Bulgaria: Care for victims of violence and psychological support for children and troubled teens

TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY .

An article by Diana Tashkova

At the present time, many children and their families are victims of violence, or being sexually abused in the family. In fact, European Union citizens in Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria are the most frequent victims of human trafficking in Europe. In addition, the majority of cases that were studied between 2009 and 2013 by Europol shows that 40 percent of victims of human trafficking in Europe came from Romania, 18 percent from Hungary and 11 percent from Bulgaria. The majority of victims of human trafficking are women and girls, and a high proportion of them are sexually exploited. Human trafficking is truly a global epidemic.

tashkova
Logo of the Bulgarian-Swiss Cooperation Programme

In addition, some children have had bad experiences in their families, in schools and in their communities. Therefore, the project “Trauma Center for Children and Families” was launched with financing from the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme. It is implemented by the Foundation Animus Association. Its purpose is to provide a psychological support and recovery after traumatic situations. The Families Centre also includes a correspondence program. It provides an opportunity for children and parents to get consultations via email and remain anonymous.

The project aims to complete the model of the existing social system in Bulgaria by introducing an innovative social program. It offers a support program for children and parents, as well as a community support program.

The child support program is also beneficial for children with communication problems or difficulty adjusting to their social environment, such as those who want to overcome the loss of a parent, parental separation, domestic violence or sexual violence. They may be troubled from having been adopted, placed in foster families or reintegrated into their biological families which they express as problem behavior at home or school.

The support program is for parents who need advice on problems they have in raising their children. In addition, the community support program offers training; it uses multidisciplinary approaches that offer help. The Trauma Centre offers support to prospective adoptive parents and children. It provides opportunities for youth and adults to overcome difficulties without carrying the baggage of the past.

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

Question for this article

Bulgarie: Soins pour les victimes de violence et soutien psychologique pour les enfants et les adolescents en difficulté

. . TOLÉRANCE & SOLIDARITÉ . .

Un article par Diana Tashkova

Présentement, il arrive que des enfants et leurs familles soient victimes de violence, étant abusés sexuellement ou dans la familiale. En fait, les citoyens de l’Union européenne de la Roumanie, la Hongrie et la Bulgarie sont les victimes les plus fréquentes de la traite humaine en Europe. En outre, la majorité des cas qui ont été étudiés entre 2009 et 2013 par Europol montrent que 40 pour cent des victimes de la traite des êtres humains en Europe étaient des cas de la Roumanie, 18 pour cent de la Hongrie et de 11 pour cent de la Bulgarie. La majorité des victimes de la traite des êtres humains sont des femmes ou des jeunes filles, et une forte proportion d’entre eux sont exploités sexuellement. Globalement, la traite des êtres humains reste une épidémie mondiale.

tashkova
Logo du Programme de coopération bulgaro-suisse

En outre, certains enfants peuvent avoir de mauvaises expériences dans leurs familles, dans les écoles et dans leurs environs. Voilà pourquoi, le projet “Centre de traumatologie pour les enfants et les familles» a été lancé. Il a été financé par le Programme de coopération Suisse-Bulgare et il est mis en œuvre par la Fondation Association Animus. Son objectif est de fournir un soutien psychologique et une récupération après des situations traumatisantes. Le Centre familles comprend également un programme de correspondance. Il donne la chance aux enfants et aux parents d’obtenir des consultations via e-mails et de rester anonyme.

Le projet vise à compléter le modèle du système social actuel en Bulgarie par l’introduction d’un programme social innovant. Il offre un programme de soutien des enfants et des parents, ainsi que le programme de soutien de la communauté.

Le programme de soutien des enfants est également bénéfique pour les enfants qui éprouvent des problèmes de communication ou qui ont des difficultés d’adaptation à l’environnement social, qui veulent surmonter la perte d’un parent, séparation des parents, la violence domestique, la violence sexuelle. Le problème est peut-être le fait qu’ils ne soient adoptés, placés dans des familles d’accueil ou réintégrés dans leurs familles biologiques. Le problème peut être exprimée par le comportement problématique à la maison ou à l’école.

Le programme de soutien est destiné aux parents qui ont besoin des conseils sur les problèmes qu’ils ont à élever leurs enfants. Les adoptants candidats et les parents adoptifs pourraient recevoir un soutien au Centre de traumatologie.

