Category Archives: Latin America

Brazil: Culture of Peace Strengthened Through the Work of the Center for Conflict Prevention and Resolution of the Legislative Assembly of Ceará

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from the Legislative Assembly of the State of Ceará

Building a culture of peace is an increasingly present issue in society and demands continuous collective mobilization and awareness. The Legislative Assembly of the State of Ceará (Alece), in accordance with the principles established by the United Nations (UN), seeks to strengthen the culture of peace. This work is mainly carried out through the Center for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPRC).

In search of peaceful solutions

The coordinator of the CPRC at Alece, Jussara Queiroz, explains that the work of the agency is guided by the promotion of peaceful, responsible, and humanized solutions. Conflict is understood as an opportunity for transformation, learning, and reconstruction of relationships, through mediation, conciliation, and legal advice.

In taking stock of the CPRC’s achievements in 2025, the coordinator reveals that the Center received the trust of many people who sought its services, resulting in the opening of 639 cases. Each service provided by the sector, according to her, represents the conscious choice for dialogue and the joint construction of solutions, reaffirming the importance of self-composition methods as effective instruments of social pacification.

Strengthening relational skills

“I also highlight the relevance of preventive actions, which enable the strengthening of relational skills, the expansion of listening capacity, and the adoption of practices based on Nonviolent Communication,” points out Jussara Queiroz. According to her, this is a contribution to healthier and more effective relationships, through workshops, discussion groups, and lectures.

(Article continued in right column)

(Click here for the original article in Portuguese.)

Question related to this article:

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

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

(Article continued from left column)

The coordinator emphasizes that the Center for Conflict Prevention and Resolution reaffirms its commitment to a culture of peace, the prevention of violence, and the promotion of dialogue as a legitimate and necessary path to conflict resolution, in accordance with the principles of human dignity and social justice.

Areas of operation of the CPRC

The CPRC works to prevent or resolve family issues, neighborhood issues, condominium issues, real estate issues, and other situations that can be mediated for conciliation.

The work is done through mediation, conciliation, and legal advice. Among the preventive actions are lectures, workshops, discussion groups, and peacebuilding circles.

Service

Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 5 pm. Address: Avenida Pontes Vieira, nº 2.348, 3rd floor, room 305, Edifício Deputado Francisco das Chagas Albuquerque (annex III), Dionísio Torres, Fortaleza/Ceará. Telephone: (85) 2180-6513 WhatsApp: (85) 98132-7434 Email: cprc@al.ce.gov.br Virtual scheduling: https://forms.gle/BgXvZ3mh9FBPudML7

Edited by: Samaisa dos Anjos Internal Communication of Alece Email: comunicacaointerna@al.ce.gov.br Page: https://portaldoservidor.al.ce.gov.br/

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

‘We Are Sailing to Cuba’: Humanitarian Coalition Announces Flotilla to Break US Blockade

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article by Brett Wilkins from Common Dreams (republished according to Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

As the Trump administration tightens an already devastating economic embargo of Cuba by targeting the island's fuel imports in a bid to topple the country's socialist government, a coalition of progressive groups on Thursday announced plans for a flotilla to deliver food, medicine, and other essential supplies to the besieged Cuban people.


Members of CodePink protest the United States embargo of Cuba and Cuba’s inclusion on the US state sponsors of terrorism list in Los Angeles on October 29, 2022. (Photo by CodePink/X)

Members of Progressive International, CodePink, and other direct action and advocacy groups plan to set sail for Cuba next month in the Nuestra América—or Our America—Flotilla, which they said is inspired by the Global Sumud Flotilla missions to break Israel's illegal blockade of Gaza amid the ongoing genocide in the Palestinian exclave.

"We are sailing to Cuba, bringing critical humanitarian aid for its people," the flotilla organizers said on their website. "The Trump administration is strangling the island, cutting off fuel, flights, and critical supplies for survival. The consequences are lethal, for newborns and parents, for the elderly and the sick."

"That is why we are launching the Nuestra América Flotilla, setting sail from across the Caribbean Sea in solidarity with the Cuban people," the organizers continued. "And we are asking for your support, to help us prepare the mission and purchase the food and medicine that we will bring to the Cuban people."

"Together, we can break the siege, save lives, and stand up for the cause of Cuban self-determination," they added.

