Peace Programme

A university-based programme focusing on the study of violence and conflict in all its forms, with an eye towards producing valuable research and training peace-workers, and eventually contributing to the political negotiation of peace in Colombia.

Description

The Peace Programme came into being as part of the Development Plan of Universidad Pedagógica Nacional; the programme received the approval of the university community in 1998. In this Development Plan one of the strategic areas was to develop a programme of peace pedagogy that would include components in human rights, conflict observation, and analysis of the forms of violence (physical, structural, cultural, etc.) inside the university and in the broader Colombian society.

The initiative expresses the direct will of the Principal’s office. The Principal has delegated responsibility for the Programme to the academic Vice Principal.

With persistent endeavour and a strong academic and educational presence in society, the programme will fulfill its dream of contributing to political and negotiated solutions to small-scale community conflicts and larger armed ones. In these efforts it is recognised that conflict needs to be dealt with at all levels of society in order to achieve an effective resolution. The participants are also aware that the life of the project is closely linked to the political conception and activity of the Colombian nation. When the peace talks between the Government of Andres Pastrana (1998 – 2002) and the guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) began, the programme was very active. Something important was happening, involving all sectors of society in contributing to the peace talks' success.

What most distinguishes this idea is its deep advocacy for peace in developing a pedagogy of conflict and its understanding of the need for a political and negotiated transformation of the Colombian social and armed conflict.

Aims / Objectives

One of the main objectives of the Peace Programme is to have a clear, rational and critical understanding of what conflict is, especially in the Colombian context. In general terms the initiative works to achieve this through a socio-historic and political study of the Colombian armed conflict and how, when and why it violently transformed. The programme can then go on to contribute to discussions and negotiations for the transformation of the Colombian armed conflict.

The Peace Programme also aims to raise awareness and sensibility of the many creative ways for transforming conflict. To achieve this, it disseminates its reflections at a national and international level, and educates its students and teachers to be peace-workers and agents of social change.

Lastly, the programme aims to alleviate conflict on campus by monitoring violent situations inside the university, reporting to the university community, analysing these situations, and prompting for reflections and dialogue.

How it is Articulated

The fundamental means of articulation is the Diplomado (a qualified study of conflict every six months), but because of a lack of funding this year it has been postponed. This is why the programme needs such help at this stage.

There are also workshops, round tables, investigations, seminars, debates and publications.

Achievements / Learning Points

The Peace Programme made its presence known and participated in the peace talks and various reflections between Pastrana's Government and FARC in the region of Caguan. They were very active and prepared several university students groups to assist the vulnerable communities in the zone. The group published a book called “Coexistence and Globalisation, Peace Contributions”, which received the entire support of Pastrana’s Government.

The programme has carried out ten versions of the Diplomado in the Pedagogy of Peace and Coexistence, regardless of economic limitations.

The fundamental teaching and learning point made in all these years is that conflict is a natural instance. It is a natural part of relationships among human beings that has to be understood with positive and open criteria, because what conflict expresses is different interpretations and perspectives. This is one of the main achievements: to recognize conflict from this point of view.

Colombia is way behind in understanding the nature of conflicts; how to address them, handle them, and transform them without the use of violence.

The Peace Programme knows there are people and organisations in other countries that want to work together, but there are some elements that impede more significant results. Hence, the work needs to be based on the vocation that through joint activities and efforts much more can be done for national coexistence, which at the same time helps global coexistence.

The budget has been a key obstacle. The group used to have a presence in other conflict zones outside of Bogotá, D.C., like Meta, Yopal, Norte de Santander, the south of César and Antioquia. Due to economic problems the mobilisations to these zones are limited, so now the Peace Programme operates only in Bogotá, D.C., and inside the university communities.

Geographical Area of Operation

Colombia

Funding Resources

Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, which is funded by the Colombian state, but on a very limited budget

Organisations Involved

• The Peace Universities Network;
• Redepaz; and
• Asamblea Permanente de la Sociedad Civil por la Paz.

Beyond these, it depends on the economic situation. When participants were able to visit other conflict zones, the programme worked together with many NGOs and religious organisations.

Stories

Alonso Ojeda Awad (Director): "There are many stories, but probably one that struck me a lot was the fruitful experience of organising and teaching one version of the Diplomado with the Federación de Acciones Comunales of Bogotá, D.C., the National University, and the High School of Public Administration (ESAP). About 600 leaders from city suburbs, which is where conflicts are so violently expressed, came to our classrooms, talked about their problems and felt part of our university community. The three universities acknowledged these efforts and gave a diploma to each one of the participants. Of course this is also an achievement, but I personally tell it as part of a story."

"The ideal thing was to continue, but as said before, this is all related to government decisions and to the political environment they create. By that time, 2002, the Mayor of Bogotá, D.C., was Antanas Mockus. He is our colleague, a university teacher and a pedagogue who is identified with the theorization of conflict as a condition, something natural, and with non-violence, creative and peaceful ways to address conflicts. This is the political setting in which all our activities developed. It was a beautiful thing to see the youth and elderly people graduating in a university like this one. I have absolute certainty that the decrease in homicides in Bogotá, D.C, shown at the time of Mockus' Government were reflected in our peace-building efforts - the Diplomado".