THE SEVILLE STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE "The same species who invented war is capable of inventing peace." Support Network c/o David Adams, Wesleyan Psychology Dept. Middletown, Connecticut, USA, 06459-0408 NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 7, NUMBER 3, APRIL, 1993 --- The SeVille Statement on Violence (brochure and flyers in Spanish) will be distributed at a remarkable Forum of Reflection on Education and Culture of Peace to take place in San Salvador April 29-30. The Forum, under the auspices of the government, in conjunction with UNESCO, and with the participation of all parties to the conflict in El Salvador, has become a Symbol of hope in that country long torn by violence. The Director-General of UNESCO will take part personally in the Forum, testifying to the increased commitment of the organization to take an active role in promoting a culture of peace (see January newsletter). --- The task of constructing alternatives to violence is "more urgent than ever today", concludes the editorial of the February issue of The UNESCO Courier. The Seville Statement on Violence is reprinted in that issue along with a number of articles relating to violence (urban crisis, racism, media, etc.). The Courier is published in 33 different languages and braille, making this the broadest distribution to date of the Statement. The editorial and Courier version of the Statement (slightly abridged) are enclosed. --- Increasingly, the message of Seville is integrated into the basic work of UNESCO, including plans for the 1994—95 programme for the organization. The Seville Statement is being presented April 13-18 at a conference on "The Contribution by Religions to the Culture of Peace" sponsored by the UNESCO Center of Catalunya in Barcelona and attended by figures from all main religions along with specialists from peace research centers. It is being included in a special set of teaching materials under preparation by UNESCO and member states under the title "Education for Democracy and the Non-violent Resolution of Conflict", to be used by the Associated Schools Project which includes almost 3,000 schools in 114 countries. And in June the brochures and flyers of the Statement will be used in a symposium on the status of teachers to be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast under the sponsorship of UNESCO and the International Labor Organization. --- The previous two issues of the newsletter publicized a proposal of Dr. Francesco Robustelli for a network of committees for peace education in association with National Ministries of Education. The first response to that request has come from Dr. Jose Federico Westerkamp from Buenos Aires, and his letter is enclosed with this issue. If other resource contacts or newsletter readers have been in touch with a Minister of Education, we would like to know what was the reaction, and is there any opportunity for followup?