Category Archives: DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Mexico: UAEM and PJEM will coordinate activities in the “Week of Access to the Culture of Peace”

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An article from Diario Portal (translation by CPNN)

Cybersecurity, Builders of Peace, Digital Culture and Emotional Reengineering, are some of the topics addressed in the “Week of Access to the Culture of Peace” that takes place from May 16 to 20, organized by the Judiciary of the State of Mexico and the Autonomous University of the Mexico (UAEMéx).

(Click here for the Spanish original. . )

Questions for this article:

Can festivals help create peace at the community level?

The meeting brings together specialists from the Cloister of Sor Juana, the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, the EJEM Judicial Research Center, the Electoral Judicial School, the UAEMéx and the Anahuac University.

Among the activities are two Film-Debates with the Films: Hotel Rwanda and Little Voices; the book “A transitional justice for Mexico. Experiences and realities”; a 5km or 2.5km Walk for Peace, at the Alberto “Chivo”; Córdoba, from University City; and the prizes of the First Culture of Peace Poster Contest.

The week includes the Inauguration of the “Memory and Tolerance Tunnel”, Exhibition of the Museum of Memory and Tolerance; the Monologue “The culture of peace in the words of a superhero”; the Workshop for teachers of the Upper Secondary Level “What do I do with the emotions of my students?”.

A dialogue table and five conferences, among them, “Builders of Peace” will be given by Paolo Pagliai, Director of the College of Human Rights and Peace Management, and Law of the University of the Cloister of Sor Juana.

The inauguration by Judge Ricardo Sodi Cuellar, head of the Judicial Power of the State of Mexico and Doctor Carlos Barrera Díaz, Rector of the UAEMéx, is on Monday, May 16, in the Aula Magna “Lic. Adolfo López Mateos” of the Historical Building of the Rectory and the closing on Friday 20 in the Aula Magna “Mgdo. Lic. Gustavo A. Barrera Graf” of the Judicial School of the State of Mexico.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Children-centered initiative instilling culture of peace in Ecuador community

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An article by Daniela Brik in La Prensa Latina

A UNESCO initiative is striving to instill a culture of peace and strengthen the social fabric in Tierras Coloradas, a violent crime-racked neighborhood of the southern Ecuadorian city Loja.

And the focus of those efforts is on the community’s children, who are seen as the best hope for a brighter future.


Seated around a kitchen table in front of a tablet computer that rests against a wall, Carla and Jose (fictitious names) listen to a law student on the other side of the screen.

That volunteer has assumed the role of teacher, making sure the children know what homework they need to do and clarifying any doubts they may have.

“One of our volunteers connects (with families) after mothers ask for help via a chat,” Gabriela Moreira, head of the UNESCO Chair of Culture and Education for Peace initiative at the Private Technical University of Loja (UTPL).

Around 3,000 people live in Tierras Coloradas, a Loja suburb, in precarious homes built on land donated decades ago to the Catholic Church.

Although the streets of that hillside community bear the names of saints, it carries the stigma of high levels of domestic violence, social marginalization, crime and drug use. The parish priest has even had to have security cameras installed after being robbed on several occasions.

Studies show households in that community earn an average of between $150 and $400 a month, or less than Ecuador’s legal minimum salary.

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(Click here for an article in Spanish)

Questions for this article:

How important is community development for a culture of peace?

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“It’s a very stigmatized neighborhood. There are people with problems identified by the community. But those who have approached us are people trying to improve their lot in life,” said Santiago Perez, the program’s coordinator.

Around 30 UTPL students and scholarship fellows from Spain’s University of Sevilla have participated in the project since it was launched in 2019, either helping children with their homework or giving talks to mothers and fathers.

Perez stressed the importance of working with parents on “managing conflicts in the home and in the community” to mitigate violence “in spaces where it’s been allowed in.”

University professors and students have gradually won the parents’ trust, visited the local school and health center and spoken with community police to see what steps are needed to extricate the population from pervasive violence and foster a climate of respect and public safety.