(Continued in right column)

Question related to this article:
 
How can the blockade of Cuba be stopped?

(Continued from left column)

The announcement of the flotilla came as the Trump administration ratchets up pressure on Cuba's socialist government by further suffocating the island's economy via an oil embargo similar to the one imposed on Venezuela before last month's US invasion and abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

At the time, President Donald Trump threatened the leaders of Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico that they could be next.

Trump reversed former President Joe Biden's eleventh-hour move in January 2025 to remove Cuba from the US state sponsors of terrorism list, a designation utterly divorced from reality. Trump officials have cited Cuba's baseless inclusion on the list as justification for measures taken against the country's government and people.

The US embargo on Cuba dates to the early 1960s when the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations responded to the successful revolution that overthrew a brutal US-backed dictatorship with a blockade accompanied by a decadeslong campaign of state-sponsored terrorism against the Cuban people that left thousands dead and more than $1 trillion in economic damages, according to the Cuban government.

Every year since 1992—with the exception of the Covid-19 pandemic year of 2020—the United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to condemn and call for an end to the US blockade of Cuba.

Progressive International co-general coordinator David Adler told El País' Veronica Garrido Thursday, "The US government is drowning the Cuban people, who are running out of light, have no food, no medicine, no energy."

"I do not exaggerate when I say that we are seeing in Cuba the same playbook that Israel applied to the people of Gaza: an encirclement, an act of collective punishment that violates every aspect of international law,” he continued.

"We hope that [the flotilla] will be a mechanism of popular pressure to the governments of the world that have the responsibility, before international law, to protect the fundamental rights of the Cuban people and export the energy required by the island,” Adler said.

“There is nothing illegal about what we are doing," he added. "We are coming to a sovereign country and delivering humanitarian aid. We are ready to take risks in the name of humanity and the fundamental right of the Cuban people.
– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Latin America, North America,

Morelos, Mexico: UAEM Promotes a Culture of Peace Within Its Community

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Promoting a culture of peace within the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos (UAEM) is a fundamental pillar for strengthening coexistence, respect, and non-violence in academic, administrative, and student spaces, said Fernando Mendoza Vergara, head of the Training Department of the Gender, Equality, and Non-Discrimination Unit.

On the occasion of the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace, commemorated on January 29, Fernando Mendoza emphasized that educating for peace in higher education institutions is a shared need for all universities in the country, as these are spaces where professionals and citizens with social responsibility are trained.

(Continued in right column)

(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

(Continued from left column)

Mendoza Vergara explained that UAEM actively participates in generating strategies and tools aimed at reducing and eradicating violence within university spaces, based on the development of skills that allow for the transformation of conflicts through dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

He noted that, at his unit, the training area’s work focuses on fostering educational processes for faculty, administrative staff, academics, and students, with the goal of strengthening relationships based on respect, equality, and human dignity.

The university official emphasized the importance of differentiating concepts such as educating for peace, building peace, and fostering a culture of peace, the latter understood as a set of values, attitudes, and daily practices that guide how people relate to themselves and others. He also highlighted that the university has promoted awareness, visibility, and training campaigns, aligned with regulatory frameworks such as Mexican Standard 025 on Labor Equality and Non-Discrimination. These processes require the commitment of each academic and administrative unit to move toward certification.

He emphasized that many violent behaviors have been normalized within the institutional culture, making awareness-raising crucial for the university community to identify practices that violate the integrity of individuals and to consciously transform them.

Finally, he invited those aspiring to join UAEM to adopt a proactive attitude, respect for diversity, and a commitment to peaceful coexistence, as essential elements for strengthening Morelos’s leading university.

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Sinaloa, Mexico: UAIM promotes the Culture of Peace

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

A post on the Facebook page of Mochicahui Unit UAIM (translation by CPNN)

A workshop titled “Culture of Peace,” led by Dr. Gerardo Pérez Viramontes, an expert in culture of peace and conflict resolution and an active member of international research networks in the field, was held for senior management at the Autonomous Indigenous University of Mexico (UAIM) located in Mochicahui, state of Sinaloa.

