the composer and visual artist José Luis Guzmán Wolffer, the playwright and actor Francisco Hernández, the marketer and activist Lalo Lara and the coordinator of the Institutional Program for the Culture of Peace of the Autonomous University “Benito Juárez” of Oaxaca (UABJO), Leticia Cruz Lopez.

Latin America, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Colombia: Peacebuilding in Viotá, a model that seeks to be replicated throughout the country

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from Newslocker (translation by CPNN)

Former guerrillas, victims and public forces have created dialogue tables and worked together on local projects that provide reparation for the damages caused by the war. They are working on restorative actions in advance, before the JEP imposes its own trials. (The JEP, Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz, was established by the Peace Accords.)


Marker plaque completed in the cemetery of San Gabriel, Viotá. / Courtesy Dunna

The armed conflict in Viotá (Cundinamarca) left traces of terror that, over the years, have eaten away at the dreams of thousands of families. The 22nd and 42nd fronts of the extinct FARC settled there in the 1990s, making this municipality one of their most important strongholds in the Andean region around Bogotá. Entering the new millennium and for nearly four years, the Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Casanare also entered this area and tried to take control through extortion, murder and forced disappearance.

The result of the violence unleashed by these two armed groups was a balance of 12,903 victims registered by the Victims Unit. In the files of the Attorney General’s Office and the Justice and Peace courts themselves, the cases of more than 113 people considered missing were documented, of whom little or nothing was known over the years.

Even without knowing many truths about their loved ones and after a long time without being listened to by the State to seek justice, the people of Viotá have learned to forgive and see the construction of peace as the central element of their life in community. When the former FARC signed peace in 2016, the vast majority of ex-combatants who operated there stayed to complete their reincorporation process into civilian life, according to the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN).

“The case of Viotá is rare, because the normal thing in other territories where thousands of people laid down their arms was for the former guerrillas to go to other departments where no one knew them from the past, to start a life from scratch. However, in Viotá they decided to face their crimes, live with their usual neighbors to whom they did so much harm and chose to show them that in their own home they could successfully advance a model of collective reconciliation,” said Natalia Quiñones, co-founder of the Dunna Corporation, an organization that accompanies innovative alternatives for peace in various areas of the country.

Dunna has been very close to the processes of dialogue and reconstruction of the social fabric in Viotá. There, with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands, the Bolívar Davivienda Foundation, the Mayor’s Office and the Cundinamarca Agency for Peace and Coexistence, they managed to establish dialogue among those appearing before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) of the ex-guerrilla with its victims, members of the public force and other inhabitants, in order to carry out restorative exercises and healing activities for the mind and body, in order to overcome the traumas and emotional discomfort left by the war.

“We have known each other forever. Now they are my neighbors and I sell them vegetables and pig feed. We do not forget what they did to us, but we accept their repentance,” said a resident of Viotá who has participated in the process.

“We have an interdisciplinary team of psychologists, yoga teachers, psychiatrists, political scientists, lawyers, sociologists and anthropologists who have been working on the development of the Viotá program to generate a reconciliation model that can be replicated at the national level. Our results there showed that 100% of those who received our attention had significant changes in trust, reciprocity, stigmatization and collective efficacy. The exercises of dialogue, restorative circle and mind-body strategies were able to reduce distrust and bring together the inhabitants of the community to address the present and the future that the community faces collectively.

In other projects with similar protocols, Dunna has obtained satisfactory results in terms of post-traumatic stress and mental health, showing that this type of model can help between 91 and 94% of the participants to successfully overcome mental health risks. derived from the trauma and to achieve emotional well-being”, added Quiñones.

In Viotá they learned to forgive with the formula of action without harm: nothing that is done on the ground or any gesture or word that is said in the spaces of dialogue and listening should re-victimize anyone. However, a feeling shared by the victims and perpetrators of the war in Viotá is that words alone are not enough to repair the many atrocities that were experienced.

(Article continued in the right column)

(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Discussion question

Restorative justice, What does it look like in practice?

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

(Article continued from left column)

In Viotá, the encouragement to compensate crimes against humanity and give dignity to the survivors has been a constant. It has been channeled into collective reconciliation through cooperative projects of infrastructure and memory.

The voices of peace prevail and one of them is that of José del Carmen Viracachá, a peace signer who lives in this area. Ten years ago he was convicted of war crimes and he now understands that a custodial sentence is not the best way to pay tribute to those who have suffered so much in the past. He said in an interview, “We want to make and export peace through example. Forgiveness is valuable, but it must be accompanied by concrete actions that serve people and so that they see our repentance and our commitment not to repeat anything bad. Confinement almost never fixes anything; that’s why I think that the harshness of the past must be addressed directly.

New paradigm of justice

Prison as the ultimate goal for those who committed crimes in the context of an armed conflict according to the Statutory Law of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), enacted three years ago, on June 6, 2019.