En plus, le programme de soutien de la communauté propose des formations et utilise approches pluridisciplinaires qui offrent de l’aide.

Le centre de traumatologie donne la chance aux jeunes et aux adultes à surmonter les difficultés sans porter les bagages du passé.

(Clickez ici pour une traduction anglaise.

Question for this article

UN: there is less violence in Colombia since the peace process began

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An article from Deutsche Welle

The number of casualties and the humanitarian impact of the armed conflict has decreased since peace talks between the government and the FARC began, according to a report of the United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

OCHA
graph from OCHA report

The armed conflict from which Colombia has suffered for more than half a century has declined since 2012, when the government and the FARC guerrillas in Cuba began the peace process, according to the study which was presented in Bogotá.

Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations in Colombia, Fabrizio Hochschild said that since the negotiations began there has been a decline of up to 48 percent of the number of victims of the conflict.

Hochschild said that from November 2012 to June 2015 the percent of people forced by the conflict decreased by 27% compared to the 32 months prior to the peace process.

Fewer acts of war

The OCHA study, entitled “Humanitarian and Peace Trends from November 2012-June 2015” also indicates that, overall, there was a decrease during this period in the number of military actions of the guerrilla group, attacks on civilians, victims of landmines and kidnappings.

According to Hochschild, the figures decreased largely as a result of the six ceasefire declarations that have made by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) during the peace process, which have helped to reduce by 60% and 52% respectively the figures for guerrilla attacks and displaced persons.

The FARC has upheld since last July 20 a ceasefire, which was answered by President Juan Manuel Santos by an order to the Air Force to suspend the bombing of guerrilla camps as part of an agreement to start a phase of de-escalation of the conflict.

Hope and concern

The delegate of the UN cataloged the current scenario as “encouraging” and highlighted the progress of the peace process, but said the OCHA study continues to show worrying data for violence in Colombia.

Hochschild said the state must take measures to prevent other armed groups from beginning to act in places where the FARC guerrilla group makes peace with the government and demobilizes.

He also said that so far this year 69 human rights defenders and political leaders have been killed, which he described as “alarming”, because in the same period in 2014 the figure was 35.

“That’s a major setback which is very unfortunate in terms of social protection and community leaders,” he said.

(Click here for the original Spanish version.)

Other articles related to this one:

ONU: hay menos violencia en Colombia a partir del proceso de paz

. LIBERTAD DE INFORMACIÓN .

Un artículo de Deutsche Welle

El número de víctimas y el impacto humanitario del conflicto armado han disminuido desde que se iniciaron las conversaciones de paz entre el Gobierno y las FARC, según un informe de la Oficina de Asuntos Humanitarios.

OCHA
gráfico de informe OCHA

El conflicto armado que afecta a Colombia desde hace más de medio siglo ha disminuido desde 2012, cuando el gobierno y la guerrilla de las FARC iniciaron en Cuba el proceso de paz, según un estudio presentado en Bogotá por la Oficina de Asuntos Humanitarios de Naciones Unidas (OCHA).

El coordinador residente y humanitario de las Naciones Unidas en Colombia, Fabrizio Hochschild, señaló que desde que empezó la negociación se ha observado una disminución de hasta el 48 por ciento de la cantidad de víctimas del conflicto.

Hochschild mencionó que desde noviembre de 2012 hasta junio de 2015 se redujo en un 27 por ciento el desplazamiento forzado de personas como consecuencia del conflicto frente a los 32 meses anteriores al proceso de paz.

Menos acciones bélicas

El estudio de la OCHA, titulado “Tendencias Humanitarias y Paz noviembre 2012-junio 2015”, también indica que, en términos generales, durante ese lapso disminuyeron la cantidad de acciones bélicas del grupo guerrillero, los ataques a la población civil, las víctimas de minas antipersona y los secuestros.

Según Hochschild las cifras disminuyeron en gran parte por las seis declaraciones de alto el fuego que han hecho las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) durante el proceso de paz, que han contribuido a reducir en 60 y 52 por ciento las cifras de ataques guerrilleros y de desplazados, respectivamente.

