Category Archives: Latin America

BRICS Summit signs historic commitment in Rio for more inclusive and sustainable governance

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article by Maiva D’Auria from BRICS Brasil

 Foto: Alexandre Brum/BRICS Brasil

On Saturday, 6 July, the leaders of the 11 largest emerging economies signed the Joint Declaration of the 17th BRICS Summit  in Rio de Janeiro.

Entitled “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”, the document seals the group’s commitment to strengthening multilateralism, defending international law, and striving for a more equitable global order.

It reflects months of intense coordination, with over 200 meetings held and 200 new cooperation mechanisms created or reinforced in areas such as eradicating hunger, tackling climate change, and developing emerging technologies.

“We want to reaffirm our commitment to the BRICS spirit of mutual respect and understanding, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, openness, inclusion, collaboration and consensus. Building upon the past 17 BRICS Summits, we are now extending our commitment to strengthening cooperation within the expanded BRICS, based on three pillars of cooperation: politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation. We are also enhancing our strategic partnership to benefit our peoples by promoting peace, a fairer and more representative international order, a revitalized and reformed multilateral system, sustainable development, and inclusive growth,” states one of the 126 commitments made by the leaders.

At the Summit, BRICS member countries reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and to defending international law, including the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter. The document also calls for the increased participation of developing countries, particularly those in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, in global decision-making processes and structures.

In light of today’s multipolar realities, the countries agreed that it is essential for developing countries to strengthen their efforts to promote dialogue and consultations in pursuit of more just and equitable global governance, and of mutually beneficial relations among nations. “We recognize that multipolarity can create opportunities for developing countries and emerging markets (DCEMs) to realize their constructive potential and benefit from inclusive and equitable economic globalization and cooperation that is universally advantageous. We want to emphasize the importance of the Global South as a driver of positive change, especially amid significant international challenges—including escalating geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, accelerated technological transformation, protectionist measures and migration challenges.”

Finance

In the financial realm, the 11 countries emphasized the need to increase IMF quotas and World Bank shareholding of emerging and developing countries.

“We want to reiterate that IMF quota realignment should not come at the expense of developing countries, but rather reflect the relative positions of countries in the global economy and increase DCEM quotas”

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(Click here for the article in Portuguese).

Question for this article:

What is the contribution of BRICS to sustainable development?

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Health

When it comes to health, the countries acknowledged the interconnected nature of global health challenges and their cross-border implications. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening global health governance by enhancing international cooperation and solidarity.

“We are committed to actively supporting efforts to strengthen the global health architecture by promoting equality, inclusion, transparency, and responsiveness. This ensures that no country is left behind in achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals,” BRICS’ joint understanding argues.

Another milestone is the launch of the Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases, which promotes health equity and demonstrates the BRICS’ commitment to addressing the root causes of health disparities, such as poverty and social exclusion.

Artificial Intelligence

For the first time, artificial intelligence (AI) governance plays a prominent role in the BRICS agenda, offering a shared Global South perspective on this innovative technology and bringing economic and developmental aspects to the forefront of the discussion. In their joint declaration, the countries recognize that AI presents a unique opportunity to drive progress toward a more prosperous future. However, to achieve this, global AI governance must mitigate potential risks and meet the needs of all countries, including those in the Global South. “A collective global effort is needed to establish AI governance that upholds our shared values, addresses risks, builds trust, and ensures broad and inclusive international collaboration and access.”

Climate change

In preparation for COP30—also under Brazilian leadership in November—the countries recognized the Tropical Forest Forever Fund (TFFF) as an innovative mechanism to mobilize long-term financing for tropical forest conservation, encouraging ambitious donations from potential partners.

“Our Climate Framework Declaration charts a roadmap for the next five years to transform our capacity to raise resources for fighting climate change. With the collective scale of the BRICS, we will combat the climate crisis while make our economies stronger and fairer,” the document states.

Promoting Peace, Security, and International Stability

One of the pillars of the declaration is its commitment to addressing ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world, and the current polarization and fragmentation of the international order. The leaders express concern over the current trend of sharply rising global military expenditures at the expense of adequate financing for the development of emerging countries. They advocate for a multilateral approach that respects diverse national perspectives and positions on crucial global issues, including sustainable development, hunger and poverty eradication, and global climate action. They also express deep concern over attempts to link security with the climate agenda.