An acronym appears in the document that will be talked about frequently in the coming months: the TOAR (Works, Works and Activities with Restorative content).
The Peace Agreement stipulated two types of TOARs to be developed at different stages of the post-conflict. On the one hand, there are the TOARs that are a consequence of the imposition of the JEP’s sanctions; these do not yet exist, because the court has not yet issued any ruling. They will be imposed in the cases of macro-cases 01 (taking of hostages and other serious deprivations of liberty) and 03 (extrajudicial executions). In these cases restorative activities will be required, as long as those appearing comply with the conditions of the Statutory Law; that is to say, tell complete truths, give guarantees of non-repetition and dignify their victims.

On the other hand, and returning to the case of Viotá, there are the anticipated TOARs, which consist of carrying out restoration activities (infrastructure works, construction of monuments, demining tasks or literacy tasks, among others) in advance of any imposed sanctions. These anticipated TOARs honor the rights of the victims and obtain discount benefits from a restrictive sentence of freedom when it is imposed. These restorative activities must have the endorsement of the Executive Secretariat of the JEP. During 2021, the JEP jurisdiction followed up on 64 of these projects in various departments.

During the dialogue sessions that Dunna led with the actors of the conflict in Viotá, several options were discussed for collective work to promote the historical memory of the town. What do we need to see on our streets to feel represented and respected after the conflict? How to advance a work or activity that is not forgotten by future generations? Those were some of the questions raised among the people of Viotá, who also had to take into account in order not to be frustrated that any project they thought of had to be in harmony with the development plan of the town and subject to the economic capacities of the municipality, which ultimately must pay for the expenses.

“The most difficult task was to first seek funding before putting the TOARs on everyone’s lips. The priority, of course, is to choose something that the community wants and sees in it a symbolic and restorative content; Luckily, a consensus was reached and the people were able to prioritize projects that their municipal administration could afford to pay. Viotá’s dignity is the goal and remembering those who no longer with us was the most beautiful”, explained Natalia Quiñones.

That was how all eyes were directed to the path of San Gabriel. The Viotá cemetery is located there, to which paradoxically they could not take their dead, due to the precarious access roads. The surrounding streets were destroyed, so the cemetery was not accessible. This was a headache, especially during the years of conflict and in the covid-19 pandemic.
To address this situation, peace signatories, victims, public forces and citizens built a 68-meter-long path, with which they managed to give a new face to an iconic area for this town and a sign of honor to the dead who the war took and that for so many years they could not visit as they wanted.

On March 17, 2022, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia announced the completion and delivery of the work to open the path of San Gabriel. This marked the closure of a cycle in which Viotá does not want to repeat again, especially since it was a war that they never looked for and never understood, but that completely penetrated their homes.

“This project not only benefits the people of San Gabriel; it also serves for reconciliation. The cemetery has always had a special importance and thanks to this we know that those who previously made us suffer now help us feel good about ourselves and about what we can do together towards the future”, said a resident of Viotá who preferred not to be named.

Now that the Viotá process is completed, Dunna is working in Fusagasugá and Venecia to replicate this model in Cundinamarca. They hope to expand the TOARs to more regions of Colombia and demonstrate that any peace is possible if in the communities there is a robust sense of belonging and a genuine willingness to forgive and not repeat harm.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Chihuahua, Mexico: America García proposes initiative requiring all municipalities to issue regulations on the culture of peace

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from Juarez Noticias

The local deputy for Morena, América García Soto, presented an initiative to urge the 67 municipalities of the State of Chihuahua to issue regulations on the culture of peace. With this Chihuahua would become one of the pioneer states in promoting these new public policies, since there are no precedents in the Supreme Court of Justice of the nation in relation to this issue.

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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?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

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“It is evident that we all want to live in a better, more equitable society, without violence, promoting a culture of peace, both theoretical and practical, where women and men can be assertive. That means respecting our needs, expressing our convictions, defending our rights, taking into account the other, not needing or violating, or submitting to the will of other people, “said the congresswoman in the State Congress session held this Monday (August 15).

The initiative was approved unanimously by all of the Congress members and referred for legal action.

In this regard, she recalled that just last week Ciudad Juárez witnessed one of the largest massacres in recent years, where unfortunately 11 people lost their lives, in addition to multiple damages to convenience stores, and armed clashes by of different criminal organizations.

The deputy for Morena clarified that the regulations that she proposes to be issued are based on the concept of “Culture of Peace” as defined by the United Nations “Declaration and Action Program on a Culture of Peace”, which was created with the purpose of promoting and guaranteeing equality, international citizen security, economic development and education.

Garcia Soto explained that “At the national level, there is a history of similar public policies, initiated by an elected representative and committing the different spheres of government to incorporate action plans.”

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America