Lasting two days, this initiative aimed to strengthen institutional leadership through reflection, dialogue, and the development of practices geared toward harmonious coexistence and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

(Continued in right column)

(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

(Continued from left column)

At the opening of the workshop, Rector Jesús Rodolfo Cuadras Sainz welcomed the participants, emphasizing the importance of leadership involvement in promoting harmonious coexistence and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. “If we, as administrators, are not capable of resolving our own conflicts, how can we set an example for the university community?” he stated. He also emphasized that a culture of peace is a legal and educational commitment already established in the UAIM Organic Law and the General Education Law.

For his part, Dr. Pérez Viramontes pointed out that peace is not an abstract concept, but a process that requires will, projects, and tools to be consolidated. He noted that UAIM, as a cultural institution, has the responsibility to promote practices that strengthen sustainable reconciliation in divided societies, which will allow it to consolidate its institutional commitment to fostering a culture of peace and reaffirm its role as an educational institution that seeks to train leaders capable of promoting harmonious coexistence and respect at all levels of university life.

The course addressed fundamental topics such as the deconstruction of violence, the regulation and transformation of conflicts, the identification of mediations and pacifist empowerment, as well as reflecting on new epistemologies applied to the culture of peace and sustainable reconciliation in divided societies.

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Peru: Peace Promoter Training Program

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An announcment from the Peruvian State government (translation by CPNN)

The Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP) invites women and men over 18 years of age, university students, professionals, community leaders, committed neighbors, and the general public who wish to contribute to spreading a culture of peace in their neighborhoods, communities, and workplaces, with the goal of building a more just and respectful environment in families, schools, and community spaces.

Three free sessions will be held, aimed at acquiring knowledge, skills, and tools that, upon completion of the program, will allow participants to exercise positive leadership based on what they have learned:

Session 1: Culture of Peace, Areas of Action.

Session 2: Tools for Positive Coexistence / Basic Concepts in Human Rights

Session 3: Basic Concepts on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women, Gender Equity, and Constructive Conflict Management / Replication Session Project

Dates: February 5, 12, and 19, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Format: In-person
Location: Auditorium of the National Comprehensive Program for Family Welfare – INABIF

Av. San Martín 685, Pueblo Libre
Certificate: 15 hours of instruction (3 sessions of 4 hours each) and 3 additional hours.

General Objective

To promote a culture of peace as a cross-cutting theme for healthy, respectful, empathetic, and violence-free coexistence, through the participation of committed citizens who, based on the skills and abilities acquired in the culture of peace training module, can replicate what they have learned in their community, family, neighborhood, workplace, school, university, etc.

Content by Session

Session 1 | Thursday, February 5

Culture of Peace and its Areas of Action
° Concept of Peace and Culture of Peace
° Components of a Culture of Peace

Session 2 | Thursday, February 12

Tools for Positive Coexistence
° Self-Esteem
° Empathy
° Communication: Concept, Channels, and Techniques

Human Rights
° Concept and Characteristics
° Identifying Rights

(Continued in right column)

(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

(Continued from left column)

Session 3 | Thursday, February 19

Equal opportunities between men and women and gender equity
° Concept
° Inequality between men and women
° Stereotypes
° Building equality from within our families

Constructive conflict management
° Concept
° Conflict analysis

Replica session project
Prepared by the participant

Methodology

The activity will be developed through participatory workshops that will include diagnostic tests, interactive activities, group work, and plenary sessions. These spaces will promote the exchange of ideas, the resolution of doubts by the participants, and the reinforcement of the key ideas of the topic. A PowerPoint presentation will also be used as a visual aid.

This is a space for collective construction that integrates theory and practice around the proposed topic, valuing and leveraging the experience of the participants.

The workshops are facilitated by specialists from the Directorate of Displaced Persons and Culture of Peace.

At the end of the workshop, participants must conduct a follow-up session on one of the topics covered. (Minimum 1 hour)

Why should you not miss this workshop?
° You will learn and strengthen your soft skills.
° You will be able to be an agent of change in your community by sharing what you have learned.
° You will recive an official Certificate from the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations.

Evaluation and Accreditation

Certificates of participation, worth 15 hours of instruction, will be awarded to those who:

° Register and attend all three scheduled sessions.
° Participate in the diagnostic (pre-workshop) and evaluation (final) tests.
° Achieve a final average grade of 14 points or higher, considering both the test and class participation.
° Conduct at least one follow-up session of 1 hour on one of the topics covered in the workshops.