In addition to the traditional leaders’ declaration, three other documents reflecting the priorities of the Brazilian presidency were approved: the BRICS Leaders’ Framework Declaration on Climate Finance, the BRICS Leaders’ Declaration on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, and the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases. “These initiatives reflect our joint efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable solutions to pressing global issues.”

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global, Latin America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT,

Mexico: UNAM cannot remain neutral in the face of escalating violence and the resurgence of authoritarian views: Rector Lomelí Vanegas

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from UNAM: National Autonomous University of Mexico

In presenting the “Culture of Peace: A University Seedbed” strategy, UNAM Rector Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas affirmed that this institution cannot remain neutral in the face of the growing escalation of violence, the resurgence of authoritarian views, religious extremism, nationalism, and xenophobia.

“Our mission is to foster critical thinking, generate alternatives, and sow hope. Peace must emerge both in the classroom and in families and communities, fostered in all daily practices and manifested in words that engage in dialogue rather than confrontation,” he asserted after signing the Agreement creating the University Program for a Culture of Peace and the Eradication of Violence.


Video of the conference

Accompanied by the Secretary of Public Education of the Government of Mexico, Mario Delgado Carrillo, and the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Lomelí Vanegas stated that today the University is taking a firm step with this strategy that aims to fundamentally change the frameworks of interaction and the processes through which we make decisions and promote a culture of peace, understood as justice, inclusion, mutual respect, sustainability, and cooperation.

“Violence is a culturally learned behavior, and as such, it can be eradicated. Peace is not its passive opposite, but part of the same process: it is chosen and practiced with awareness and commitment.” It also demands far-reaching cultural changes, political will, and the active involvement of public and private institutions and civil society,” he stated.

The rector explained that the University Program is structured around strategic axes such as training and teaching, applied research, university advocacy, strengthening protocols and encouraging community mediation in situations of violence; the promotion of peace through words, art, and cooperation; and the creation of networks with national and international actors working to build lasting peace.

The actions will be concrete, measurable, and have a direct impact: courses for new students, a specific assessment by campus, and a cross-cutting subject on Culture of Peace and Mediation starting next year, he added in the Auditorium on the ground floor of the Rector’s Building.

He also emphasized that peace in the future depends on what we are capable of imagining, building, and defending collectively today. UNAM has the strength, the capabilities, and the duty to become a hotbed of peace within and outside our borders. “Let us make it a space where justice, equality, solidarity, and plurality flourish even more. May this university initiative inspire us to make peace a concrete experience: not an unattainable horizon, but a way of educating through care and inhabiting, together, a dignified present.”

The rector expressed his concern about the situation prevailing in cities across the United States, particularly in Los Angeles, California, where migrant detentions have sparked protests. He indicated that it is very important that the actions taken by nations to regulate migratory flows be respectful of human rights and adhere to the international legal framework and that of each country.

He emphasized UNAM’s solidarity with migrants who are going through difficult times, condemned violence, regardless of its source, and indicated that the National University joins the President of the Republic’s call for peace and against any provocation.

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(Click here for the original version in Spanish.)

Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

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Promoting values


​​In his speech, Mario Delgado celebrated the National University’s promotion of a culture of peace, which will necessarily be present in education. The new Mexican school project promotes respect for life, human dignity, equality, non-violence, the promotion of dialogue, and the pursuit of peaceful agreements in the classroom, the school environment, and the community.

In addition, it disseminates values ​​such as tolerance, respect for others, gender equality, non-discrimination, respect for diversity, the environment, and women.

In a video message, the Secretary of the Interior, Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez, congratulated UNAM for the program, which will provide its community with the values ​​necessary to foster a culture of peace and proper conflict mediation.

“If we all contribute our grain of sand to the transformation of our beloved nation, we will achieve a better Mexico for our children, youth, and our next generations. Mexico is not condemned to war, but to peace,” she stated.

Likewise, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, also in a video message, considered UNAM’s great success in promoting the program at this time, given that we are experiencing a critical global situation with 120 armed conflicts affecting more than 300 million people.

