For each year that goes by, the gravity of what came to pass on 7 April 1994 and the long months that followed sinks in a little deeper. No one knows this grief better than Rwandans themselves. On this solemn day, Interpeace stands with the Rwandan people in solidarity and joins them in commemoration.
Twenty-three years after the Genocide of Tutsis, research on contemporary Rwandan society demonstrates that it remains among the most traumatized societies in the world. Moreover, there are alarming levels of intergenerational trauma transmission affecting young people not yet born when the atrocities took place.
While violence can be swift, overcoming its legacy can take generations.
Rwanda in 1994 held a mirror to the conscience of humanity. It confronted us with the depths of our capacity to do evil to one another and with the shame of our failure to stop a mass atrocity we knew was taking place.
The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, has already rung the warning bell with visits to South Sudan and the Central African Republic. He has also expressed concerns over situations in other countries.
The United States and Switzerland have established mechanisms for analysis and coordination to prevent mass atrocities, and this is also happening at the United Nations level under the leadership of its new Secretary-General, António Guterres.
Yet, as a global community, can the world really say that it is better prepared to prevent genocide from happening today than it was 23 years ago?
Why is it always too early before it is too late?
Yes, we all need to improve our ability to react when the fire has started. That said, the focus must shift from better response to better prevention, and thus work at a much earlier stage. We need to ask ourselves how we can help societies at risk build resilience to violence and violent conflict. That means greater attention to the institutions, societal relationships and trust that are necessary to resolve conflict in non-violent ways and to address the roots of violence in local communities.
In that vein, I would like to express my immense respect and appreciation for the contribution of Interpeace’s local partner, Never Again Rwanda, to fostering trust, tolerance and inclusion in communities throughout the country. These elements are crucial for dealing both with the trauma of the past and preparing for new challenges in the future.
The effort to build peace is never over. We continue to learn how to help build peaceful and inclusive societies, and the experiences of Rwanda are among the foremost lessons in this respect.
Much as the scientific community has a responsibility to share its research findings widely for the betterment of humanity, so too should the peacebuilding community share its lessons freely. The stakes are too high not to seek to deepen our common understanding of what works and what does not work in the promotion of greater social, political and economic inclusion.
It is our privilege to work with Rwandans as they overcome the legacy of their traumatic past and carve a better future for themselves. We are humbled by the determination that they bring to that task every day and will do our utmost at Interpeace to share their lessons and stories of courage with the rest of the world.
In solidarity,
Scott M. Weber
Director-General
Interpeace
Sport is not limited to the practice of physical activities. It is in fact, a recreational space where a healthy lifestyle is promoted, through physical and mental development. It is a place where individuals converge to improve their social skills, strengthen cultural values and adapt to rules.
For this reason, the General Assembly of the United Nations has established April 6, as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, with the aim of recognizing the contribution of sport to the realization of peace through the promotion of tolerance and respect. As the eight Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated: “Sport promotes health and well-being. It fosters tolerance, mutual understanding and peace. ... It empowers, inspires and unites.”
Nonetheless, the massive appeal of sport makes it a social phenomenon, where the context in which it’s developed determines the behaviors and actions of its followers, in particular when it involves youth. In this sense, social context greatly defines whether a sporting spectacle actually contributes to peace or incites violence.
National Stadium Carias Andino in Honduras. Licensed CC BY-SA 3.0
Football, a global phenomenon
Football (soccer) is the sport that attracts the greatest number of people around the world, practiced in over 270 countries. Its massive appeal, goes beyond the likes of football fans and players, it also involves large private investments, political interests, and a complex network of relations between different levels of society. Therefore, football is not strictly limited to the field, but is actually a social phenomenon. In any case, the place that football holds and the impact it produces depends on the general social context.
Around the world, football fans organize themselves into fan clubs (known as barras in Latin America), that aim to follow and encourage their team. These barras are a meeting place for followers, where not only do they share their preference for a particular football team, they also find identity and fraternity. These feelings however, taken to the extreme, can make passion, euphoria and unconditionality become vandalism.
Vandalism related to football has been a recurring phenomenon around the world. For example, in Europe, since 1960 the first manifestations of vandalism began amongst the followers of football teams in countries like England, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain. Other countries in Latin America, such as Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Honduras and El Salvador, also experienced these violent expressions around football.
However, violence related to football can start and end in the physical space of the stadium, in societies where institutional and social mechanisms are capable of reducing the risk factors that favor violence. But in societies where these mechanisms do not exist, the violence that emerges from the natural rivalry between the followers of two football teams, can transcend the limits of the stadium and become a social problem.