Registration

Register by February 1st or until all available spaces are filled, using the following link: https://facilita.gob.pe/t/43068

On Monday, February 2nd, we will confirm your participation via email, WhatsApp message, or phone call to the number you provided on the pre-registration form.

Organized by:
Directorate of Displaced Persons and Culture of Peace
General Directorate of Population, Development, and Volunteering

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Mexico: Al Sharpton and Rigoberta Menchú to Join Mérida Peace Conference

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article by Carlos Rosado van der Gracht from Yucatan Magazine

The International Peace Conference in Mérida will feature prominent voices such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum and civil rights leader Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr., better known as Al Sharpton, the firebrand TV pundit and activist.

This regional gathering, organized by UADY, The World House Project Inc., and the Yucatán state government, will take place at the Siglo XXI convention center.

Over three days starting Feb. 4, civic, business, academic, government, and student leaders, as well as activists, will discuss actions to address today’s challenges in peace and justice through dialogue, education, and strategic action.


The conference aims to build a global network for civic awareness and create social infrastructure focused on promoting peace and justice. It will also invite analysis of significant challenges and opportunities for international peace.

Rigoberta Menchú will share her vision for building peace through human rights and social justice. Johnny J. Mack, founder of The World House Project, will present a talk on the World House vision and the metalogic of nonviolence.

Additionally, Rosa Wolpert Kuri, a UNESCO representative, will give the presentation “Without Education, There Is No Peace.” Other experts, including Francisco Javier Gorjón Gómez, Roberto José Beltrán Zambrano, Alberto Manuel Athié Gallo, and Fernando de la Mora Salcedo, will address key topics such as a culture of peace, nonviolent action in the 21st century, and current global scenarios.

The sessions aim to identify three main focus areas: Direct Action, which uses peaceful tactics to mobilize people, challenge injustice, and create pressure for change; Cultural Transformation, which shifts mindsets and social norms through art, storytelling, education, and spiritual leadership; and Structural Change, which reforms policies, systems, and institutions to build equity, justice, and peace.

The conference will also feature a Youth for Peace Agenda. This includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, intergenerational dialogues, and cultural activities with performances by the UADY Ballet, the University Regional Orchestra, and other musical groups.

Members of the general public may attend the conference by completing the online registration and paying the participation fee of MX$2,800 via bank deposit or transfer, or MX$2,910 via PayPal. Deadline is Feb. 2. Visit https://conferenciadepaz.uady.mx/.

About Rigoberta Menchú

Rigoberta Menchú grew up in a small Mayan village in Guatemala. As a young woman, she experienced injustice and violence during her country’s long civil war, in which family members were killed. Her courageous work for social justice and peace was recognized globally when she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. She used this honor to bring even more attention to the struggles of Indigenous communities everywhere. Today, she continues to travel and teach, emphasizing that lasting peace must be built on a foundation of human rights, dignity, and fairness for all people.

Menchú remains one of the Maya world’s loudest voices on social justice, enduring peace and cultural preservation.

(Continued in right column)

Question related to this article:
 
The Nobel Peace Prize: Does it go to the right people?

(Continued from left column)

The Program

World House Project 2026 International Peace Conference

The World House Project 2026 International Peace Conference takes place over three days at the Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI, bringing together global thought leaders, activists, and students to explore pathways toward peace and justice. The conference halls were renamed for the occasion.

Wednesday, February 4

The conference opens with a special youth-focused morning session, the JuventudES Paz Agenda, exclusively for high school students from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Mahatma Gandhi Hall (Chichén Itzá 6).

General registration begins at 3 p.m. at the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Passage, followed by the Opening Ceremony at 4 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Jr. Hall (Chichén Itzá 4 and 5).

The inaugural keynote at 5 p.m. features Master Joaquín Díaz Mena, Governor of the State of Yucatán, presenting the “Allies for Life Program.” This is followed at 6 p.m. by Reverend Al Sharpton, who delivers the day’s second keynote address.

Concurrent with the opening sessions, the Mandalas Peace Hub hosts a Human Rights Journey from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Malala Yousafzai Hall (Uxmal 4) and Nelson Mandela Hall (Chichén Itzá 2 and 3).

The first day concludes with a cultural performance at 7 p.m. featuring the UADY Ballet and University Folk Orchestra in Nelson Mandela Hall.