The global challenge, he noted, is enormous, and women’s participation in building and maintaining peace is fundamental, as there is compelling evidence that women are more effective at building and maintaining peace over time.

Nobel Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú Tum commented that education is the only alternative for building and guaranteeing a culture of peace. Therefore, she praised UNAM’s strategy to promote this culture, which includes the scientific community and the talent of our youth, so that they can grow in a plural, diverse world that is also challenging for human dignity.

“In UNAM’s history, education is fundamental to contributing to a humanity that yearns for peace as a common good, and above all, that emphasizes the need to create a leadership perspective capable of facilitating dialogue, mediation, and support,” she emphasized.

The director of the Norwegian Center for Conflict Resolution, Dag Nylander, emphasized his pride in participating in the National University’s initiative, which will serve to strengthen ties between his country and Mexico in the areas of peaceful conflict and dispute resolution and the facilitation of peace agreements.

He referred to the relevance of the strategy at a time when the world is experiencing one of the most conflict-ridden periods since the Cold War, and when it is necessary to strengthen the United Nations system and reinforce multilateralism. “We are fully committed to supporting initiatives that increase the chances of success of conflict resolution efforts and believe that interregional collaboration is key.”

UNAM’s Special Projects Coordinator, Néstor Martínez Cristo, presented the project: “Culture of Peace, a University Seedbed” which seeks to institutionalize the culture of peace and turn it into a cross-cutting axis in the university’s development policies.

It aspires to sow the seeds of a culture of peace among younger university students. The challenge is to build critical and empathetic citizenship. It also seeks to redefine the enormous work carried out daily at UNAM to prevent and address various forms of violence.

Also present at the presentation were the current president of the UNAM Governing Board, Elena Centeno García; the president of the Board of Trustees, Mario Luis Fuentes Alcalá; the former rectors of UNAM, José Sarukhán Kermez, José Narro Robles, and Enrique Graue Wiechers; as well as the head of the Office of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Roberto de León Huerta; and the UNESCO representative in Mexico, Andrés Morales. among other personalities from civil society organizations, universities and institutions working to promote a culture of peace.

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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Uruguay: The 5th World Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from City of Montevideo (translated by CPNN)

The 5th World Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace: the opening plenary session, which took place at 5:00 p.m. in the West Room of the Antel Arena, featured the participation of the Mayor of Montevideo, Mauricio Zunino, along with the Director of the International Relations Division, Fabiana Goyeneche; the President of UCLG and Mayor of The Hague, Jan Van Zanen; as well as the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Valeria Csukasi; and the Vice President of the Republic, Carolina Cosse, as representatives of the national government. Zunino highlighted the importance of cities and their governance in helping to resolve different types of conflict and urban coexistence, and emphasized inequality as one of the most important factors that generate violence in the world.

The mayor of Montevideo emphasized that these types of broad-based participation events contribute to reflecting on how conflicts are resolved and “other types of violence such as xenophobia, discrimination, gender-based violence, and other ills that exist in cities.”

In the face of these types of situations, city governments can implement a set of actions that integrate processes of reflection, cooperation, and the exchange of good practices. The awarding of the Peace Prize to those cities that have worked and provide adequate solutions to these needs helps to encourage societal transformations.

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

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

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Zunino also highlighted the participation of 180 foreign representatives from all continents, which provides an important framework due to the quality and experience of the presentations, in addition to the local contribution. She also highlighted the opportunity to interact with multilateral agencies that take advantage of the meeting to network and coordinate with governments, as well as with civil society organizations that are also participating in the event.

The opening session concluded with a speech by the Vice President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, who especially thanked those participating and highlighted the importance of the forum for Montevideo and the country.

In her address, Cosse referred to uncertainty as a fact of current reality but, based on her scientific training, reflected that in scientific work, “uncertainty is the cornerstone of the problem; it’s not a bad thing. You don’t know the solution and you don’t know what it’s about, so uncertainty is normal.” She recalled that uncertainty can “respond to an innovative surge, to an urgent need,” and becomes complex when it doesn’t respond to those needs. In this sense, Cosse asserted that in the face of uncertainty, there are also agreements, such as democracy, “that great social agreement” that provides a framework for resolving conflicts and is “one of the minimum certainties that human beings need.”