Parents were especially concerned about their children’s studies, considering many of these young people are alone in the afternoon or being looked after by siblings, or because they themselves lack the educational background to help their kids with their homework.

“At first, the activities were recreational for children aged three to five. Later they included help with school,” Moreira said. “At times, entire days were spent helping them to do an exercise.”

Mariuxi Jimenez, 29, takes her four children aged three to 14 to Santa Narcisa de Jesus church, where two young psychology and social work graduates teach a workshop to children on emotional regulation and anger management.

“What makes you feel happy?” one instructor asks the kids seated on a church bench while holding up some illustrations.

“My children like these types of talks because they help them with things they don’t understand,” said Jimenez, who agrees with the importance of “promoting peace with them so conflicts are avoided.”

The parish priest, Pablo Bouza, acknowledges that the district has been racked by violence due to “drugs, alcoholism, family problems.”

“Denying that reality would be like burying your head in the sand.”

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

War in Ukraine: Statement by the Board of the European Chapter of Mayors for Peace

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A statement by European Chapter of Mayors for Peace

Representing European local and regional governments committed to defend peace in our cities and towns but also across the continent and the whole world, and following up on the call by the Mayor of Hiroshima and President of the Mayors for Peace network urging for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine, we issue the following statement:.

° We urge the Russian government and perpetrators of the current escalation and territorial agression in Ukraine to put an end to hostilities, respect international law and commit to reinvigorated diplomatic efforts: Dialogue, cooperation and diplomacy are the only valid mechanisms to ensure a peaceful resolution to conflict.

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(Click here for the French version of this article)

Question related to this article:
 
How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

Can the peace movement help stop the war in the Ukraine?

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° We express our solidarity with all Mayors, local governments and residents who have been suffering and will now suffer more from this war. This show of solidarity is especially addressed to our city-members and friends in both Ukraine and Russia, with whom we share a common desire and goal: to live in a peaceful world. As places where people live, cities and towns are often the territories suffering the most by armed conflict. Wars cause endless suffering and often turn our citizens into refugees and children into orphans.

° We invite parties involved in diplomatic negotiations to go beyond confrontation and listen to these same communities and local leaders. They are not only the parties suffering the most from the war, but can also be instrumental in delivering a truly sustainable and effective peace.

° We recall the risk of a nuclear escalation inherent in the conflict, which would result in catastrophic humanitarian consequences not only for our shared continent but the whole world. We call for respecting the suffering of previous nuclear victims and also the rights of future generations. We emphasize our organization’s stand on this agenda and call for the implementation of the hitherto not fulfulled commitments on nuclear disarmament: nuclear weapons are prohibited, a vision which has already been embraced by a majority of countries in the world.

° We reaffirm our willingness to continue working together with international organisations in the peace movement, civil society and committed states in finding a solution to this conflict. As mayors and local representatives, we are committed to continue showcasing our people’s firm choice in favor of peace and opposition to war.

Inspired by our own local memories and our firm commitment to shout out loud “Never Again War”, let’s work together to prevent and resolve conflicts, to continue building peace and to create safe environments where all our residents can live safely and with full respect to human rights.

The Executive Board Mayors for Peace European Chapter.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

France : “We, Mayors, want to be architects of Peace!”

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A statement from l’AFCDRP-Maires pour la Paix (translation by CPNN)

In our cities, this military attack on Ukraine brings to the surface the family stories of the past century. It also has a particular resonance with the conflicts of today’s world, for the inhabitants of the first, second and third generation of immigrants who have fled wars and misery to offer their loved ones a better life on our continent. .


In kyiv, the departure of people fleeing Russian bombardments in Ukraine. | THE PICTORIUM/MAXPPP

On a daily basis, in the face of the war in Ukraine, cities are taking action!

On a daily basis, in the face of the war in Ukraine, cities are taking action! They organize and support the journey and reception of refugees, collection of donations, accommodation and schooling, literacy courses and professional integration.

