Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular (CINEP)

CINEP (Research and Public Education Centre) researches and documents conflict, development and human rights in Colombia, while working to build the capacity of the country's marginalised groups.

Overview

Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular is a non-profit organisation established by the Company of Jesus. It works towards the development of a comprehensive peace proposal, taking into account the knowledge, experience and tools of the regions and social organisations with which it works. Constructing peace in the country is essential for human development; this requires capacity building to improve education, governance, organisation and productivity, thus giving individuals the opportunity to construct their identity within a framework of human rights.

CINEP also aims to advance thinking on Colombia through research, analysis and systematic documentation of its work, and to increase public participation and voice in the formulation of policy. It is organised into three parts:

• a research centre investigating the social and cultural reality of Colombia;
• a department of social conflict mediation, which works on behalf of sectors of society who are routinely excluded or discriminated against to promote their participation in national development;
• a database to record the changing human rights situation and development of Colombia, and to facilitate and promote efforts towards positive change.

CINEP also coordinates and participates in national and international networks, creating alliances with other organisations, academia and the media, which in turn has strengthened its own activities.

What services are provided?

Capacity building, training, development projects, human rights monitoring, recording and promotion.

Associated Organisations

CINEP is a member of various committees of regional institutions that work towards development and peace. These include:

• Corporación de Desarrollo y Paz de Magdalena Medio (CDPMM)
• Corporación de Desarrollo y Paz del Oriente Antioqueño (PRODEPAZ)
• Corporación de Desarrollo y Paz del Piedemonte Llanero (CORDEPAZ)
• Coordinación de Obras Sociales de la Compañía de Jesús en Colombia
• Consejo Directivo de la Corporación Viva La Ciudadanía.

CINEP also participates in various networks and international and national associations. At the international level these include:

• Plataforma Latinoamericana de Derechos Humanos, Desarrollo y Democracia
• Asociación Latinoamérica de Organizaciones de Promoción (ALOP)
• Consejo de Educación de Adultos para América Latina (CEAAL)
• Red Mundial DPH
• CLACSO
• Coordinación Colombia-Europa-USA.

At the national level they include:

• Red de Programas Regionales de Desarrollo y Paz (REDPRODEPAZ)
• Alianza Post-Londres
• Fondo para proyectos ambiéntales ECOFONDO
• Asamblea Permanente de la Sociedad Civil por la Paz
• Secretaría Técnica de la Comisión Nacional de Implementación de Jueces de Paz en Colombia
• Comité Interinstitucional de Promoción de los Jueces de Paz
• Comité Interinstitucional de Justicia Comunitaria y en Equidad
• Comisión Nacional de Justicia en Equidad
• Alianza Educación y Cultura de Paz
• Laboratorio de Paz del Magdalena Medio
• Programa Desarrollo Regional Sostenible en la Zona Andina de Nariño y Putumayo
• Programa de Desarrollo y Paz “Mirada al Sur”
• Proyecto Nacional de Escuela–Taller de Desarrollo Local Sostenible
• Proyecto de Fortalecimiento Institucional como centro de excelencia académica
• Proyecto País Colombia
• Proyecto de Prestación de servicios del Sistema de Información General del CINEP (SIGC).

CINEP also works with various evangelical churches.

Web Links

- An independent spanish language news bulletin service,
offering information and analysis of Colombian reality.