This is the case of Honduras, one of the poorest countries in Latin America and, at the same time, one of the most violent in the world according to the number of homicides registered annually. The permanent weakness of the Honduran public institutions is the result of a historical indifference from its economic and political elites to develop a State that guarantees favorable social development, democracy and economic growth. All Honduran society is immersed in these problems and must coexist with it, but undoubtedly, the young people are amongst the main victims.
In this context of institutional fragility, inequality, high poverty rates, corruption and impunity, football stands as a beacon of hope that awakens the illusion of Honduran society. For them, football represents a 90-minute pause of happiness amid decades of anomie.
Football followers at Honduran stadium. Photo credit: OsArGarMor
Barras in Honduras
Barras in Honduras are groups made up of young followers of a local football teams that have transitioned from a natural rivalry between their teams to violent confrontations in the streets. The violence amongst these barras has evolved from fighting in the stadium to open armed confrontations in their communities. In addition, the very characteristics of their social context and the levels of organization they have acquired, has led them to assume social protection roles of their members. Amongst the most popular barras, we can name: the “Ultra Fiel”, of the Olimpia team; the “Revolucionarios”, of the Club Motagua team; the “Mega Barra”, of the Club Real España team and the “Furia Verde”, of the Club Maratón team. Being a member of these barras in Honduras is a matter of identity, a way of life and a search for spaces of cohesion that otherwise, are not possible to find.
In a context of marginalization and exclusion, youth groups (gangs, barras, rock groups or any other form of youth grouping) represent a mechanism of cohesion, identity and solidarity that is strengthened and radicalized due, on the one hand, to the excessive violence exercised by other forms of association and social integration (school and family) and on the other, to the repressive actions of State agents (police).
Barras are mostly made up of young people from poor and marginalized neighborhoods and communities where lack of basic public services, such as education, health and recreation, combine with high levels of unemployment and migration. These are social environments where violence is a structural part of social relationships, either at a intrafamilial and individual level, or as a strategy for income generation through illicit activities. This context is worsened by the effects produced by drug trafficking, as well as arms and human trafficking.
Members of the “Revolucionarios” supporting Club Motagua team in Honduras: Photo credit: Interpeace
Barras for peace
With the support of the Berghof Foundation in 2014, Interpeace implemented the project: “Sports clubs for peace”, which contributed to build a positive perception of the barras as relevant actors in building peace in Honduras. In order to reach this objective, Interpeace implemented training programmes on issues related to conflict transformation, peace culture and mediations with young members of the barras, so that these young participants could have the necessary tools to become agents of change in favor of non-violence and peace in the country.
In 2016, in partnership with Free Press Unlimited and digital newspapers: El Faro, Plaza Pública and Nómada, Interpeace began to implement the project: “Journalism, Youth and Sports for Peace”. In Honduras, media devotes much of their time and space to the dissemination of negative messages about the barras, which generates stigmatization towards the followers of the football teams: belonging to barras, in these contexts, is synonymous with criminality and violence. This produces higher levels of exclusion which, in turn, contributes to cycles of violence.
As a way to counteract this reality, the project aims to reduce the negative effects of stigmatization and criminalization suffered by the young members of the barras, in particular those derived from the information spread by the media and government institutions. The aim is that the participants themselves, from within the barras, influence Honduran society to change their general perception, reduce stigmatization and in turn, reduce violence rates.
The project provides training and technical support to the young members of the barras, so they can develop their own digital media, where they are producers and protagonists of new narratives that have a positive impact on the media, opinion leaders, politicians, civil society and the private sector. The aim is to establish channels of communication between the different levels of society to better understand the phenomenon of violence, its causes and contribute to the transformation of the perceptions that the public has about marginalized youth.
“When something bad happens, the media always say the barras are responsible, but they never tell the good things we do on a daily basis.”
“The credibility to tell a story is the main value that we must preserve to reduce stigmatization about barras.”
Journalism workshops in Honduras with members of barras "Ultra Fiel" (left) and "Revolucionarios" (right). Photo credit: Interpeace
According to the perceptions and experiences that the participants have transmitted, it is very important to recognize how necessary it is for young people to have a source of identity. In that sense, sport can be a source of inspiration for youth, bearer of positive values such as tolerance for differences, fellowship, teamwork, and their relationship with others, not as enemies, but as rivals in a recreational and peaceful space.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Interpeace to work together on peace initiatives in Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa.
