Call for Signature of the Petition for the Creation of an Appropriate United Nations Structure for the Inter-Religious and Intercultural Dialogue for Peace and Development

A little more than a year ago, on the impetus of Professor Albert Tévoédjrè, African academic, politician of Benin, President and founder of the Pan-African Center for Prospective Social Studies (CPPS), former Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN in Côte d 'Ivoire, renowned personalities from diverse backgrounds: culture, social commitment and varied professional experiences agreed to take over with the government of Benin international support for the African Education Initiative peace and development through inter-religious and intercultural dialogue.

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Workshop on Validation of the Feasibility Study on the Panafrican School of Peace

The validation workshop for the feasibility study on the Panafrican Peace School was held on 20 and 21 June 2016 at our headquarters in Yamoussoukro. Placed under the patronage of the Ivorian State, it was organized by our institution in partnership with UNESCO and the African Union. In addition to the three organizing entities, the workshop was attended by the following institutions and structures:

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Project of the Panafrican School of Peace: the State of Advancement on 06/01/2016

The project of the Panafrican School of Peace aims to meet three major expectations:

  • The involvement of Côte d'Ivoire, through the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research, in the research, preservation, maintenance and promotion of peace in Africa and in the world.
  • The creation, within the FHB Foundation, of a high-level training and research center on Peace.
  • International cooperation for the culture of peace, bringing together various partners, be they international organizations such as the African Union, UNESCO, universities or research centers.

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CPNN (Culture of Peace News Network) bulletin of June 1, 2016

REFORMING THE UNITED NATIONS

Since its creation over 70 years ago, the United Nations has been the hope of mankind “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” But more and more, we are losing hope that in its present form it can succeed. This was especially evident in recent weeks when the great powers did not bother to send high-level delegations to the UN’s Humanitarian Summit despite the fact that 60 other countries sent their heads of state. While Germany was represented by its Chancellor Angela Merkel, the other great powers were essentially absent: Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia and China.

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Recovery workshop on the theme: “African Initiative for Education for Peace and Development through Religious Dialogue” Organized by the Pan-African Center for Social Prospects (CPPS-IAT) on May 26 and 27, at the Cotonou Convention Center in Benin

Organized in Cotonou from May 26 to 28, 2015, the International Symposium on the launching of the African Initiative for Education for Peace and Development through Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue is once again in the news. On May 26 and 27, 2016, a workshop was held at the Cotonou congress center to review the modalities of the official start of the second edition.

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CPNN (Culture of Peace News Network) bulletin of May 1, 2016

NONVIOLENCE IS MAKING HISTORY

Nonviolence is in our news these days. Let us begin by recalling the words of the great tactician of nonviolence, Martin Luther King, speaking of Mahatma Gandhi: "nonviolent resistance is not a method for cowards; it does resist. If one uses this method because he is afraid or merely because he lacks the instruments of violence, he is not truly nonviolent. This is why Gandhi often said that if cowardice is the only alternative to violence, it is better to fight… nonviolent resistance … is not a method of stagnant passivity… For while the nonviolent resister is passive in the sense that he is not physically aggressive toward his opponent, his mind and his emotions are always active, constantly seeking to persuade his opponent that he is wrong. The method is passive physically but strongly active spiritually. It is not passive non-resistance to evil, it is active nonviolent resistance to evil."

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CPNN (Culture of Peace News Network) bulletin of March 1, 2016

THE STRUGGLE OF AFRICA

There is an epic struggle for the heart of Africa between the forces of the culture of war and those of the culture of peace. On the one hand, attacks by Boko Harem, Al Qaida, ISIS, and Al-Shabaab get the headlines in the commercial media, not to mention potential for civil war in Burundi and the fratricidal war in Southern Sudan, On the other hand, if the many recent articles in CPNN about initiatives for the culture of peace are an indication, it is the culture of peace that is gaining!

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CPNN (Culture of Peace News Network) bulletin of February 1, 2016

PEACE: ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS ?

As we enter the new year of 2016, we may ask if the culture of peace continues to advance on all the fronts that we covered in the various CPNN bulletins of 2015:

WELCOME THE REFUGEES (December): Despite the political resistance to refugees in Europe, there are also social movements in defense of the refugees. This was expressed recently by rallies throughout Europe marking the Global Day of Action against Racism. The Madrid Rally was held under the slogan: "We are all migrants and refugees, we all have rights." Another slogan was "No to NATO!", making it clear that the influx of refugees is largely due to the military interventions by NATO in Africa and the Middle East.

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Communication to the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire of January 27, 2016 on the financing of the Feasibility Study of the Panafrican School of Peace to be established in Côte d’Ivoire

Communication to the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire of January 27, 2016 on the financing of the feasibility study for the Panafrican School of Peace to be set up in Côte d'Ivoire: The Council authorized the release exceptional contribution of 35,000 US dollars as a contribution of our country for the feasibility study of the Pan-African Peace School project. This high-level center, under the auspices of the African Union and UNESCO, will be set up and located within the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for the Yamoussoukro.

Message of Congratulations to Mrs. Yvette Dembélé on her appointment to the Government of Burkina Faso

Dear members of the Network,

I am very pleased to inform you of the ministerial promotion of Mrs Yvette Dembélé, an active member of our Network. She was appointed Secretary of State to the Minister for Women, National Solidarity and the Family, in charge of Social Affairs, Persons with Disabilities and the Fight Against Exclusion of the new Government of Burkina Faso.

In your name, and in my own name, I extend our warm and hearty congratulations. I wish him every success in his new role. It can already count on the members of our Network. Good morning, Madam Minister.

 

Jean-Noël LOUCOU

Executive Secretary of the Network of Foundations and Research Institutions for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace in Africa