Bureau of Public Information memobpi Peacebuilding A commitment to implies a way of resolving conflicts, not according to the force of might, but by respecting internationally accepted norms, the and negotiation, with the aim of achieving a fullness of life for each and every one. By its Constitution, UNESCO is called upon to “build the defenses of peace in the minds of men.”

In 1998, at the 53rd session of the United themselves to taking action to promote a Nations General Assembly, Member States culture of peace and dialogue at the local, I proclaimed the decade of 2001-2010 as the national, regional and international levels and International Decade for a Culture of Peace and requested the Secretary-General to explore Non- for the Children of the World, implementation mechanisms and to follow up and UNESCO as the lead agency for the on those activities. Decade. They defined the culture of peace as “consisting of attitudes and behaviors that reject Assisting countries devastated by violence and endeavor to prevent conflicts by addressing their root causes with a view to As part of UNESCO’s work to promote the solving problems through dialogue and Decade, UNESCO is assisting countries that negotiation among individuals, groups and have been devastated by conflict and violence in nations.” To give further impetus to the order to aid them in their recovery efforts Decade, the Declaration and Programme of through: Action on a culture of peace was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1999. The • providing upstream policy advice and Programme of Action defines eight action areas capacity-building to restore national

g that are necessary for building a culture of planning and management capacities to peace. These include: cope with challenges; • fostering a culture of peace through • supporting dialogue, confidence- education building and reconciliation efforts, in • promoting particular by sustainable providing local and economic and national policy- social makers with evidence development based research and • promoting analysis as well as respect for all with a platform for policy debate and • ensuring equality between women and men dialogue to define reconciliation and • fostering democratic participation reconstruction options and to • advancing understanding, tolerance and reinforce national ownership; solidarity • empowering local communities to participate in peace processes and in

Peacebuildin • supporting participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge responding to their needs for access • and promoting international peace and to critical information; security. • and supporting professional communities according to their The Programme of Action also stressed that specific needs. everyone – governments, civil society, the media and UN agencies – must take Reconstructing education systems Contact : responsibility in implementing the Programme Clare Stark of Action, and the imperative need to In this framework, UNESCO is working to Bureau of Strategic Planning strengthen and promote partnerships among provide an appropriate response to countries actors who are involved in the global movement affected by conflict to ensure that education is for a culture of peace. provided for all learners, if possible before the crisis ends and during the early reconstruction In September 2005, world leaders reaffirmed in period because education is a key component of the World Summit Outcome document the the longer term peace-building and nation- Declaration and Programme of Action on a building processes. In this regard, UNESCO, Culture of Peace, and they committed particularly through its education-related

