Draft Culture of Peace Programme in Mozambique 1-2
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the Culture of Peace Programme in Mozambique is to contribute to the process of reconstruction, peace-building and reconciliation among the Mozambican society in order to heal the wounds of the past that resulted from the armed conflict and the strengthen the preventive mechanisms existing in the society which can ensure a lasting peace.
The Programme will be built upon the work that has been done already by the civil society and on the experiences gained during the implementation of the first phase of the Culture of Peace Programme. That phase, guided by a Steering Committee representing government ministries, non-governmental organizations, religious organizations and international agencies, laid the base through training seminars in the culture of peace and production of materials based on Mozambican traditions of peace-making.
The process of participation and cooperation is a fundamental characteristic of the Programme. This is exemplified by the decision-making process of the Steering Committee which guides the Programme and which represents all sectors (both governmental and non-governmental), geographical areas, and political tendencies of the country.
The Programme is designed to meet the needs of the Mozambican people. Therefore, it is fundamentally participatory, innovative, inter-sectoral, inter-institutional and multi-dimensional. The various projects in the areas of education, science, culture and communication are interrelated and interdependent. It also includes transverse components and projects designed for particular groups with a key role to play in the peace process such as demobilized soldiers, women and youth.
A unique feature of the Programme is the training and creation of a network of peace-promoters in most of the projects and who will integrate these projects and give them a coherent content of conflict resolution based upon Mozambican traditions.
The present draft of the Programme is the result of a collaborative process between the Steering Committee of the first phase of the Culture of Peace Programme of Mozambique, the Mozambique National Commission for UNESCO, and the UNESCO Culture of Peace Programme Unit. It was enriched through extensive consultations with the main actors of the Mozambican peace process, other international agencies and the various sectors and units of UNESCO.
The creation of a Mozambican culture of peace is a task that can only be carried out by the Mozambican people themselves. They have both the human and natural resources to carry out the task. However, they need the support of the international community to give the necessary impulse to their ongoing programmes.