Las FARC cumplen desde el pasado 20 de julio un alto el fuego, que fue respondido por el presidente Juan Manuel Santos con una orden a la Fuerza Aérea para suspender los bombardeos contra campamentos guerrilleros, en el marco de un acuerdo para iniciar una fase de desescalamiento del conflicto.

Esperanza y preocupación

El delegado de las Naciones Unidas catalogó el actual escenario de “alentador” y destacó el avance del proceso de paz, pero dijo que el estudio de la OCHA sigue mostrando datos preocupantes por la violencia en Colombia.

Hochschild expresó que el Estado debe tomar medidas para impedir que nuevos grupos armados comiencen a actuar en los lugares que dejen las FARC en caso de que ese grupo guerrillero firme la paz con el gobierno y se desmovilice.

Asimismo, dijo que en lo que va de este año 69 defensores de los derechos humanos y líderes políticos han sido asesinados, lo que calificó de “alarmante”, pues en el mismo periodo de 2014 la cifra llegaba a 35.

“Eso es un retroceso muy importante, muy lamentable en términos de protección a líderes sociales y líderes comunitarios”, expresó.

( Clickear aquí para la traducción inglês.)

Question(s) related to this article:

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Colombia: Autoridades municipales se preparan para el posconflicto en Cundinamarca
Colombia: Municipal Authorities prepare for post-conflict peace-building in Cundinamarca

Colombia: City officials are preparing for post-conflict peace-building in Cundinamarca

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An article of HSB Noticias (reprinted by permission)

Cuidad Salud is among the municipalities hardest hit by violence because of its proximity to Viotá, the epicenter of the violence of the Alto Magdalena.

cundinamarca
Jerome Gordillo, secretary of Government of Cundinamarca, accompanied by Deputy Carlos Ferro, and other officials in the forum.

For several years now Colombia has been speaking of post-conflict which is expected soon when finally a number of outstanding agreements for the Peace Accord are signed in Havana. It is a peace that many see far away, but are beginning to be felt in municipalities that were seriously affected by the violence and now living with other kinds of social problems. This is the case in Tocaima which suffered from the problem of insecurity and armed groups and currently faces the problem of drug trafficking but is hoping that initiatives such as that of the government can enable them to live in harmony and peace.

An advance

Municipalities are advancing in strength for their capacities to work on reconciliation with communities in the peace process. In order to implement strategies to resolve conflicts between communities through alternative justice of conciliation, the secretaries of government and municipal representatives participated in a departmental meeting that laid the essential foundations to address the peace process and lighten the load of the courts.

Coexistence

During this first regional meeting, progress was made in strengthening the national policy of coexistence and security in the issue of reconciliation. Jerome Gordillo, secretary of Government of Cundinamarca, said that Cundinamarca is the first post-conflict department in the country, and it is the responsibility of mayors and ombudsmen to efficiently handle the peace process. “We work directly with communities, especially for the qualification of municipal authorities to advance the promotion and establishment of a culture of peace with foundation in reconciliation that allows the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The message is peace,” he said.

For his part, the Deputy Minister of Political Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior, Carlos Ferro, explained the importance of strengthening the capacities and knowledge of ombudsmen for the issue of conflict resolution in the municipalities. “From the Ministry we are already in the process of enlisting municipalities for this. We help empower them with regard to reconciliation and post-conflict peacebuilding in all municipalities. Peace begins in the territory when we recognize the reasons that caused the conflict and design tools and strategies to solve them,” said Ferro.

(Click here for the original Spanish version.)

Other aricles related to this one:

Colombia: Autoridades municipales se preparan para el posconflicto en Cundinamarca

. LIBERTAD DE INFORMACIÓN .

Un artículo de HSB Noticias (republicado con permiso)

Dentro de los municipios que en su día fueron más azotados por la violencia se encontraba la Ciudad Salud por su cercanía con Viotá, epicentro de la violencia del Alto Magdalena.


cundinamarca
Jerónimo Gordillo, secretario de Gobierno (e), acompañado del viceministro Carlos Ferro, y demás funcionarios en el foro.