Thursday, February 5

The day begins at 9 a.m. with a keynote address by Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum in Martin Luther King Jr. Hall, followed by three consecutive morning sessions: Dr. Francisco Javier Gorjón Gómez speaks on “Peace from Peace: Foundation for Building Peace” at 10 a.m., and Dr. Roberto José Beltrán Zambrano presents “The Right Time for Peace: Culture of Peace and Nonviolent Action in the 21st Century” at 11 a.m.

After a midday break from noon to 1 p.m., Dr. Johnny J. Mack delivers his keynote “Vision of the World House and the Metalogic of Nonviolence” at 1 p.m.

The afternoon shifts to interactive formats with panel discussions, presentations, and workshops running from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Mahatma Gandhi Hall. Simultaneously, an Intergenerational Dialogue for the Next Generation takes place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., also in Mahatma Gandhi Hall, while the Mandalas Peace Hub continues its Human Rights Journey programming in both Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela Halls.

The evening features a cultural performance by the musical group Polifonía and collaborating artists at 7 p.m. in Nelson Mandela Hall.

Friday, February 6

The final day opens at 9:30 a.m. with Master Rosa Wolpert Kuri from UNESCO presenting “Without Education There Is No Peace” in Martin Luther King Jr. Hall.

At 10:30 a.m., Master Alberto Manuel Athié Gallo addresses “Where Are We Going? Between Uncertainty, Surprise, Emerging Doubts, and the New World Order,” followed at 11:30 a.m. by Master Fernando de la Mora Salcedo speaking on “Mexico, the World, and the Culture of Peace.”

The conference concludes with a panel discussion at 12:30 p.m. titled “Where Are We Going in Building Peace and Justice in Latin America? Next Collective Steps,” featuring Master Rosa Wolpert Kuri, Master Héctor Dada Sánchez, and Dr. José Luis Espinoza Navarrete, moderated by Dr. Celia Rosado Avilés.

The closing ceremony takes place at 1 p.m., bringing the three-day international gathering to its conclusion.

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Latin America

Mexico: Pablo Lemus and Rigoberta Menchú Agree on Actions to Build a New Culture of Peace in Jalisco

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article by Samantha Lamas in Cronica (translation by CPNN)

With the aim of strengthening the construction of a new culture of peace in Jalisco, the Governor of the State, Pablo Lemus Navarro, and Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, have signed a agreement to collaborate actions focused on priority sectors of the state.

The agreement, signed between the Government of Jalisco and the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation, outlines the development of a proactive and forward-thinking strategy that will prioritize the needs of Indigenous communities—primarily in the northern region of the state—as well as women and children.


Rigoberta Menchú and Pablo Lemus (Courtesy)

(article continued in right column)

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

Question related to this article:

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

(article continued from left column)

During the meeting, the state governor expressed his appreciation for Rigoberta Menchú’s career and emphasized the importance of initiating a collaborative effort with her foundation. “It is an honor for me to welcome you to Jalisco and to begin working together with you and your foundation; it is something that excites me and that we had dreamed of for our state,” he stated.

Lemus Navarro stressed that this agreement will allow progress in addressing the needs of Indigenous communities and in promoting a culture of peace with a social and inclusive focus. “We are going to begin working together for Indigenous communities, for the women of our state, and for a new culture of peace, for which you and your foundation are a global leader,” he added.

Rigoberta Menchú Tum, winner of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize, is internationally recognized for her work in defending human rights, promoting reconciliation, and fostering intergenerational respect. During her remarks, she thanked the Mexican people and the Government of Jalisco for demonstrating the political will to promote peace as a path to dialogue and the vindication of rights, especially for women and indigenous communities.

“I believe in peace as a culture, as education, and as dialogue. I believe in peace as the transmission of experiences and knowledge to our youth, to our communities who must become the next generation of our society,” she stated.

Finally, Menchú Tum emphasized that the value of the agreement will lie in the implementation of a simple and productive agenda, with clear actions, aimed at generating concrete results for the benefit of the people of Jalisco.
– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

Mexico: Ethics as a Path to a Culture of Peace at the University of Colima

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Comentario

The Ethics and Conflict of Interest Prevention Committee of the University of Colima conducted a series of training sessions for staff from High School 1 and the Faculty of Accounting and Administration in Colima. These sessions focused on the practical application of principles, values, and rules of integrity in university workplaces.