The MOU was signed in Nairobi by IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Ambassador Mahboub Maalim, and Interpeace’s Regional Director for Eastern and Central Africa, Mr Jean Paul Mugiraneza. Also present at the signing ceremony were Mr Camlus Omogo, Director of IGAD’s Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN), several other senior IGAD officials, Interpeace staff and representatives of local Interpeace partners from Somalia and Kenya.
IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Ambassador Mahboub Maalim (LEFT), speaks at the IGAD-Interpeace MOU signing ceremony. Photo credit: Interpeace
“This is a first step towards a fruitful long journey,” Interpeace’s Regional Director for Eastern and Central Africa, Jean Paul Mugiraneza, remarked after the signing. “This MOU gives us the framework to work together, to be innovative and to help make the region safer and more peaceful.”
IGAD is a Regional Economic Community (REC), established in 1986 with a mandate for regional economic cooperation and development. Its eight member states are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
Interpeace’s Regional Director for Eastern and Central Africa, Jean Paul Mugiraneza, speaks at the signing ceremony. Photo credit: Interpeace
Interpeace’s Senior Advisor for Eastern and Central Africa, Johan Svensson, lauded IGAD’s efforts in tackling conflicts within the region and expressed optimism that the newly formalised collaboration between the two organisations would be fruitful.
“I have had the opportunity follow the work and achievements of IGAD in many conflict zones, not least in Somalia and South Sudan, where IGAD has been on the forefront working for peace,” Mr Svensson said. “Interpeace’s long experience, coupled with IGAD’s standing as a leading regional organisation, presents a good combination for peacebuilding in the Horn of Africa.”
On his part, IGAD Executive Secretary Ambassador Mahboub Maalim underscored some of the most pressing challenges facing peace, security and development in the region.
“Peace and security in this region are important but can be elusive. There are resource conflicts, political conflicts, and conflicts over inadequate borderlands development. Another thing is that across the countries we need to address issues of infrastructure, early warning systems, faster policy level decisions and enhanced mediation and diplomacy. We also need to tackle emerging crimes such as violent extremism, money laundering and human trafficking linked to migration and violent extremism,” Ambassador Maalim said.
Interpeace’s Regional Director for Eastern and Central Africa, Jean Paul Mugiraneza (with microphone), speaks at the signing ceremony. Photo credit: Interpeace
Interpeace currently implements peacebuilding programmes in 21 countries across the world, in strategic partnership with the United Nations. Interpeace has worked in Somalia for over 20 years, collaborating with local partners to support and advance peacebuilding and statebuilding processes based on pre-existing resilience factors among the local communities.
Within the IGAD region, Interpeace has supported peacebuilding and statebuilding processes in Somalia for over two decades. In Kenya, Interpeace collaborates with the country’s National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to implement a peacebuilding programme in Mandera County, along the country’s tri-border area with Somalia and Ethiopia. It is hoped that Interpeace’s work in Mandera County could spawn further initiatives for sustainable peace in the broader Mandera Triangle, where the three countries converge geographically.
Alluding to the potential opportunities for synergy in the new collaboration between the two organisations, Ambassador Maalim welcomed Interpeace to work closely with IGAD.
“We want to partner with Interpeace as much as possible. If there is an area that Interpeace thinks IGAD can do better, or can do together with Interpeace, please feel free to bring it to our attention as legitimised by this MOU,” he concluded.
Press Release 20170321
Interpeace is pleased to announce that the Stockholm Peace Talks will be held Tuesday, March 21, 2017. The Peace Talks is a global initiative with the goal to inspire dialogue on how we can work together for peaceful and inclusive societies, both here and abroad. Peace Talks have been held in Geneva, Stockholm, Nairobi, London and Ottawa.
- “Inclusion is a key factor in promoting more peaceful societies around the world. The Stockholm Peace Talks celebrates the stories of exceptional individuals who show that peace is possible and that we all have a role to play.” says Sarah Noble, Head of Peace Talks.
Peace Talks are based on the idea that everyone can be involved in creating peace in society. The overall theme is "Better Together" around which a broad range of speakers with diverse backgrounds will share their personal stories and practical solutions on how we can become more inclusive and tolerant both in Sweden and abroad.
Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy in Syria is one of the speakers:
- “I am delighted to participate in the Stockholm Peace Talks with inspiring people who are fostering inclusion and peace on a daily basis. As we move forward, stories of hope will help us build a better future where we celebrate diversity and acceptance.”