Desde ya hace varios años, en Colombia se viene hablando del posconflicto que se espera llegue pronto cuando por fin se firmen una serie de acuerdos pendientes en La Habana, es una paz que muchos ven lejana, pero que se empieza a sentir en municipios que fueron seriamente afectados por la violencia, y que hoy viven otra clase de problemas sociales, es el caso de Tocaima que hace algunos años padeció el problema de la inseguridad por grupos armados y que hoy enfrenta el problema del microtráfitco, pero que espera que con iniciativas como esta del gobierno departamental pueda vivir en armonía y paz.

Un avance

Los municipios avanzan en el fortalecimiento de sus capacidades para trabajar en conciliación con las comunidades frente al proceso de paz. Con el propósito de poner en marcha estrategias para resolver conflictos entre las comunidades a través de la justicia alternativa de la conciliación, secretarios de Gobierno y personeros municipales participaron en un encuentro departamental que sentó las bases esenciales para abordar el proceso de paz y descongestionar los despachos judiciales.

Convivencia

En desarrollo de este primer encuentro regional, se avanzó en el fortalecimiento de la política nacional de convivencia y seguridad ciudadana en el tema de la conciliación. Jerónimo Gordillo, secretario de Gobierno (e) de Cundinamarca, resaltó que en Cundinamarca, como primer departamento posconflicto del país, es responsabilidad de alcaldes y personeros manejar eficientemente el proceso de paz. “Debemos trabajar desde ya directamente con las comunidades, y de manera especial en la cualificación de las competencias de las autoridades municipales para avanzar en la promoción y establecimiento de la cultura de la paz con base fundamental en la conciliación que permite resolver pacíficamente los conflictos. El mensaje es de paz”, puntualizó.

Por su parte, el viceministro de Relaciones Políticas del Ministerio del Interior, Carlos Ferro, explicó la importancia de fortalecer las capacidades y conocimiento de los personeros para el tema de resolución de conflictos en los municipios. “Desde el Ministerio ya estamos en proceso de alistamiento de mesas municipales para este tema. Ayudaremos a empoderarlos en materia de conciliación y posconflicto en todos los municipios. La paz comienza en el territorio cuando se reconozcan los motivos que originados los conflictos y se diseñen herramientas y estrategias para solucionarlos”, manifestó Ferro.

( Clickear aquí para la traducción inglês.)

Question(s) related to this article:

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

This discussion question applies to the following articles:

Colombian villagers practice non-violent resistance
Legacy of a Nonviolent Political Leader: Governor Guillermo Gaviria of Colombia
Working for a Culture of Peace in the Valley of the Cauca, Colombia
Remise des Prix de la Fondation Chirac pour la prévention des conflits
Chirac Foundation Prize for Conflict Prevention
The University and the Peace Process in Colombia
La paz supera coyunturas y fronteras (Colombia y Venezuela)
Peace is not stopped by borders (Colombia and Venezuela)
Campesinos colombianos celebran primer acuerdo agrario de paz
Colombian Govt and FARC Reach Agreement on First Stage of Peace Talks
Colombia Campaña de la ONU “La Paz es mía”
UN Campaign in Colombia:
Presidente colombiano reactivará la Comisión Nacional de Paz
Colombian President to Reactivate National Peace Commission
FARC-EP y Gobierno colombiano avanzan en acuerdos para la paz
FARC-EP and Colombia Government advance in their peace accords
Colombia debe ser también la Nación más educada en derechos humanos: Presidente Santos
Colombia should also be the most educated nation in human rights : President Santos
Gabriel García Márquez and the peace process in Colombia
Colombia amanece con un presidente reelecto, esperanzada en la paz
Colombia awakens to hopes for peace with the re-election of their president
Mujer, ruralidad y memoria, entre los temas del congreso de paz (Bogotá, Colombia)
Women, rurality and historical memory among the themes of the Peace Congress (Bogotá, Colombia)
Sonia Ines Goéz Orrego on a speaking tour in the U.S. to share her experience building peace in Colombia
Pax Christi International Peace Award 2015: Women Collective for Reflection and Action (Colombia)
FARC-EP y Gobierno colombiano crearán Comisión de la Verdad
Planning for a Peace Assembly in the Colombian Caribbean
Inician construcción de Asamblea por la Paz en el caribe colombiano
Colombia: Ministerio del Trabajo acompañará, garantizará y facilitará Segunda Asamblea Nacional por la Paz
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Colombia: Municipal Authorities prepare for post-conflict peace-building in Cundinamarca