Cities also work every day to anchor the values of peace, solidarity and mutual understanding in local public policies.

In 2010, during a Mayors for Peace conference, Ban Ki Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, stressed that “peace is built in towns and villages all over the world and not only in conference halls in New York or Geneva”.

Against all warmongers, war makers and military industry, the cities carry within them the powerful peaceful force of the peoples and their primary desire to stop all wars.

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(Click here for the French version of this article)

Question related to this article:
 
How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

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In our modern era, no city has ever declared war on another. The cities and their representatives of the people know too well the human cost of blood, weapons and tears!

A vibrant city diplomacy

From the day after the Second World War, the cities were, on the contrary, architects of peace with twinnings on each side of the Rhine.

This city diplomacy is very much alive thanks to the Mayors for Peace network, which has been alerting the world for decades to the nuclear risk, thanks to the association Cités Unies France, which unites municipalities in common objectives of union of Peace and Democracy, and thanks also to United Cities and Local Governments.

Alongside the imperative need to silence the arms, cities promote every day the values of dialogue. Diplomacy is, basically, long-term patience against the use of arms!

Bringing cities on the international stage

To build a better world, more than ever, we need to bring cities onto the international stage and give voice to peaceful municipalism and city diplomacy.

We, mayors, want to keep alive our twinning and cooperation for dialogue between peoples.

We, mayors, have a duty to build local strategies for a culture of peace with our fellow citizens.

We thus strongly reaffirm that everything must be done to find a diplomatic solution to this war and to all wars!

Signed by : Philippe Rio, Mayor of Grigny (PCF, 91), President of Mayors for Peace France; Gilles Leproust, mayor of Allonnes (PCF, 72); Stéphanie Daumin, mayor of Chevilly-Larue (PCF, 94); Jérôme Pasco, mayor of Conches-en-Ouch (Without label, 27); François Rebsamen, mayor of Dijon (PS, 21); Christophe Sonrel, Mayor of Damelevières (PCF, 54); Quentin Gesell, mayor of Dugny (DVD, 93); Olivier Corzani, mayor of Fleury-Mérogis (PCF, 91); Patrice Leclerc, Mayor of Gennevilliers (PCF, 92); Patricia Tordjman, mayor of Gentilly (PCF, 92); Michel Soriano, mayor of Lasséran (Without label, 32); Jean-François Fountaine, mayor of La Rochelle (DVG, 17); Jacqueline Belhomme, mayor of Malakoff (PCF, 92); Michaël Delafosse, mayor of Montpellier (PS, 34); Philippe Lacroix, mayor of Oradour-sur-Glane (LREM-Horizons, 87); Patrick Jarry, mayor of Nanterre (DVG, 92); Ali Rabeh, Mayor of Trappes (Generation. s, 93); Pierre Garzon, mayor of Villejuif (PCF, 94); Pierre Bell-Lloch, mayor of Vitry-sur-Seine (PCF, 94).

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

Malta : World Forum for the Culture of Peace

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A press release from the Government of Malta

Malta is hosting the second edition of the World Forum for Culture of Peace “Leadership for Just Peace” under the auspices of President George Vella and the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Foundation.


Malta President George Vella

During the opening session, the President referred to the ongoing war in Ukraine and stated that the world is witnessing an atrocious attack on all notions of democracy, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. In laying emphasis on the fact that the world is witnessing a complete disregard of agreements and international institutions, the President appealed for a quick ceasefire, a return to the negotiating table and to find diplomatic solutions. He stressed that the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in front of our eyes in Ukraine is unacceptable

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Question related to this article:

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

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The President said that we cannot achieve just peace if we still live in a world of inequalities, big or small, adding that passivism is also dangerous.
 
Among the areas that need to be tackled in order to have peace, President Vella mentioned the reinforcement of the role of women and girls in all aspects of life; the voice of young people; the respect of different beliefs; the attention to climate change; and controls on the distribution of small arms and light weapons.
 
