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What's Being Done On . . . Peace Building and Democracy ?
Action Pour le Developpement et la Paix Entre les Ethnies (Action for Development and Peace among Ethnic Groups) - Democratic Republic of Congo Contact: ircbukavu@theirc.org Action Pour le Developpement et la Paix Entre les Ethnies actively pursues ethnic reconciliation in the war-torn southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo by working on programs that promote inter-ethnic dialogue and bring together members from opposing parties/ militias to discuss pertinent issues. ADEPAE organized ten three-day workshops that were hosted throughout the region. Each of the workshops brought members of the community together to discuss conflict-resolution, ethnic differences, human rights issues, and possible solutions to the conflict. They held similar workshops with militia leaders to discuss possible solutions to the conflict and how to reincorporate former combatants into society. The group is hoping that building a successful dialogue can serve as the foundation for lasting peace. The African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes - South Africa www.accord.org.za/web/home.htm Contact: info@accord.org.za The African Center for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) works throughout Africa to bring solutions to the challenges posed by conflict. ACCORD's programs incorporate traditional African knowledge and culture and include such efforts as: designing constitutional models that foster peaceful settlement of disputes and entrench the culture of tolerance, reconciliation and responsible leadership; capacity-building workshops; researching effective strategies for intervention; conducting various trainings in conflict resolution, negotiation, mediation, and other related fields; and other work in research, policy development, and advocacy. "Albania and Macedonia towards Better Mutual Understanding and Recognition" - Albania and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Contact: alcin@freedomhouse.hu TheEuro-Balkan Institute in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) in Albania, with support from Freedom House's Regional Networking Project in Budapest, launched an initiative called " Albania and Macedonia towards better Mutual Understanding and Recognition." The project's goal is to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two neighbors whose relationship has suffered significantly due to recent developments, such as armed insurgency within Macedonia. The initiative targets leading politicians, and members of parliament, public policy centers and NGOs, the business community, media, Albanian community in Macedonia, and Macedonian community in Albania. The project consisted of two national workshops and a regional round table that discussed the findings of a survey assessing bilateral relations and the perceptions of Macedonians and Albanians of each other. These meetings influenced the talks between the two country's presidents, who several days later agreed on cooperation and the protection of the rights of the ethnic Macedonian minority in Albania. Badya Center for Integrated Development Services- Sudan Contact: bsfyacentre@hotmail.com The Badya Center is situated in the Nuba Mountains region of Sudan, which has been devastated by war and the suffering caused by famine, disease and extreme poverty. The Badya Center for Integrated Development works with women and children in the region, and its activities include: publishing booklets and posters promoting peace, arranging for the education and support of street children displaced by war, conducting peace education programs in four primary schools, and bringing together youth of diverse ethnic backgrounds for soccer tournaments. The center also holds workshops on conflict resolution and human rights for adults. Center for Civic Cooperation Livno - Bosnia- Herzegovina www.cgs.livno.org/CGS-web/en/En.html Contact: cgs-li@tel.net.ba The Center for Civic Cooperation, based in the Croat controlled area of Bosnia-Herzegovina, promotes inter-ethnic reconciliation at the grassroots level. The Center provides training to citizens in the areas of conflict-prevention, dispute mediation, responsible journalism, micro-enterprise development and public administration. The programs involve all ethnic groups and aim to reestablish various aspects of the historic Bosnian multi-cultural society. Femmes et Enfants pour les Droits de L'Homme (Women and Children for Human Rights) - Democratic Republic of Congo Contact: fedho@yahoo.fr Femmes et Enfants pour les Droits de L'Homme works to end the inter-ethnic conflict that plagues the Kasai Occidental Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The group works closely with individuals and small groups to solve everyday problems in the region. Community churches host seminars organized by the group to discuss techniques for peaceful conflict resolution. Seminars on peace building topics are also hosted by universities and secondary schools to engage the youth of the nation in order to prevent the next generation from continuing the conflict. International Campaign for Tibet - Tibet http://www.savetibet.org/ Contact: info@savetibet.org The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) works to promote self-determination and human rights for Tibetans. By publicizing Tibetan causes throughout China, the ICT hopes to create an informed population in China to help better the situation of the Tibetan people and to build trust between the Chinese people. It arranges face-to-face meetings between prominent members of the Tibetan community (including exiled leaders) and influential Chinese. ICT's information on China's human rights and democracy practices is published in two sources of Tibet nees: Tibet Press Watch and the Tibetan Environment & Development News. LAM Center for Complex Research and Popularization of Chechen Culture- Russia/ Chechnya Contact: zulekhan@mail.ru The LAM Center is an indigenous non-governmental organization made up of Chechen intellectuals and other prominent individuals who seek to promote democracy and the rule of law as the solution to the ongoing conflict. The LAM Center has organized a series of roundtable discussions and conferences to bring pro-democracy members of the government and NGOs together. These roundtables offer one of the few opportunities to discuss the many contentious issues facing Chechnya and the Chechen Diaspora. The LAM also publishes a bi-monthly bulletin on the politics and society of Chechnya, part of an effort to create a sustainable base for a democratic resolution to the current conflict. Organizacao de Ajuda ao Desenvolvimento Communitario (Community Development Assistance Organization) - Angola Contact: bikuma73@hotmail.com The Organizacao de Ajuda ao Desenvolvimento Communitario (OADEC) seeks to ensure the tentative peace in Angola by reintegrating rebel troops into Angolan society. The OADEC prepares citizens for reconciliation through several training sessions during which citizens are educated about basic human rights and the democratic provisions of the Angolan Constitution. The OADEC founded a counseling center in Luanda where a lawyer and two paralegals help people resolve grass-roots legal disputes and promote peace. OADEC's programs are currently being tested as rebel soldiers are slowly released from government detention to return home. The Peres Center for Peace- Israel http://www.peres-center.org/ Contact: info@peres-center.org The Peres Center for Peace implements a variety of cooperative peace-building projects in the Middle East region to advance civil society, economic and social growth and peaceful coexistence. The Center works extensively with young people in the Palestinian and Israeli communities to promote dialogue and cooperation. By sponsoring theater, seminars, and youth sporting events the Center brings together students in symbolic displays of tolerance. The Center is also working to promote a new sustainable agriculture for the entire Middle East region. Synergie pour la Paix (Synergy for Peace) - Democratic Republic of the Congo Contact: sypardc@hotmail.com Synergie pour la Paix was formed by the people of Kisangani to promote peace. The group is working on several projects aimed at rebuilding a peaceful city. It has created a series of media programs that will run for 48 weeks on local television and radio stations. The programs focus on different themes of peace advocacy, human rights and good governance. In addition, Synergie pour la Paix is continuing its civic education campaign that focuses on women and a peace advocacy program. The civic education program brings together three women's groups for monthly meetings to discuss topics ranging from a woman's role in government to family planning. Synergie pour la Paix hopes to involve women more deeply in the peace building process. The advocacy campaign unites organizations from rural areas to implement a strategy for peaceful society building. The groups are working jointly to calm ethnic tensions, promote human rights, and establish an effective judiciary. About "What's Being Done On . . . " For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9890. |
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