(Continued in right column)

(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

(Continued from left column)

The activities were led by Rosa Elizabeth García Uribe, the institution’s Comptroller General, and Brenda Lizeth Aguilar García, Director of Administrative Obligations Research. They emphasized the importance of strengthening ethical conduct in daily work as the foundation for respectful and harmonious coexistence.

These actions were supported by the General Directorate for Integral Development, the area responsible for promoting the cross-cutting theme of a culture of peace at the University of Colima. This support helped consolidate a comprehensive vision focused on respect, dignified treatment, and the promotion of human rights within the university community.

During the sessions, participating staff demonstrated openness and dynamism, and recognized the importance of the institution creating training opportunities that strengthen an organizational culture based on integrity, ethics, and peace.
– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

School Day of Non-violence and Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

by CPNN

The School Day of Non-Violence and Peace is celebrated on January 30.

This year the day was celebrated in Spain, Mexico and Cuba.


March by the students in Teror.

According to Wikipedia, this day was proposed by the Spanish poet Llorenç Vidal Vidal in Majorca in 1964 as a “starting point and support for a pacifying and non-violent education of a permanent character.”

Vidal chose the date of January 30 to commemorate the great prophet of non-violence and peace, Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated on this day in 1948.

It was popularized in France in the 1970’s by the Gandhian disciple Lanza del Vasto in his utopian  Communauté de l’Arche.

The day is recognized by UNICEF in Spain.

In Palma, on the Island of Mallorca in Spain, 3,500 primary and secondary school students took part in the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace event. The celebration included the reading of a peace manifesto by student representatives, followed by a concert by the musical group Pèl de Gall. Afterwards, doves were released, a universal symbol of peace and of the commitment to promoting coexistence and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

In the Mediterráneo secondary schools in Spain,  representatives from each secondary school group read their manifestos on behalf of their classes, linking their pledges to the chain of commitments from the previous group. This gesture symbolized the unity of all students in a shared commitment to positive and respectful coexistence. The grand finale was a reading of the poem “White Souls” by the high school students.

In schools of Zaragoza, Spain, there were artistic creations and exhibitions, fundraisers and charity runs, speeches and poems, music, games, and gatherings in the playground between students of different grades… all promoting peace, non-violence, and kindness.

In the Huerto Escolar Ecológico school in the Canary Islands of Spain, students made presentations for peace and non-violence on their school radio station.

In the Tafira – Nelson Mandela secondary school of the Canary Islands, students listened to “Poetry Committed to Peace” played over the school’s public address system during the first few minutes of each class and the 7th-grade students prepared an “Images for Peace” exhibition.

In the Teror secondary school , also in the Canary Islands, the event began with a march by the students, carrying a banner with the slogan ‘The first condition for peace is the will to achieve it’, and chanting in unison, “Who are we? IES de Teror. What do we want? Peace.” In the Manifesto for Peace read by the students, they also emphasized this message: “Peace is not just the absence of war. Peace is respect, dialogue, equality, and justice.”

The secondary school of La Aldea de San Nicolás in the Canary Islands presented the official video clip of the song “Let us live in peace”.  This audiovisual project is the result of intensive collaborative work aimed at raising awareness among the school community and the general public about the importance of coexistence, mutual respect, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

In Salamanca, Spain, the event included the reading of a manifesto, accompanied by a musical performance by a teacher from the Divino Maestro school, followed by the formation of a large circle for peace. Afterwards, the Mayor of Salamanca received a delegation from the school in the Reception Hall.

Continued in right column)

(Click here for the article in Spanish)

Questions related to this article:
 
How can we be sure to get news about peace demonstrations?

(Continued from left column)

In Villacañas, Spain, a large globe, the work of local artist Manuel García Mochales,was installed in the Plaza de España. Throughout the day, the various participating schools added their artwork and messages to this piece, transforming it into a collective symbol of Villacañas’ commitment to peace. The celebration also included musical accompaniment and the performance of a song that was sung together by all attendees, highlighting the importance of education as a fundamental pillar for building a culture of peace.

In Barcelona, Children from Turó Blau School, Elisenda de Montcada School Institute, Bosc de Montjuïc Institute, Pedralbes Institute, and Caterina Albert Institute shared a series of learning experiences and reflections on “Invisible Violence”. The event was facilitated by the Escola de Cultura de Pau.