Book review: Nonviolent Resistance Against Armed Groups in Colombia

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A new book from the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict

The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict is pleased to share with you our first publication in the 2015 Monograph Series. The ICNC Monograph Series brings to fruition the scholarly work of the recipients of the 2014 ICNC Research Monograph Award, which aims to support academic research and writing that enhances the strategic practice and global understanding of civil resistance.

book

Confronted with civil war, local civilians typically either collaborate with the strongest actor in town or flee the area. Yet civilians are not stuck inexorably within this dichotomous choice. Collectively defying armed groups by engaging in organized nonviolent forms of noncooperation, self-organization and disruption is another option. 

The Power of Staying Put: Nonviolent Resistance Against Armed Groups in Colombia by Juan Masullo J. explores this option through a case study of sustained and organized civil resistance led by ordinary peasants against state and non-state repressive actors in Colombia’s longstanding civil war. It tells the story of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó (PCSJA), formally established in 1996, which has used a vast array of nonviolent tactics ranging from public declarations to establishing alternative educational institutions and markets. This impressive tactical diversity has gained considerable international support and, to this day, helps sustain the Community’s resilience. 

The PCSJA case leaves us with an important message regarding the scale at which ongoing peace efforts in Colombia can be advanced. National peace negotiations usually take place between high-level representatives of warring parties, without involving authentic grassroots peacemakers such as the PCSJA. 

The author, Juan Masullo, is a Doctoral Researcher at the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute (EUI). A Colombia-native and frequent visitor of the village of San José, his research interests include nonviolent strategies, social movements and collective actions.

(Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN reporter for this article.)

Question(s) related to this article:

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

This discussion question applies to the following articles:

Colombian villagers practice non-violent resistance
Legacy of a Nonviolent Political Leader: Governor Guillermo Gaviria of Colombia
Working for a Culture of Peace in the Valley of the Cauca, Colombia
Remise des Prix de la Fondation Chirac pour la prévention des conflits
Chirac Foundation Prize for Conflict Prevention
The University and the Peace Process in Colombia
La paz supera coyunturas y fronteras (Colombia y Venezuela)
Peace is not stopped by borders (Colombia and Venezuela)
Campesinos colombianos celebran primer acuerdo agrario de paz
Colombian Govt and FARC Reach Agreement on First Stage of Peace Talks
Colombia Campaña de la ONU “La Paz es mía”
UN Campaign in Colombia:
Presidente colombiano reactivará la Comisión Nacional de Paz
Colombian President to Reactivate National Peace Commission
FARC-EP y Gobierno colombiano avanzan en acuerdos para la paz
FARC-EP and Colombia Government advance in their peace accords
Colombia debe ser también la Nación más educada en derechos humanos: Presidente Santos
Colombia should also be the most educated nation in human rights : President Santos
Gabriel García Márquez and the peace process in Colombia
Colombia amanece con un presidente reelecto, esperanzada en la paz
Colombia awakens to hopes for peace with the re-election of their president
Mujer, ruralidad y memoria, entre los temas del congreso de paz (Bogotá, Colombia)
Women, rurality and historical memory among the themes of the Peace Congress (Bogotá, Colombia)
Sonia Ines Goéz Orrego on a speaking tour in the U.S. to share her experience building peace in Colombia
Pax Christi International Peace Award 2015: Women Collective for Reflection and Action (Colombia)
FARC-EP y Gobierno colombiano crearán Comisión de la Verdad
Planning for a Peace Assembly in the Colombian Caribbean
Inician construcción de Asamblea por la Paz en el caribe colombiano
Colombia: Ministerio del Trabajo acompañará, garantizará y facilitará Segunda Asamblea Nacional por la Paz
Colombia: The Labor Minister will provide full guarantees, facilitate and promote the Second National Assembly for Peace
Colombia: The Labor Minister will provide full guarantees, facilitate and promote the Second National Assembly for Peace
San Agustín, Colombia: escenario de la Bienal internacional de educación y cultura de paz
San Agustin, Colombia to host International Biennial of Education and Culture of Peace
Carta de Colombia
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Colombia: Rock in the Park 2015 – Music for the 21st Century

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Rock al Parque (translation by CPNN)

More than 350,000 people attended this year’s version of the Rock in the Park Festival which has become an institution in Bogotá. It has evolved and changed with the city, moving from generation to generation because it is alive and in this 21st edition it looks straight into the twenty-first century. This new edition of Rock in the Park, which closes after three great successful days of music, holiday, coexistence and diversity, was dedicated to the culture of peace.

rock

This version of the most iconic rock festival of the continent left with sound, and music in the air from 74 national, local and international bands that came to the stage of the Metropolitan Simon Bolivar Park and the Media Torta, providing all the power of their talent to the thousands of spectators who showed once again that the Colombia is a rocker capital.