This information sheet is not an official UNESCO document. It aims to provide the public with information on the theme of «Peacebuilding in Post-Confilct Countries ». institutes, is building the capacity of educational contribute to political stability, and social and planners and managers in conflict-affected in South-East Europe nations; advocating the need to conduct through enhancing regional co-operation on education in conflict, emergences and culture and cultural heritage. reconstruction; offering tailored services to Member States and providing technical Promoting independent media assistance in the field in areas such as curriculum development or revision to ensure As the media has a critical role to play in helping that education is teaching the values, attitudes communities to live together in peace, by and behavior inherent in a culture of peace. For promoting respect for the diversity of identities, example, UNESCO is assisting the following bringing social recognition to different groups countries in reconstructing their education and communities, and promoting dialogue, systems through its Reconstruction Programme UNESCO is supporting the reconstruction and for Education: , the Democratic development of a free, independent, non- Republic of Congo, , , partisan and professional media sector, as well Angola, , and . The as providing universal access to information and programme has focused on (1) Development of ICTs in countries affected by conflict. Work in national Education for All Plans; (2) Training of this area includes providing assistance for media teachers and educational personnel; (3) legislation reform according to international Development of curricula, textbooks, and standards; training media professionals and examination support; (4) HIV/AIDS education capacity building for independent and ;(5) Government Capacity Building; and (6) community media; promoting dialogue through Reinforcing networks. Support through the promotion of media co-productions that UNESCO’s education institutes such as the promote a culture of peace; providing universal International Bureau of Education (IBE) and access to information by providing increased International Institute for Educational Planning access to ICTs and by preserving audio-visual (IIEP) have been crucial to UNESCO’s efforts in archives and libraries; and promoting fair, safe this regard. and professional election coverage to allow citizens to make informed choices by providing Culture heritage and cultural diversity - a training to enhance professional election vector for reconciliation reporting. These areas are providing the foundations necessary for peace by providing UNESCO is also promoting the understanding citizenship education, and contributing to of the proactive role of cultural heritage and mutual understanding and solidarity. cultural diversity and human creativity as a fundamental vector for reconciliation and a Prevention and resolution of water- strong component of peace building, social related conflicts cohesion, and mutual understanding. For example, through the international initiative To address conflict and post-conflict situations “Cultural Heritage - a Bridge towards a Shared where vulnerable populations need additional Future" coordinated by UNESCO, regional support to manage their shared water cooperation is being strengthened for the resources in a consistent and equitable manner, protection and promotion of South-East UNESCO is providing support through its European cultural heritage. Its conceptual project ‘From Potential Conflict to Cooperation foundations lie in considering heritage as a potential’ (PCCP), housed within the shared value: a bridge between cultures and International Hydrological Programme (IHP). communities. It is a mechanism for organizing Through IHP-PCCP, UNCESCO is facilitating the most productive dialogue between multi-level and interdisciplinary dialogues in meaningful pasts and desirable futures. order to foster peace, co-operation and The general objective of the initiative is to development related to the management of shared water resources. One example of the policies for gender equality and the human Organization’s work in this area is the project rights of women. Work on establishing a similar Harnessing History to Understand the Current Center for the Great Lakes Region (GLR) in Israeli-Arab Water Landscape. The purpose of Africa is also currently underway. this Israeli-Palestinian cooperative research and training project is to establish the basis for Building partnerships historical analysis of water management in the Jordan River basin in order to improve the To achieve lasting peace necessitates a concrete understanding of the current situation regarding contribution by the entire international water conflicts and landscape planning in this community. Partnerships with civil society region. Israeli-Palestinian collaboration will organizations are critical in this effort. In its consequently be improved through such a joint resolution 61/45, the General Assembly scientific exercise and the research capacities commended UNESCO for recognizing the and scientific collaboration of the parties promotion of a culture of peace as an involved in the process will be strengthened. expression of its fundamental mandate, and encouraged it, as lead agency for the Decade, to Promoting policy-oriented research and strengthen further the activities it had human rights undertaken for promoting a culture of peace. The Organization has taken up this challenge UNESCO is also strengthening the national and and is carrying out activities to assist countries regional research systems in countries affected on their pathway to peace in many different by conflict to provide policy-oriented research ways. During the 2008-2009 biennium (see para. in the fields of poverty eradication, migration, 08016 and para. 08015 in Draft 34 C/5 Volume urban issues and youth and gender policies. One 2 Second Version), it is proposed that two new example of UNESCO’s work in this area is the intersectoral platforms be introduced to Research-Policy Forum - Greater Horn Horizon support countries in post-conflict and disaster Initiative- on the future of the to situations and to contribute to a dialogue among be launched in Djibouti from 12 to 15 civilizations and cultures and a culture of peace. November 2007. The initiative’s major objective is to facilitate the formulation and implementation of regional integration policies To find out more conducive to development and peaceful UNESCO’s culture of peace website: coexistence in the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php- Eritrea, Ethiopia, , Somalia, and URL_ID=37083&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC& ). The Organization is also putting a URL_SECTION=201.html special focus on policy-oriented research that examines the ways that women are involved in UNESCO IBE http://www.ibe.unesco.org/ and affected by global tensions and armed conflicts, and how women’s involvement in UNESCO – Media in Post-Conflict , peace-building, and Situations reconstruction can be promoted. In http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php- cooperation with national authorities, UNESCO URL_ID=18538&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC& is strengthening institutional mechanisms and URL_SECTION=201.html capacity to promote and protect women’s human rights in post-conflict situations. For Culture Heritage- a Bridge Towards a example, UNESCO, in collaboration with the Shared Future - http://www.see- Palestinian Authorities established a Palestinian heritage.org/ Women’s Research and Documentation Center which will contribute to the development of UNESCO – Gender, Peace-building and policy oriented research and evidence based Reconstruction: http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php- URL_ID=7839&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC& URL_SECTION=201.html

UNESCO – From Potential Conflict to Co-operation Potential http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/pccp/ about.shtml