Cosse concluded by stating that, just as the truth lies locally, on street corners, in neighborhoods, “there too are the problems, but there too is hope, always, always, no matter how big the problem, if there is hope, it will emerge from there.” She expressed her pride in being part of a government that publicly recognizes the importance of multilateralism and the importance of cities.

The World Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace is one of the two activities taking place within the framework of Montevideo, Destination for Peace: an event that brings together training, exchange, and exhibition, cultural and entertainment opportunities.

Access the thematic axes and activities of the 5th World Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Brazil hosts first BRICS Sherpas meeting with expanded membership

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from bne Intellinews

Brasilia hosted the first BRICS Sherpas meeting under the Brazilian Presidency on February 24-25, bringing together representatives from all 11 member countries at the Itamaraty Palace, the Foreign Ministry headquarters.

The event, which laid the groundwork for the bloc’s summit taking place in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, marked the beginning of an ambitious agenda focused on strengthening multilateralism, promoting cooperation among Global South countries, and reforming international governance structures to better reflect the needs and aspirations of developing nations.


(click on image to enlarge)

Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira delivered an opening speech underscoring the bloc’s relevance during a period of profound global transformations.

“It is a great honour to welcome you to this inaugural meeting of the Brazilian BRICS Presidency. We are gathered in a crucial moment — of profound transformations, in which the principles of multilateralism and cooperation are being tested by crises that demand urgent and collective action,” Vieira stated.

In his address, Vieira affirmed that the response to the crisis of multilateralism “is more multilateralism, stronger and more inclusive in all spheres” and noted that the international order is undergoing radical changes while existing institutions struggle to adapt, even as emerging economies demand greater participation in global decisions.

“In this evolving scenario, BRICS plays a fundamental role in promoting a more just, inclusive and sustainable world order. A multipolar world is not only an emerging reality, but a shared objective,” he said.

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Question for this article:

What is the contribution of BRICS to sustainable development?

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This is the first meeting since last year’s major BRICS expansion to include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia, alongside original members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The Brazilian presidency will prioritise cooperation with the Global South and an agenda focusing on social, economic and environmental development, with emphasis on six key areas: health, trade, climate change, artificial intelligence, reform of the multilateral security system, and institutional strengthening of the bloc.

Ambassador Celso Amorim, serving as Head Adviser to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, outlined his perspective on the bloc’s significance during a recent interview with BRICS Brasil’s press team. The veteran diplomat, drawing on his extensive experience as foreign minister across multiple administrations, presented BRICS as a platform for developing nations to coordinate their efforts “on energy, on the monetary field, and even on the field of peace and security.”

Countering claims of anti-Western bias, Amorim was forthright: “How can anyone say that Brazil is against the West when we have just concluded an agreement with the European Union [Mercosur-EU deal]? There is no point. Being subordinated to a particular leading country, we don’t want that.”

The Sherpas meeting’s second day included a special session with President Lula, who delivered an upbeat speech about the bloc’s outlook.

“I am convinced that BRICS will continue to be a driver of positive change for our nations and the world. Acting in a coordinated manner for the success of the South African presidency of the G20 and the Brazilian presidency of COP30 is defending the shared future of this planet,” said Lula.

The Brazilian leader also called for collective efforts to promote peace and a multilateral security system, warning that “unilateralism undermines the international order” and that negotiating “on the basis of power” leads to instability and conflict.

“We will have an intense presidency, which will lead us to a beautiful Summit of Heads of State and Government, in Rio. We must live up to the chosen motto: strengthening Global South cooperation and reforming international governance structures.”

Touching on an issue that resonates with many members, Lula has welcomed BRICS nations’ efforts to expand local currency payment options to reduce economic vulnerabilities. In this regard, he argued that rising protectionism necessitates greater economic integration. The renewed push comes amid threats from US President Donald Trump of 100% tariffs on the bloc’s nations “if they want to play with the mighty dollar.”

While Lula previously floated plans for a full-fledged common BRICS currency, he now advocates for expanding existing bilateral payment mechanisms, shelving the idea of ditching the dollar entirely – as confirmed by various diplomats who said a shared currency is not currently on the agenda. This puts Brazil at odds with other members such as Iran and Russia, which feel a bigger pressure to dedollarise their economy due to wide-reaching sanctions imposed on them by Western countries.