The Rock in the Park that we know today is the result of a conscious policy of the transformative power of art and culture in contemporary societies, as Mayor Gustavo Petro said in 2014, during the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of festival

Rock in the Park has made and continues to make it possible for thousands of young people to love music and reflect on a city that has tried collectively to build a public good as now recognized nationally and internationally. As explained by Santiago Trujillo Escobar,director general of the District Institute of Arts, Idartes, “Rock in the Park is the space to exercise creative freedom to be and to let be and to celebrate life. It makes us realize that if we commit the will and energy of our bodies and conscience, we can transform this country into a more humane and just society. ”

According to Santiago, “Rock in the Park has become the place where conflicting and sometimes extreme expressions of diversity can coexist and be respected and enhanced. From the point of view of Idartes, we value and foster debate. For us criticism is always welcome. Thanks to this we have a more pluralistic and representative festival, a festival that looks straight into the XXI century”

The closing of the third day of Rock al Parque was in the hands of three international bands, Café Tacvba, Ill Nino y Adrenaline Mob. They gave memorable moments to thousands of spectators full of emotions and euphoria and voice to the demand for social change and actions for peace.

(article continued on the right side of the page)

(click here for the Spanish version of this article.)

Question for this article:

What place does music have in the peace movement?

(article continued from the left side of the page)

An example of this was when members of the Che Sudaka band decided to share the stage with David Jaramillo of Doctor Krápula to chant a rock “bambuco” dedicated to the peasants and indigenous people who resist the occupation of their land, reject transgenic seeds and claim peace ” once and for all!”. Another example was when the vocalist Jota decided to run into the arms of the public, in an unforgettable moment that adds to the many who remain in the collective memory of a rock concert that Bogota renews year after year.

Because, as noted by Bertha Quintero, Deputy Director of Arts at Idartes and protagonist of this story from the beginning: “Today the festival is at the height of the great festivals of the world.” According to her, one of its main features has been the behavior of respect and coexistence of the public who has appropriated this space.

This is supported by the Subcomandante Metropolitan Police of Bogota, Col. Aurelio Ordonez who highlighted the exemplary behavior of the citizens who ensured complete tranquility during the three day event.

But besides being exemplary, Rock in the Park has served as a platform for groups that today have a national and international scope; since 2011 the festival has presented on its stage 134 district, 75 national and 169 international bands.

It should be noted that this year, the musical palette was based on gender diversity that resulted from the programming led by Chucky Garcia, according to Santiago Trujillo.

This year, in addition to presenting bands from around the country, the festival brought talent from countries including Chile, Jamaica, South Africa, Portugal, United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Germany, Venezuela, Spain, Ecuador, Italy, Japan, Argentina, France, Costa Rica, England, Poland, Brazil and Bosnia, among others.

In addition Rock in the Park serves as a showcase for companies and entrepreneurs in the sector. They find here a stage for their products and a space in which participants can access a variety of cuisines and collectible articles.

The festival includes more than what is on the stage. There is an academic component that includes lectures, workshops and panels that enhance dialogue and strengthen musical practice that grows every year. This year, for example during the three days of the festival more than 140 thousand people visited the corporate site of Rock in the Park. Not to ignore those who who follow the festival through the live broadcasts by Channel Capital which also reached over 450,000 Internet users, according to the data offered by the operating director of Channel Capital, Favio Fandiño.

In sum, the 21st festival has been worthy of its century, able to project into the future with the certainty of its institutional maturity and allow thousands of young people and adults to enjoy a complete selection of the best of the rocker scene, a memorable journey through the sounds and colors the rock music from around the world

Colombie: Rock al Parque 2015 – Una Tendencia del Siglo XXI

.. EDUCACIÓN PARA LA PAZ ..

