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Strategy of Burundi culture of peace programme

The programme will be executed in total collaboration with the national authorities, local associations and communities and non governmental organizations, as well as the ensemble of international partners present in the country. The approach is to stimulate the active participation of the local populations and authorities both in the conception and in the execution of projects. This participation will ensure that the people feel part of the process of re establishing peace. The projects and activities identified in this programme will be put in operation in all regions of the country, according to the needs expressed in the course of the Colloquium of December 1994 and respecting the evolution of local situations.

Overall the programme begins by establishing the confidence of the people in their own capacity to resolve conflicts through support for their own cultural values and traditional modes of conflict resolution. The revival of traditional institutions such as the Bashingantahe constitutes one of the most important elements of that local culture that must be revived. The programme also works to re establish the confidence of populations toward public institutions through a campaign of information and education enabling them to better understand the democratic mechanisms and functions of the new republic.


The training of peace promoters in Burundi will be patterned after the tradition of Bashingantahe men known for integrity in their daily life who in former times were chosen by the community to mediate conflicts and to guarantee

moral values. This tradition needs to be revived; because the Bashingantahe represented a counterforce to colonialism they were suppressed by colonial administrations and by governments which succeeded them after independence.
The House of the Culture of Peace in Bujumbura, in the few months since it was opened, has already become a centre for many individuals and groups who wish to join with others in working for peace. Despite the violence which presently afflicts the city, work continues on seminars for a culture of peace with journalists, government administrators, educators and representatives from other agencies, from the United Nations system, government and non governmental organizations.
A comprehensive strategy for 1996 2000 is being submitted to donor agencies. The strategy, as shown in an accompanying box, and the specific projects follow the recommendations of the December 1994 forum in Bujumbura as described above.

Nicaragua

Following an agreement between the President of the Republic and the Director General of UNESCO, a National Culture of Peace Programme is being developed in Nicaragua. With the support of the Minister of External Relations and the United Nations office in Nicaragua, UNESCO sent a mission in November 1994 which prepared a preliminary version of a Programme. A number of short term activities are being launched in 1995, including the training of peace promoters who will work in the areas of education, culture, communication, environmental protection and citizenship training with an emphasis on working with youth, women and demobilized soldiers. A set of long term projects to be submitted to donor agencies is being elaborated through workshops involving both governmental and non governmental organizations.

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The training of peace promoters in Burundi will be patterned after the tradition of Bashingantahe men known for integrity in their daily life who in former times were chosen by the community to mediate conflicts and to guarantee moral values.

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