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Latin America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

International Women’s Day: Latin America

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the photos from Latin America, March 8, 2025.

ARGENTINA, BUENOS AIRES

“Contra el fascismo, el racismo, el patriarcado y el capitalismo”, en repudio a las políticas del Gobierno de Javier Milei. After 6 p.m., the mobilization reached its peak, a dense crowd filled Avenida de Mayo up to the Casa Rosada. Photo: Francisco Loureiro
(Clarín)

BOLIVIA, LA PAZ

A women shouts slogans during a march to mark International Women’s Day, in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
One of the most chanted slogans was: “What’s the big deal? They kill us and rape us and the state does nothing,” which grew louder as the march passed by the headquarters of the courts and prosecutors in La Paz. (Agencia EFE)

BRAZIL, BRASILIA

March for International Women’s Day in Brasilia — The event highlights issues such as feminicide, racism, improving public policies for women, food insecurity and defending democracy. Foto: Gabriel Buosi/TV Globo
(O Globo)

BRAZIL, SAO PAULO

Indigenous woman Bekoy Tupinamba participates in a march to mark International Women’s Day in Sao Paulo, Brazil, March 8. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli (Reuters)

CHILE, ARICA

“Health Without Violence”(Pudhuel)

CHILE, ATOFOGASTA

“I will be the lawyer who will defend them.”(Pudhuel)

CHILE, BÍO BÍO

(Pudhuel)

CHILE, SANTIAGO

A woman waves a flare during a march marking International Women’s Day in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, March 8I, 2025 (AP Photo/Estaban Felix)
(Associated Press News)

Question related to this article:
 
International Women’s Day

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

CHILE, VALPARAISO

“IN THE FACE OF SETBACKS, WE EXIST AND WE RESIST!”(Pudhuel)

COLOMBIA, BOGOTA

A demonstrator sits on the statue of Luis Carlos Galan during a protest to mark International Women’s Day in Bogota, Colombia. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
(Reuters)

ECUADOR, QUITO

“The world needs women at every decision-making table.” International Women’s Day in Quito (Ecuador) EFE/ José Jácome
(RTVE – Radio y Televisión Española)

MEXICO, GUADALAJARA

in Bogota, Colombia. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
(Reuters)

MEXICO, MEXICO CITY

Once again, Mexico City turned purple . Its most iconic streets and monuments welcomed the International Women’s Day march on March 8. Feminist groups, collectives, mothers, daughters, girls, friends, and allies gathered once again to demand gender equality and justice for gender-based violence in our country . The government of Mexico City has reported the attendance of 200,000 protesters this year. (Vogue)

MEXICO, PACHUCA

Women from various feminist groups protest in the Mexican city of Pachuca (EFE/David Martínez Pelcastre)
(Infobae)

VENEZUELA


Venezuelan women marching to demand better wages and protection from violence (REUTERS). (Infobae)

Latin America, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Colombia: PazRock, an initiative of the Ministry of Cultures for the culture of peace through music

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from the Ministry of Cultures of Colombia (translation by CPNN)

This year the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Knowledge, through the Culture of Peace Strategy, has addressed the violence associated with conflict and inequality by promoting cultural rights.

One of the actions was the development of the PazRock initiative, traveling concerts that brought a message of reflection through music to Bogotá, Pereira and Duitama.


Photo: Lina Rozo.

“PazRock closes with a very positive balance. First was the one in Plaza de Bolívar, in Bogotá, which brought together more than 40 thousand people. The three concerts featured great artists, with great collective work around this space for reflection through the arts,” said Gina Jaimes, advisor to Minculturas.

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(Click here for the Spanish version of this article)

 

Question related to this article:

What place does music have in the peace movement?

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

(Article continued from left column)

This year concerts were held in Bogotá, Pereira and Duitama. They featured the participation of artists such as Plu con Pla, La Muchacha, Gillman, Panteón Rococó, La Pestilencia, 1280 Almas, Aterciopelados, among others.

Following the first concert in Bogotá, the International Promotions Festival (FIP) of Buenos Aires, Argentina, awarded the PazRock concept the gold prize in the category ‘Best municipal event or government actions’.