Un articulo de Rock al Parque

Más de 350.000 personas asistieron a en esta versión del Festival Rock al Parque El rock es una institución en Bogotá, que evoluciona y cambia con la ciudad, que se mueve de generación en generación porque está vivo y que en esta edición No 21 mira de frente al siglo XXI; así lo deja claro una edición más de Rock al Parque, que cierra con un éxito rotundo tres días de música, de fiesta, de convivencia y de diversidad, en los que la cultura de paz fue la nota predominante.

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La versión número veintiuno del festival de rock más emblemático del continente dejó en el aire las sonoridades, estéticas y propuestas musicales de 74 bandas nacionales, locales e internacionales que se subieron a los escenarios del Parque Metropolitano Simón Bolívar y al de la Media Torta, para ofrecerle toda la potencia de su talento a los miles de espectadores que demostraron una vez más, que la de los colombianos es una capital roquera.

Y es que el Rock al Parque que conocemos hoy es el resultado de una política consciente del poder transformador del arte y la cultura en las sociedades contemporáneas, como bien lo explicó el Alcalde Gustavo Petro en el 2014, durante la celebración de los veinte años del Festival

Rock al Parque ha hecho y sigue haciendo posible que miles de jóvenes vivan la música y reflejen la otra cara de una ciudad que ha sabido construir colectivamente un bien público que hoy es reconocido nacional e internacionalmente porque, como lo explica Santiago Trujillo Escobar, director general del Instituto Distrital de las Artes, Idartes, “Rock al Parque es el espacio para ejercer la libertad creativa, para ser y dejar ser, para celebrar la vida y de paso darnos cuenta de que si juntamos las voluntades y la energía de nuestros cuerpos y conciencias podemos transformar este país en una sociedad más humana y justa”.

De acuerdo con Santiago, “Rock al Parque ha sido el lugar donde las expresiones más extremas y a veces conflictivas de la diversidad se han encontrado para convivir, respetarse y potenciarse. Desde el Idartes se valora y fomenta el debate, y la crítica será siempre bien recibida, porque es gracias a eso que cada vez se logra un mejor festival, un festival más variado, más plural y más representativo, un festival que mira de frente el siglo XXI”

El cierre de la tercera jornada de Rock al Parque estuvo en manos de tres bandas internacionales que debieron enfrentarse a un Simón Bolívar a reventar en sus tres escenarios, Café Tacvba, Ill Nino y Adrenaline Mob fueron la nota final de una serie de conciertos en los que miles de espectadores vivieron momentos memorables, llenos de emociones, euforias y grandes encuentros y en donde, una vez más, se levantaron las voces que exigieron cambios sociales y acciones de paz.

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Question related to this article:

What place does music have in the peace movement?

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Fue así, por ejemplo, como los integrantes de Che Sudaka decidieron compartir escenario con David Jaramillo de Doctor Krápula, para cantar un bambuco roquero dedicado a los campesinos e indígenas que resisten la usurpación de sus tierras, rechazar las semillas transgénicas y reclamar la paz “¡de una vez por todas!”. Y fue así también que Jota, su vocalista, decidió lanzarse a los brazos del público, en un momento inolvidable que se suma a los muchos que permanecerán en la memoria colectiva de una Bogotá que renueva el rock año tras año.

Porque, como lo señala Bertha Quintero, Subdirectora de las Artes de Idartes y protagonista de su historia desde el inicio: “hoy el festival está a la altura de los grandes festivales del mundo”. De acuerdo con ella, una de sus principales características ha sido el comportamiento de respeto y convivencia del público que se ha apropiado de este espacio.

De eso, da fe el Subcomandante de la Policía Metropolitana de Bogotá, el Coronel Aurelio Ordoñez quien destacó el comportamiento ejemplar de los bogotanos al dar un parte de completa tranquilidad durante los tres días del evento.

Pero además de ser ejemplar, Rock al Parque ha servido de plataforma a agrupaciones que hoy en día tienen una proyección nacional e internacional; desde el 2011 se han presentado en sus escenarios 134 bandas distritales, 75 nacionales y 169 internacionales.

