Germany

Recognizing that great advances have been made in conflict resolution techniques in recent years and that these may be applied to the increasing problems of intolerance and violence, the German National Commission of UNESCO sponsored a seminar on intercultural conflict management in conjunction with the Berghof Research Centre for Constructive Conflict Management in Berlin. The UNESCO Culture of Peace Programme participated in the seminar which took place in Berlin in December 1994. Other presentations were made by International Alert from London and by a number of specialists in conflict management from Germany and the United States. Participants came from a wide range of German governmental and non governmental organizations who are dealing with intercultural conflict, both the upsurge of racist attacks in Germany and the problems faced in countries where Germany is providing development assistance. Although there was no formal statement made by the seminar participants, there was general agreement that the skills and methods of conflict management need to be further developed and applied to the pressing problems of ethnic conflict.

Argentina

The documents of UNESCO that promote a culture of peace need to be in the hands of young people, according to the National Commission for UNESCO of Argentina. Therefore, the Commission was instrumental in the distribution of 10,000 copies of the UNESCO brochure for the Seville Statement on Violence to school children in their country.

Sudan

With the support of the UNESCO Programme the Sudanese National Commission for UNESCO convened in April 1995 a regional seminar for the culture of peace. The seminar, opened by the President of the Republic, also included the Director General of UNESCO, the Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity, and delegations from Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Central Africa Republic. In four days of discussion, the participants considered the experience of various culture of peace programmes, the efforts for peace by the Sudanese, the role for peace of key social groups, including youth, women, and prominent public figures, and the outlines of an education for peace' programme.

Colombia

Responding to the urgent situation of violence - including that of narcotics trafficking - the Ministry of Education of Colombia, with the assistance of UNESCO, launched in 1993 an investigation, the construction of a culture of peace'. The results of the investigation, which made clear the roots of both violence and peace, were followed up by a workshop in 1994 sponsored by UNESCO with teachers of the Associated Schools Project. The participants elaborated a series of projects which are now being carried out in the school systems of the country. They include programs of innovative pedagogy which develops skills of citizenship in students through their participation in the learning process as well as programmes which give the students the tools for promoting peace outside of school and in the world at large.