Per la Pau / Peace in Progress

Image: ONUCI

Constructing peace - the agenda for the present and future

The ancient Greeks placed a great deal of emphasis on managing their social lives and therefore when dealing with conflicts, on finding the right opportunity, the kairós. Encountering the right moment, the kairós, is essential when making peace, resolving conflicts, and transforming social and international relations. When an opportunity arises that is compatible with the coordinated desires of individuals and institutions it is easier to achieve success.

Sophie da Camara, director of the UNOCI's DDR division in Côte d'Ivoire

The UN Security Council authorized the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in April 2004 when it came to the conclusion that the country was a threat to international peace and security. Its mandate has been extended several times since that date, especially due to the political crisis that was unleashed after the presidential elections of 2010, in order to provide support for local authorities and contribute to the construction of peace. One of the pillars of the mission is the division for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of ex-combatants. We talked about the work it does with its director, Sophie da Camara.

The end of violence in the Basque Country

Specialized training: a requirement for the peace and humanitarian work professional

On violence

Hannah Arendt. Sobre la violència. Barcelona: ICIP - Angle Editorial, 2011.

Hannah Arendt was undoubtedly one of the most cogent and influential minds of twentieth century political thought, as well as one of the most prolific authors. May 1968 and the Cold War provided the political backdrop for an essay from a historical perspective. The text is imbued with the legacy of the wars and revolutions of the first half of the twentieth century. In this book, Arendt considers violence in a particularly turbulent situation, taking the non-violent social movements for civil rights that existed at the time she was writing the essay as her main reference for analysis.

Women, war and peace

www.womenwarandpeace.org

Women, War and Peace is a series of five documentaries which depict the situation of women in different conflict zones in the world. In addition to being victims of conflicts and wars, women are key figures in peace and reconciliation processes. Set in four different continents, these documentaries question the traditional view of war as a “man’s thing” and they are a useful tool to illustrate how it affects women.