Building the Peacemaker Community

Defining a peacemaker.  A peacemaker is a person who:

• Is committed to the relief of suffering and the reduction of conflict
• Is neutral and can speak to all involved parties
• Cares for others
• Is committed to reconciliation
• Believes in giving voice to the truth
• Uses and encourages non-violent communication
• Has a willingness to join the community, to learn and help out in any way you can.
• Is willing to commit to our values and ethics code.

A Peacemaker Charter

Preamble:  We stand for peace and non violence.  We stand for compassion.  We care!  We stand for you.  We stand for your children.   We stand for the global community.

Whereas we are a group of people who identify ourselves first as global citizens and part of a global family.

We are dedicated to the relief of suffering and the reduction of conflict.

We are dedicated to non violence and the ethic of care in peace operations.  WE CARE!

We believe in social responsibility as an obligation for sustainable and healthy communities (Economic sustainability, societal beneficence, environmental responsibility, integrity in governance, political engagement).

To our diverse cultural and ethnic communities, we commit to work towards peace, security, good governance and a better quality of life, (Health, clean water, clean air, gender equity, education and employment).

To peoples of all cultures, languages, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and diversity, we are a community of peacemakers with shared values and concerns, and who do have the experience and credibility to act in partnership with you in the cause of peace.

Therefore we commit to the following values, vision, aspirations and objectives.

Our Peacemaker Values

• Non-Violence  We declare our commitment to non-violence and non-violent communication and will strive for a culture of peace and cooperation in the global community.
• The care of others  We assert that we will respect the dignity of all persons.  We are all global citizens.  Every life is precious.  We assert that all must have full opportunities for personal, economic and social development. We assert that a healthy environment, clean air, soil and water is a basic right for all.
• Human rights  We honor and value the cultural, linguistic, ethnic, religious, gender and spiritual rights and freedoms of all persons in the global community.  We will promote justice, equality, respect for diversity and tolerance.
• Ethical values:  We assert that we will live by the values of respect, compassion, integrity, fairness, and lawfulness.
• Participatory Democracy  We strive for a democracy in which all citizens have the right to express their views, and are able to directly participate in decisions which affect their lives.
• Social responsibility  We assert the obligation for governments and corporations for economic sustainability, societal beneficence, environmental responsibility, integrity in governance, and political engagement.

• To these values we are willing to be held accountable.

A Peacemaker Vision

To achieve a global consensus and predisposition for non-violent and peacemaking practices when dealing with conflict.

What we want to achieve as peacemakers

We want to relate to all global peoples in a manner that reflects the highest ethical standards, while promoting peace, security, integrity, environmental and economic responsibility.  We want to embrace dialogue and non-violence. We want to seek to help create good governments and good governance that embraces both organizational ethics and social responsibility. We seek to respect the human values of our diverse communities and seek to create a common ground.

• Our legacy will be contributions to peace, security and non violence.
• Our legacy will be clean air, clean water, and sound values.
• We believe in social responsibility, sustainable economy, a healthy environment and integrity in government.
• We believe in human rights and gender rights.
• We believe in the quality of life and well being for our communities.

We have practical ideas and activities to achieve our aspirations.

• We will bring voice and influence to bear in government.
• We can and will act as a strong and persistent voice for peace and social responsibility –particularly when the government faces hard decisions and policy development.
• We will seek to build fair and honest governments for all.
• Win or lose, we will  raise the consciousness of the community with respect to linking peace, non-violence, ethics, the environment and sustainable economic practices.
• We will engage in dialogue with all communities, to listen, and encourage engagement now.
• We follow the path of seeking good directions, engagement, and good outcomes.

We commit to acting with dignity as peacemakers.  Success is not defined by any specific achievement, but by the fact that awareness and action is heading in the right direction.   It is people who will eventually achieve the results.  The task is for all generations, present and future.

A code of conduct for the peacemaker

In the cause of peace, we commit to the following Values and Principles:

• Commitment to values of non-violence, compassion, the ethic of care, and human rights as a priority response to conflict.
• Commitment to neutrality, non-violent communication, and the rejection of violence as a solution to conflict.
• Commitment to “not only knowing the right or even about choosing the right, but about doing the right as a habit of living”.
• Commitment to being involved in the relief of suffering, or the reduction of conflict.
• Commitment to lawfulness and avoiding conflict of interest or corruption in any form in peace events or operations.

Peacemaker Engagement

Engagement involves exploring approaches, philosophies of action and alternatives on how a peacemaker may structure a plan of action in a conflict zone.  How one conducts peace operations will be highly fluid depending on circumstances.  Flexibility is essential.  A road map for peace operations includes getting ready, being responsible and may consider:

STUDY: of philosophies, motivations,  intentions and codes of conduct, conflict of interest, risk management ….

PERSONAL WELL BEING;  security, inoculations, accommodations, transportation, visas, interpreters, access to safe food and water, etc.  Research the country, the history, religions, politics, cultures, the nature of the need.  Respect their religions and culture.  Be prepared.  Have a safe exit plan. Think about worst case scenarios.

CLARITY: Clarify the aim with host nation and your donor support;  Is this a mediation activity, development activity, community building, government strengthening, advisory and accompaniment role?  There must be a reasonable possibility of success.

METHODOLOGIES AND APPROACHES: This may involve:

• Creating safe spaces for dialogue
• Building the ethics climate
• Encouraging Non violent communication
• Values based negotiation
• Strengthening governance approaches
• Becoming a community approaches
• Priority for speaking the truth and non-violence
• Building ethical relationships
• Dealing with wrongdoing or corruption

… and now we build a community of practice and experience ….