Additional speakers are: Selma Tengeborg, Jeffrey Ige, Emilia Bjuggren, Siavosh Derakhti, Olof Skoog, Hédi Fried, and Anton Abele.
Live webcast: The event will be livestreamed at http://peacetalks.net/.
Organizers: Interpeace in collaboration with the city of Stockholm
Venue: Stockholm city hall, starting at 17.00
Partners: Ben & Jerry’s, Swedish Post Code Lottery Foundation, Embassy of Switzerland in Sweden, Nespresso and with support from the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform.
The Peace Talks is an initiative that was co-founded by the United Nations Office at Geneva, Interpeace and the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform with the support of the Swiss Government.
For more information, please contact:
Amanda Olsson Myrvik, Interpeace
The Stockholm Peace Talks organized under the theme “Better Together”, will be broadcast live on March 21 at 17h00 CET.
Sign up for a reminder to view the live webcast in English here.
If you would like to see the webcast in English and Swedish sign up here.
Follow the Peace Talks on @PeaceTalksTweet and join the conversation on social media #StockholmPeaceTalks
Visit the event page here.
The Salvadorian Government is actively participating in the project Comprehensive initiatives to prevent violence in El Salvador, carried out by Interpeace in this country, providing political support and technical training to at-risk youth who are in the process of developing their own productive enterprises, as a way to improve their living conditions. Likewise, as part of Interpeace’s project in El Salvador, police officers, assigned to the beneficiary municipalities, will receive training on conflict transformation and peace culture. So far, the Ministries of Interior and Territorial Development, Justice and Public Security, Agriculture and Livestock, and Labor and Social Welfare, have been directly involved with Interpeace’s project, which is also aligned with the Government's programme: Plan El Salvador Seguro -PESS-, as it is also working in matters of prevention.
The Ministry of Interior and Territorial Development, have collaborated since the beginning of the project, by jointly defining the municipalities that would participate. In addition, they have supported the visibility and convening of the municipalities, for the management of the project. Within the framework of the PESS, the Ministry of Justice and Security, is coordinating the development of training sessions for the National Civil Police in the subject of peace culture, with the objective of raising awareness about alternative methods of conflict transformation, so that in this way, they can interact with the population in non-repressive ways. Moreover, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock initiated the implementation of training and technical support processes of the enterprises defined by the young participants. And finally, the Ministry of Labor, is providing training for the development of the business plans of these enterprises, to ensure that they will be carried out appropriately and achieve the results that the young participants have projected.
Workshop in Ilopango. Photo credit: Interpeace
The interaction between social actors is decisive for peacebuilding
With the financial support of the European Union, Interpeace has been implementing the project Comprehensive initiatives to prevent violence in El Salvador, which is being carried out in 10 municipalities with high rates of homicidal violence. The project’s objective is to generate productive opportunities for young people with the aim to favor local entrepreneurship through actions that result in the reduction of social risk to which they are exposed to by living in contexts of violence and crime.
For Interpeace, peacebuilding is only possible through the interaction between the different levels that make up a society, which is why, at the same time, the project contributes to the prevention of violence through participatory processes in three levels: community, local authorities and the National Government. At the community level, the project provides opportunities to at-risk youth, by supporting the development of entrepreneurships. At the level of local authorities, the project is developing a participatory model of violence prevention with a focus on peace culture, recognizing that inter-municipal coordination is essential to multiply the impact of their actions. And at the level of the National Government, the project is helping develop a relationship between local and national authorities, in the creation of joint actions on prevention, through its different units and according to their respective mandates.
Training as a tool for change
In the first stage of the project, the young participants received a training on conflict transformation, violence prevention and peace culture, and subsequently initiated the process of structuring their entrepreneurship proposals, which they have been perfecting in order to start their technical training to formalize their business plans.
As a sign of the commitment made by the National Government, there have been meetings with representatives of the ministries with the objective to coordinate the actions to be developed within the project and the scope of each collaboration. In addition, letters of understanding were signed, which reflect the details of each collaboration, both with the municipalities and the National Government.
Juan Barrera Salinas, the dispatch adviser to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, visited the project, in the municipalities of Zacatecoluca, San Vicente, Ilopango, Quezaltepeque and Nueva Concepción, with the technical team who will be responsible for the implementation of the training processes.
On this occasion, young people were able to present their entrepreneurship projects, clarify concerns and, the ministry team was able to interact with the participants and highlight the need to continue supporting projects that generate productive and work opportunities to improve living conditions and reduce the risk factors to which this population is exposed to.
Workshop in Nueva Concepción. Photo credit: Interpeace