This international competition rewards creativity in Promotions, Events, Marketing Innovation and New Communication Technologies worldwide. In this edition, PazRock competed with other success stories from Spain, Mexico, the United States and Brazil.

“It is very gratifying and satisfying “I am very grateful to know that projects like this one cross borders and achieve very important effects in Latin America and, especially, among young people in Colombia. I think it is very important for the country, very important for public shows,” added Gonzalo Villalón, director of Villalón Entertainment, the production company of PazRock.

More than a recognition of the event, this award highlights the importance of continuing to generate spaces for the exchange of arts to contribute to social transformation and as a contribution to the construction of a culture of peace in our country.

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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Mexico: Jalisco SPPC launches training in Culture of Peace for the reconstruction of the social fabric

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from the Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco (translation by CPNN)

The Government of Jalisco through the Secretariat of Planning and Citizen Participation (SPPC), has began the training process in Culture of Peace for the reconstruction of the social fabric, in order to promote communities of care in the municipalities of the State.

The strategy “Reconstruction of the Social Fabric” is promoted in coordination with the Secretariat of the Social Assistance System. It involves the improvement of the immediate urban environments of people and their families.

The officials launching the project included the Secretary of Planning and Citizen Participation, Margarita Sierra Díaz de Rivera, and María del Carmen Bayardo Solórzano, Director of Strategic Projects, representing the Secretary of the Social Assistance System. They presented the program’s guidelines and its relevance to the State Government’s peace-building strategy. Alberto Esquer Gutiérrez also participated in this event.

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(click here for the original version in Spanish).

Questions for this article:

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

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The project is included, through various levels of intervention, to the cross-cutting theme indicated in the State Plan for Governance and Development (PEGD) and to the strategic themes of the State Program for a Culture of Peace.

The Secretariat for Planning and Citizen Participation is the governing body in charge of mainstreaming the Culture of Peace in the State of Jalisco and is responsible for coordinating the actions issued by the executive branch in matters of culture of peace, as well as mainstreaming, supervising, evaluating and proposing strategies to progressively integrate the peace approach in the different areas of government.

The head of the SPPC, Margarita Sierra, said that: “Everything we do is in terms of governance and with a focus on peace. We have to give meaning to government programs to respond to the need of citizens to live in peace in all their spaces.”

Among the institutional challenges that were raised are: training in the culture of peace; inter-institutional linkage and coordination, and the construction with citizens of an agenda to address territorial needs. To learn more about the culture of peace and governance, please access: participa.jalisco.gob.mx/participacion-ciudadana.

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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Colombia: Cúcuta Mayor’s Office Successfully Concludes Workshops on Historical Memory and Culture of Peace

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from the Alcaldía de San José de Cúcuta (translation by CPNN)

The Secretariat for Post-Conflict and Culture of Peace has carried out workshops on historical memory, culture of peace and human rights. The project, carried out at the facilities of the Regional Center for Attention to Victims, concludes the measure “Action on historical memory, promotion of the culture of peace and promotion of human rights”, of the Return and Relocation Plans of the communities of Ciudad Rodeo and San Fernando del Rodeo, in the municipality of San José de Cúcuta.

(Article continued in right column)

(click here for the original version in Spanish).

Questions for this article:

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

(Article continued from left column)

During these meetings, the community became familiar with the basic concepts of historical memory and culture of peace, and deepened their knowledge of human rights. Through timelines, phrases and drawings, they described their surroundings, told their life stories, talked about their neighborhood and projected their aspirations for the future. Through various symbolic acts, they shared their experiences, promoting the recognition of the truth and contributing to their emotional and psychological repair, which helped heal the wounds of the past and strengthen the reconstruction of the social fabric.

The culture of peace workshops created spaces for young people from the municipality, promoting integration and the exchange of experiences. These activities facilitated the improvement of peace practices, using Hip Hop culture as an educational and transformative tool to face challenges, promote values ​​of peace and respect for human rights.

Through various dynamics, the youth sought to promote mutual respect, coexistence, understanding and social transformation through the arts.

Finally, it is important to highlight that all these workshops
contributed significantly to the process of reparation and reconciliation of the victims of the armed conflict, initiating a process of healing and rebuilding relationships based on respect, non-violence and peaceful coexistence; thus contributing to the construction of a more just, stable and harmonious society.
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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Slow Peace: Three Lessons from Grassroots Peacebuilders in Colombia

.. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ..