Hay que destacar que en su versión 2015, el festival fue, además, un éxito de programación, con una paleta musical basada en la diversidad de géneros que obedeció a un proceso de curaduría impecable, liderado por Chucky García, quien de acuerdo con Santiago Trujillo, le sabe sentir el mapa sonoro a la ciudad.

As of now, there are 33 CPNN articles on this theme, which shows the great extent to which music is the universal language of peace!

Durante esta administración el festival ha presentado bandas de todo el país, convirtiéndose en la gran pantalla de la escena nacional e internacional trayendo talentos universales de países como Chile, Jamaica, Sudáfrica, Portugal, Estados Unidos, Puerto Rico, México, Alemania, Venezuela, España, Ecuador, Italia, Japón, Argentina, Francia, Costa Rica, Inglaterra, Polonia, Brasil y Bosnia, entre otros.

Pero no hay que olvidar que Rock al Parque es también una vitrina para las empresas y emprendedores del sector, que cada año encuentran en él un escenario para sus productos y un espacio en el que los asistentes pueden acceder a una variada oferta gastronómica y de artículos coleccionables.

Está claro que el festival no se queda en las tarimas, el componente académico que incluye charlas, talleres y paneles que potencian el diálogo y fortalecen la práctica musical, crece año con año, como el festival mismo que al ritmo de las nuevas tecnologías, cada vez le ofrece más opciones a los grandes públicos. Este año, por ejemplo durante los tres días del festival más de 140 mil personas visitaron la página institucional de Rock al Parque; eso sin dejar a un lado a quienes vivieron el festival gracias a la transmisión en vivo de Canal Capital que, además, llegó a más de 450 mil cibernautas, de acuerdo con datos previos ofrecidos por el director operativo del Canal Capital, Favio Fandiño.

En suma este, el número 21, ha sido un festival digno de su siglo, capaz de proyectarse hacia el futuro con la certeza de su madurez institucional y de ofrecerle a los miles de jóvenes y adultos que lo disfrutaron una completa selección de lo mejor de la escena roquera del momento, un viaje memorable por los sonidos y los colores musicales del rock en el mundo.

A gathering of young peace-builders towards a strengthened policy framework on Youth, Peace and Security

. . TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY . .

An article by Meg Villanueva, based on the Forum website

On 21-22 August 2015, the first ever Global Forum on Youth, Peace and Security will bring together around 500 participants, including government representatives, practitioners and experts in peace and conflict work, youth activists and young peacebuilders from more than 100 countries. The Global Forum is a turning point towards a new international agenda on youth, peace and security. It stems from the themes debated at the Security Council Ministerial Debate on the Role of Youth in Countering Violent Extremism and Promoting Peace, organized by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan during its presidency of the Security Council, on 23 April 2015. The forum will build on the on-going efforts by a multiplicity of actors to decisively step-up global attention to young people’s positive contribution to peace and chart a common agenda.

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For the first gathering of this kind, young people, youth-led organizations, non-governmental organizations, governments and UN entities will come together to agree on a common vision and roadmap to partner with young people in preventing conflict, countering violent extremism and building lasting peace. The Global Forum will be hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, and co-organized by the United Nations represented, on behalf of the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD), by Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Peacebuilding Support Office, UNFPA and UNDP, in partnership with Search for Common Ground and the United Network of Young Peacebuilders.
One of the expected outcomes of this forum is the Amman Declaration, which will present young people’s vision and roadmap towards a strengthened policy framework in support of young people’s roles in preventing and transforming conflict, countering violent extremism and building peace. This Amman Declaration is entirely developed by young people, building on the Guiding Principles for Young People’s Participation in Peacebuilding (bit.ly/1Jz90F6 or bit.ly/1GPQ1QO). UNOY Peacebuilders is coordinating the drafting of the Amman Declaration, and has involved a lot of young people from all over the world, through written consultations, questionnaires and focus-group discussions.
The Forum will engage participants in conversations on key policy recommendations towards a new international agenda on youth, peace and security, which will be captured in a final Declaration. This forum will provide a platform for exchange of experiences, innovative ideas and programmatic frameworks that work. To learn more about the key topics to be discussed, as well as inspiring young speakers, please visit https://www.unteamworks.org/Youth4Peace.

Question for this article