The participants during the two-day forum aim at exploring and restoring institutional mechanisms, educational programmes, and tools for developing leadership competencies to achieve fair peace and sustainable stability for the people.
 
Abdul Aziz Saud Albabtain, Chairman of Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation, who is organising this forum, stated that just peace can be achieved with the participation of world leaders and institutions on international level.
 
The first session, chaired by President Vella, focused on the role of world leaders. It was addressed by the President of Albania, Ilir Meta, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, and the Former President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesić. They all accentuated the power of dialogue, and that peace cannot be taken for granted.

The forum was also addressed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdallah Shahid, and the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait, Marzouq Al-Ghanim.  


DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

Brazil : Juiz de Fora City Hall launches culture of peace project in schools

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An article from Prefeitura de Juiz de Fora (translation by CPNN)

Next Saturday, March 26th, the Juiz de Fora City Hall (PJF) officially launches the project “Our School: Security, Citizenship and Culture of Peace”, which proposes activities that promote interaction, awareness and recognition of the school. as a space for education and construction of citizenship and a culture of peace. .

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Questions for this article:

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

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Students and their families will be invited to a series of activities, held at the Jovita de Montreuil Brandão Municipal School, in the Parque das Águas neighborhood, starting at 9 am. The project is an initiative of the secretariats of Urban Security and Citizenship (Sesuc) and Education (SE) in partnership with the Departments of Sport and Leisure (SEL), Health (SS), Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Innovation and Competitiveness (SEDIC) and Funalfa. This will be the first school covered by the project, which will be extended throughout the year to other municipal schools.

At 10 am, a Conversation Circle will address the topic of Female Entrepreneurship. The program continues until 1 pm, with presentations of parodies, music for children, storytelling, leisure and sports activities, theater, games with Palhaça Amora, beauty space for women, physical activity and dance.

(Click here for the Portuguese original of this article)

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Niger: Mega concert for peace and social cohesion organized by the public and private press of Dosso

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An article from ANP Agence Nigérienne de Presse

The collective of public and private media of Dosso organized, on Saturday February 05, a mega concert for the culture of peace and social cohesion in Niger and particularly in Dosso.

The concert was animated by several local artists. To give this event a special cachet, the public and private press collective of Dosso called on the humorist artist, ambassador of peace in Africa, torchbearer of the joking relationship, Adoulaye Segda, better known by his artist name Djingri Lompo and the king of the arenas, holder of the national saber Kadri Abdou dit Issaka Issaka.

(Editor’s note: The joking relationship is an ancient pre-colonial peacemaking tradition in this part of Africa.)

At the call of these two giants of culture and sport in Niger, the Salma Dan Rani wrestling arena which hosted the demonstrations was sold out. Already at noon, the arena was packed, Dosso was emptied of its population in favor of the arena: no one wants to be told about the thrilling fight between the ambassador of peace and the king of the arenas because Djingri Lompo was declared the winner even before the start of the competition.

After a fatiyah followed by the performance of the national anthem of Niger, local artists from Dosso presented their performances. The long-awaited moment was the entry into the arena of the ambassador of peace Djingri Lompo on the back of a donkey to the loud applause of the youth who consider him their idol: security struggled to contain the public.

The ceremony was enhanced by the presence of administrative authorities, regional executives and many guests.

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(Click here for the French version of this article)

Question related to this article:

 

Can festivals help create peace at the community level?

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Delivering his speech on this occasion, the president of the collective of the public and private press, Mr. Moussa Hamani thanked the population of Dosso for “this great mobilization which demonstrates its deep attachment to peace and social cohesion, virtues dear to our country and to the Dosso region in particular”.

Mr. Moussa Hamani, in passing, recalled the main vocation of the press which is to make “the visibility of the actions and facts of our society”.