An article by Angela Lederach from Peace News (reprinted by permission)

Since 2014, I have had the privilege of learning from grassroots social leaders at the forefront of building peace in Montes de María, Colombia – one of the territories prioritized by the 2016 peace agreement between the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and the government. 


Youth Peace Provokers March for Peace 2016, photo by author

A human rights lawyer who works closely with the Colombian transitional justice tribunal told me in June 2024 that one of the biggest challenges for the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) was that the peace process was rushed. I have heard grassroots organizers frequently echo the sentiments of this human rights lawyer, admonishing the state for operating with “too much prisa [hurry].” 

As an anthropologist who studies the politics of peacebuilding, I was initially puzzled by the widespread critique of “prisa/hurry”. Indeed, sluggish, bureaucratic delays  have characterized the postaccord implementation  process across rural Colombia. Clearly, when grassroots peacebuilders criticize the state for operating with “too much prisa/hurry,” they are not suggesting that the accords are being implemented rapidly. What claims, then, are campesino peacebuilders making? And what does their approach to “paz sin prisa / peace without hurry” entail?

As I traversed the everyday landscapes of campesino peacebuilding, I began to realize that the call to “slowness” does not negate the pressing needs that animate the collective struggle for peace in Colombia. There is, in fact, a fierce urgency in the campesino call to slow down, take notice, and tend territorial relations of care in the wake of violence. Grassroots peacebuilders do not limit their understanding of time to speed (acceleration and deceleration) or duration (short and long-term frameworks). Instead, slowness is understood as a mode of attention and practice of presence. Slow peace  offers a relational framework that locates peacebuilding as a multigenerational, multispecies, and permanent process to cultivate a more just and livable world.
 
I have identified three lessons for building slow peace. 

First, slow peace is a multigenerational process

In August 2016, I interviewed Jorge, a campesino [small farmer] leader, in his palm-thatched home. Jorge did not begin his life history with the war. Instead, he recounted the ancestral history of the territory, emphasizing how nonviolent resistance and solidarity led to the formation of campesino communities across Montes de María as people sought refuge from enslavement and colonization. He closed our interview with a song he had composed. The war formed neither the opening nor closing stanza. Instead, Jorge sang about the multigenerational “campesino struggle” to “defend life and the right to life.”

Hours later, I learned that the Colombian government and the FARC-EP had reached a peace deal. With no internet or electricity, the historic announcement did not reach Jorge’s house. Jorge’s intimate recollections set against the distant and inaccessible backdrop of the government’s declaration of peace reflect the paradox of proximity that grassroots leaders face. 

Popular depictions of Montes de María, limited only to violence, erase the long histories of campesino organizing. A multigenerational lens challenges linear accounts that locate peace as something that comes after a negotiated agreement. Grafting their work into a wider struggle, campesino peacebuilders articulate an understanding of peace as an active, social process. In giving primacy to everyday life, slowing down widens the lens and focuses the frame of peacebuilding on the historical and material conditions that peace demands.

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Questions for this article:

What is the relation between the environment and peace

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

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Second, slow peace centers social-environmental relations 

“The earth suffered, too,” Jocabeth, a young campesina organizer reflected, detailing her experience of war. The violence of forced displacement disrupted multispecies relations  of care, forged through the daily labor of caretaking forest and soil life in Jocabeth’s community. The violent severing of humans from these ecological relations resulted in the death of the avocado forest, upending the social, economic, and ecological sustenance of her community. For Jocabeth, place-based peacebuilding practices that regenerate multispecies relations are vital for peace. 

As part of an intergenerational social movement, Jocabeth has worked with the Youth Peace Provokers to combine traditional ecological knowledge, reforestation, and agroecology with peace advocacy, nonviolent direct action, and community organizing. Here, slow peace cultivates moral dispositions attuned to the existence of the nearly imperceptible processes of life that persist amid violence – what I call an ethics of attention. As Ricardo Esquivia, the director of the local organization Sembrandopaz  reflected, “the work of the base (grassroots) is to see, feel, and grow the tree held within the seed – to be so close to the ground that you can feel the grass grow.”