Ecologistas en Acción. based in Madrid, took part in the planting of olive trees on the occasion of the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace on January 30. This is part of the campaign entitled “There is no peace without justice.” of the Palestinian Tide platform, comprised of more than 60 educational organizations.

In Lleida, Catalonia, Spain, A total of 1,500 children participated in the commemoration of the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace. The boys and girls left messages of peace on maps installed in the squares of Pau Casals, Magnolias and Sant Jordi. The schools Sant Jordi, Minerva, Sant Josep de Calassanç, Països Catalans, Enric Farreny, Màrius Torres, Parc de l’Aigua, El Carme, Frederic Godàs, Esperança, Maria Rúbies, Joan Oró, Santa Anna, Sant Jaume Les Heures, Santa Maria de Gardeny and FEDAC participated.

In Cieza, Spain, the San José Obrero School in Cieza once again transformed its commemorative day for the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace into a pedagogical and artistic experience. This time, students and teachers climbed onto the deck of a ship to present the play “Pirates of the Sea of ​​Peace”. With the theme that “peace is not conquered, it is built,” students and teachers explored diverse cultures to understand how each people live in harmony, learning the values of each place and performaing a traditional dance from each region.. During the performance, they docked at various ports to receive lessons from each community they visited, including China, Hawaii, Africa, India and Mexico.

The Football Club of Seville, Spain celebrated the day by a series of actions with the Entre Amigos Association in the Polígono Sur neighborhood to combat school absenteeism and bullying.

In Santander, Spain, to celebrate the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace, the mayor placed a plaque to rename the park next to La Anunciación Scholl as “La Paz Park” and a group of children from the school sang a song for peace..

In Peñaranda, Spain,  the school community of La Encarnación celebrated Peace Day in the school auditorium. The students carried symbols related to this commemoration, and a manifesto in favor of peace and against violence was read..

In Vitoria-Gasteiz , in the Basque region of Spain,  a total of 1315 students from all the Church schools in the capital of Alavesa – shared a central event in the New Cathedral for the School Day of Non-violence and Peace. The program included testimonies from several students, music, a prayer, and a manifesto for peace.

In Léon, in the Northwest of Spain, the educational community of the Divina Pastora School commemorated the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace. Students from each grade level created a peace pledge.

In Zocalo Monclova, Mexico, an event was held at the Ignacio Zaragoza Secondary School with educational and municipal authorities. The municipal government reiterated its commitment to promoting initiatives that strengthen a culture of peace in schools.

In the Yucatan, Mexico, the State Center for Social Crime Prevention held a soccer tournament to commemorate the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace.

In Holguín, Cuba, the group Friends of Cuba, based in Victoria, Canada, held a solidarity meeting at the “Ronald Andalia Nieves” school, coinciding with the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace. Accompanied by representatives from the Party, the Government, and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, as well as neighbors and local students, the visitors participated in political and cultural activities and planted a tree as a symbol of brotherhood and commitment to a fairer world.

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America,

Mexico: USEBEQ Trains 5,000 Teachers to Foster a Culture of Peace

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Quadratin Querétaro

With the goal of creating environments of respect, dialogue, and collaboration, where school communities interact harmoniously, learning to resolve conflicts peacefully, in order to foster a culture of peace, the Basic Education Services Unit in the State of Querétaro (USEBEQ) trained 5,114 teachers from the early childhood, preschool, primary, and secondary levels in the state.

(Continued in right column)

(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

(Continued from left column)

According to Irene Quintanar Mejía, General Coordinator of USEBEQ (Basic Education Services Unit of the State of Querétaro), this strategy aims to prevent risky situations and safeguard the well-being and safety of students, teachers, and administrative support staff. She stated that it is therefore necessary to work continuously to strengthen the mechanisms for addressing and detecting these situations, thereby creating spaces of peace and healthy coexistence in school environments.

Regarding the culture of peace, USEBEQ offers various training sessions and workshops on self-care, the value of healthy coexistence, the responsible use and management of social media and digital citizenship, and the recognition and management of emotions. In the last year, these programs have reached 26,374 children and adolescents, 11,595 parents or guardians, and 5,450 teachers.

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America