But, today, he said, “the press has decided to show the world that it is multidimensional, capable of making its own visibility”. Mr. Moussa Hamani specified that “it is the collective of the public and private press of the Dosso region which sets the example through this life-size concert on a sensitive subject, a universal subject, namely peace and social cohesion in our country.”

“This modest but noble action aims, among other things, to support the many efforts of the Nigerien authorities in the promotion and consolidation of peace.”

It will be, he said, “inscribed in golden letters in the annals of the history of the Nigerien people and in particular that of the Nigerien press.”

Mr. Moussa Hamani paid a vibrant tribute to the “defense and security forces who sacrifice themselves night and day to ensure our peace of mind and may God welcome into his eternal paradise all those who have fallen on the fields of honor.”

“Because peace is priceless and unity is strength”, the president of the collective of the public and private press of Dosso invited the populations to “unite, to form a single block to block the road to malevolent spirits likely to disturb the peace in our country”.

“We must also, he said, cultivate and perpetuate the joking relationship, this richness of our cultural heritage which conveys union, mutual aid, cohesion and peace”.

The president of the public and private press collective of the Dosso region thanked Djingri Lompo and Issaka Issaka, these two ambassadors of peace and social cohesion who have sown joy in the hearts of Dossol residents and Nigeriens as a whole as well as local artists who have demonstrated their commitment to peace in Niger.

Mr. Moussa Hamani also addressed to the administrative and customary authorities, the high personalities, the regional executives, the partners and other goodwill, as well as the schoolchildren the recognitions of the organizing committee for their support having made the success of the show.

Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Zimbabwe: NPRC to enforce peace pledge ahead of by-elections

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An article from the The Herald

In an effort to curb pre-and post-election violence, the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) will roll-out peace caravans in all areas holding by-elections next month and ensure that candidates abide by the peace pledge signed when they filed their nomination papers.


Commisioner Gutu

Those who fail to abide by the pledge, which was introduced in June 2018 shortly before that year’s harmonised elections, risk being disqualified.

In an interview over the weekend, NPRC spokesperson Commissioner Obert Gutu, reminded all by-election candidates that they are bound by provisions of the peace pledge.

“We intend to roll out peace caravans in those areas where by-elections are going to be held as we seek to unite the people of Zimbabwe by building peace,” he said.

“Participants who violate the peace pledge that they signed when they filed their nomination papers run the risk of being disqualified if they deliberately and unlawfully violate and breach the terms and conditions of the pledge. Delinquent political behaviour will certainly not go unpunished.”

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Question related to this article:

How should elections be organized in a true democracy?

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w-enforcement agents and judicial authorities to prevent and penalise electoral offenders as provided for by the Electoral Act.”

Comm Gutu said the impending outreach was also in response to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s call to sister independent Constitutional commissions to participate in their programmes to ensure peaceful elections in Zimbabwe.

“Peace-building is at the very core of the NPRC mandate. The NPRC has designed and developed an election strategy which is being fine-tuned in time for the ongoing electioneering season.

“This is a well-thought out and well-crafted strategy that acts as a guiding document as we go about our peace-building duties particularly during this period of election campaigning,” he said

Part of the NPRCs mandate includes developing mechanisms for early detection of areas of potential conflict and dispute, and to take appropriate preventive measures.

Towards the 2023 elections, Comm Gutu said the NPRC would play a leading role in all peace-building initiatives.

The NPRC will be going out there in the field to meet and interact with all political players as we seek to foster and sustain a culture of peace and tolerance.

“We will be holding meetings and workshops with all stakeholders specifically targeted at ensuring that the period before, during and after elections is peaceful.”

He urged political parties to avoid fanning animosity among their supporters, highlighting that this was detrimental to ongoing economic re-building efforts.

Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

UN chief calls for Olympic Truce to build ‘culture of peace’ through sport

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An article from the United Nations

Secretary-General António Guterres is urging the world to “build a culture of peace” through the power of sport, calling for nations to observe the Olympic Truce, endorsed last week through a resolution of the UN General Assembly.  


