English

April - June, 2007, Edition No.3

Conflict Resolution
and Peace Education

Dear Colleagues:
The member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) expressed their “firm belief that democracy, peace, and development are inseparable and indivisible parts of a renewed and integral vision of solidarity in the Americas” (Inter-American Democratic Charter). Yet, violence in our societies is a significant regional concern.

The United Nations World Report on Violence against Children brings to light the troubling extent of violence against children in schools and communities and the need for governments and other sectors to address it. As this report and extensive research suggest, conflict resolution and peace education has the demonstrated potential to significantly contribute to reducing this violence.

We believe it is our responsibility to move beyond beliefs and teachings that promote and even glorify violence often common in our cultures. We must implement initiatives which provide future generations with more peaceful alternatives to resolve conflicts. This edition provides you with some resources to support this mission.

Lenore Yaffee García
Director, Department of Education and Culture
Organization of American States

Inter-American Encounter on Conflict Resolution and Peace Education
March 14 – 17, 2007
More information >>

OAS at Balkan Conference on Peace Education and Conflict Resolution in Schools
Serbia, April 12 – 13, 2007
More information >>

Special Issue on Conflict Resolution Education and Peace Education around the Globe
Conflict Resolution Quarterly
November, 2007
More information >>

What is the Inter-American Program?

The Inter-American Program on Education for Democratic Values and Practices is an alliance officially adopted by the ministers of education of OAS member states through CIDI/RME/RES. 12 (IV-O/05) at the IV Meeting of the Ministers of Education held in Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago on August 11th and 12th, 2005.

The Program has three components:
• Research and analysis
• Professional development and educational resources, and
• Cooperation and information exchange.

Structure of the Program

An interdisciplinary, cross-national Advisory Board of 40 members provides guidance for the Program, as does the Coordinating Group of Countries which each of the 34 OAS member states is invited to join.

More information on the Program and its achievements is available at: www.educadem.oas.org

Highlighted Program Activities

• Inter-American Committee on Education provides seed funding for the Program 2007 – 2008

• Inter-American Journal of Education for Democracy: Second Call for Papers

• Caribbean Training Course on Inter-American Democratic Charter

Interested institutions and individuals are encouraged to join this hemispheric alliance by contacting the Inter-American Program's technical secretariat at the OAS. Please contact us at education@oas.org

Was this bulletin useful for you?

 

Your opinion is very important to us!

. Regional Highlights

• Life Skills: A Caribbean Approach to Conflict Resolution Education >>

• Conflict Resolution in Guatemala’s Education Reform (Spanish only) >>

• Costa Rica Transversal Curriculum Theme: Human Rights for Democracy and Peace (Spanish only) >>

. Resources

• United Nations World Report on Violence against Children >>

• Colombian Educational Alliance for the Construction of a Peace Culture
(Spanish only) >>

• Restorative Practices (reparation of harm through dialogue between all stakeholders) >>

• National School Mediation Program in Argentina (Spanish only) >>

• Other Resources

. Events

• First International Education for Peace Conference, Vancouver, Canada, November 14-17, 2007 >>

• Third Meeting of the Latin American Inter-religious Network on Peace Education (III Encuentro de la Red Interreligiosa Latinoamericana de Educación para la Paz), August 12 – 16, 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil >>

• Other Events >>

. In Other Regions

• International Network on School Bullying and Violence >>

• Civil Society Peace Stories from Around the Globe >>

• West Africa Network for Peace Building >>

. Be Part of the Dialogue

What would you like to see in this bulletin? We welcome your suggestions and active participation in the construction of this publication. Contact us at: education@oas.org

Fourth edition: The theme of our fourth edition will be Human Rights Education

 • Find details on how to contribute and themes of future issues

• Team >>

. Other Resources

Find other publications of interest and links to resources on how to involve youth in democratic participation, and other topics, at www.educadem.oas.org

. Quote
"Where it is legal, considered acceptable, and perhaps even commendable, for men to control women, and the wealthy or privileged to control the poor or disadvantaged, and parents to control children through violence and the threat of violence, then it is likely to be legal, considered acceptable and perhaps even commendable, for both adults and children to use similar methods in schools. By being victims, perpetrators, and witnesses of violence, children learn that violence is an acceptable way for the strong and aggressive to get what they want from the comparatively weak, passive or peaceful."
(United Nation's World Report on Violence Against Children, Violence Against Children in School's and Educational Settings, [chapter 4], p. 111).

•  Other quotes >>

About the OAS
The Organization of American States (OAS) brings together the countries of the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation and advance common interests. It is the region's premier forum for multilateral dialogue and concerted action. Although the idea of Inter-American cooperation dates back much further, the OAS came into being in 1948, evolving from the Pan American Union. Countries from all around the world are permanent observers , closely following the issues that are critical to the Americas.

• Find out more about the OAS>>


If you don’t want to receive this bulletin, write us here