Finally, slow peace demands a shift from technical projects to social movements. Campesinos cite the “clash in times” between their community processes and external peace interventions as one of the most difficult challenges they must overcome. Technocratic interventions  that rely on measurable outcomes and helicopter interactions designed to meet donor demands reduce peace to paper. In contrast, slow peace situates peacebuilding as an ongoing political process that prioritizes sustained proximity.

For example, the Regional Space for Peacebuilding in Montes de María  – a broad-based coalition that brings representatives from Afrodescendant, Indigenous, Campesino, youth, women, and LGBTQIA+ movements together – facilitates a sustained, monthly dialogue between these diverse grassroots peace organizations. The coalition has also convened unlikely encounters between community members and generals, paramilitary commanders, FARC representatives, and multinational corporations. These “improbable dialogues” have resulted in the formation of farming cooperatives between former combatants and victims, the return of dispossessed land, and formal apologies. The Regional Space’s approach to sustained dialogue demonstrates how a temporal shift from technical projects to community organizing deepens processes of social repair. The multigenerational, place-based, and permanent commitment to peacebuilding through sustained dialogue – exemplified in the work of the Regional Space – also allows grassroots organizations to build collective power desde la base – from the ground up.

In Montes de María, there is a traditional saying: “Slow down, because there is hurry.” Slowness emerges through an immersion into everyday life where the seeds of peace are continuously cultivated, cared for, and nurtured. “Slow peace” does not offer a prescriptive blueprint. However, reflecting on the relational practices, modes of attention, and quality of presence  that shape peoples’ experiences of time, relations, and power is vital for cultivating sustainable peace – with lessons for peacebuilders globally. 

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Angela J. Lederach (she/her/hers) is Assistant Professor of Peace and Justice Studies at Chapman University. She is the author of Feel the Grass Grow: Ecologies of Slow Peace in Colombia (Stanford University Press 2023) and co-author of When Blood and Bones Cry Out: Journeys Through the Soundscape of Healing and Reconciliation (Oxford University Press 2010). As a cultural anthropologist and peace studies scholar-practitioner, Lederach has worked on peacebuilding and restorative justice processes in Sierra Leone, Philippines, Colombia, and the United States.

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Latin America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Drawing Contest of SNTE and CNDH promotes the Culture of Peace in Mexican schools

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Cronica

In a joint effort to promote the Culture of Peace, the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) and the National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) presented awards to the winners of the “Peaceful School Coexistence” Drawing Contest. Alfonso Cepeda Salas, leader of the SNTE, points out that the Culture of Peace is essential to transform schools into spaces of respect, inclusion and peaceful coexistence.


“Un mundo sin violencia”, painted by Ximena Andrea Fuentes Cima.
Click here to enlarge

The first three places were awarded to Ximena Andrea Fuentes Cima from Quintana Roo, with her drawing titled “A world without violence”; Ricardo García García from Tabasco, who created “The World is for Everyone” and Frida Alejandra Loera Campos from Jalisco, for “Zapotlatena”.

Alfonso Cepeda Salas, general secretary of the SNTE, highlighted the importance of the campaign “Arm yourself with courage for a Culture of Peace!”, which promotes respectful and reflective relationships in schools. “

People should be informed that public schools in Mexico are placing white canvases that identify their participation in favor of the Culture of Peace,” he explained.

He added that school communities are mobilized to reflect and analyze, register collective construction projects, develop proposals, take action and establish firm commitments to this agenda.”

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

Question for this article:

Do the arts create a basis for a culture of peace?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

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“Zapotlatena”, painted by Frida Alejandra Loera Campos  

In this third edition, participation increased due to the growing interest of students in topics such as inclusion, diversity and respect.

The head teacher said that in 2024, 61.6 percent of the participants were female students. He said that “we are determined to continue contributing to this transformation to forge a better country.”

For her part, Norma Angélica Molina Padilla, from the CNDH, said that the drawings make visible fundamental issues such as bullying, People with Disabilities, sign language, and the rights of indigenous communities.

The virtual exhibition of the drawings will be available on the platforms of the SNTE and the CNDH, to consolidate and disseminate the impact of this initiative that “reinforces comprehensive training in values ​​​​and the construction of a more just and peaceful society,” said Cepeda Salas.

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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America