OC/Milos Bicanski Beijing 2022 – Handover Ceremony of the Olympic Flame in Athens, Greece.

Amidst spreading conflict and rising tensions, he reminded that the appeal calls on all parties to observe a ceasefire throughout the course of the upcoming winter games.

‘A date with history’

In the spirit of “mutual understanding, hard work and fair play”, the top UN official noted that athletes competing from around the world “have a date with history”.

“In a few days, our human family will come together in Beijing for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games”, the UN chief said in his message encouraging everyone to strive for the Olympic ideal.

“This spirit inspires us all”, he said.

Beyond sports

Mr. Guterres said that the Olympic Truce represents “a chance to overcome differences and find paths towards lasting peace”.

As the world strives to end the COVID-19 pandemic, he urged everyone to “unite for a safer, more prosperous and sustainable future for all”.

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

Question for this article:

How can sports promote peace?

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During a recent press conference, he lauded  the game Games as being “an extremely important manifestation in today’s world of the possibility of unity”, mutual respect, and cooperation between different cultures, religions and ethnicities.

Above political dispute

The Olympic Truce has a 3,000-year-old history, dating from when the Ancient Greeks established the sacred truce of Ekecheiria to allow the participation in the Olympic Games of all athletes and spectators from the Greek city states, which were otherwise almost constantly engaged in conflict with one other.

General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid appealed  to all Member States to demonstrate their commitment to the Olympic Truce and to undertake “concrete actions at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace and harmony”.

“I also call upon all warring parties of current armed conflicts around the world to boldly agree to true mutual ceasefires for the duration of the Olympic Truce, thus providing an opportunity to settle disputes peacefully”, he added.

Remaining neutral

UN resolution 76/13, entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”, was co-sponsored by 173 UN Member States and adopted by consensus.

It called for the observance of a truce during the 2022 Beijing games, beginning seven days before the start of the Olympic games, on 4 February, until seven days after the end of the Paralympics.

It also encouraged all Member States to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in using sport as “a tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the period of the Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

IOC President Thomas Bach described  the resolution as “a great recognition” of the Games’ mission “to unite the best athletes of the world in peaceful competition and standing above any political dispute”.

“This is only possible if the Olympic Games are politically neutral and do not become a tool to achieve political goals”, he spelled out. 

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, global, United Nations,

Ceará, Brazil : Deputy Mayor of Fortaleza participates in a meeting with the Inter-institutional Committee of the Restorative Justice and Culture of Peace Network

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An article from the Plataforma Márcia Travessoni  (translation by CPNN)

The deputy mayor of Fortaleza Élcio Batista participated this Thursday (January 13), in a meeting with the Interinstitutional Committee of the Restorative Justice and Culture of Peace Network of Ceará. Held virtually, the meeting was chaired by Vice-Governor Izolda Cela, who coordinates the Ceará Pacific program. Élcio replaced the mayor who could not be present.

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(Click here for the Portuguese original of this article)

Questions for this article:

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

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The committee’s main objective is to strengthen and use the Culture of Peace as a tool for effective human development and social peace. In addition to the deputy mayor, state representatives Renato Roseno, Queiroz Filho and Érika Amorim were present; the head of the Secretariat for Social Protection, Justice, Citizenship, Women and Human Rights (SPS), Socorro França; the Secretary of Education, Eliana Estrela; the superintendent of the State System of Socio-Educational Assistance (Seas), Roberto Bassan; the executive secretary of the Secretariat for Public Security and Social Defense (SSPDS), Samuel Elanio; the judge of the Court of Justice of Ceará (TJCE), Graça Quental; in addition to other authorities.

Élcio Batista recalled the importance of the Culture of Peace for a good work of violence prevention in Ceará. “It is always important to work with the Culture of Peace. Prevention is the best way to deal with social conflicts and violence. Investing in prevention is essential, as is improving the quality of public services. This prevention work will be valued up front,” he commented.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION