Mexican network of Peace Constructors

a. Establishment

Since the formation of the “Red Latinoamericana de constructores de Paz” (Latin American Network of Peace workers) various Mexican organizations have agreed to these principles, but have not developed to form a formal and diverse network for this process.

Certainly, the armed uprising in Chiapas has generated much solidarity. Of course, it has generated two far-reaching processes which converged at a national level: Espaz (Civil Space for Peace) and la Misión Civil por la Paz (Civil Mission for Peace). During this time they have developed important initiatives for peace as a national character, and they developed educational materials concerned with peace, which aimed to forge a peaceful culture able to respect differences and accept inclusion.

However, since 1999, Chiapas and the theme of peace have ceased to be the central focus of the forces of dialogue. With the passage of time and the great measure of disillusionment for the “democratic transition” various organization began to retackle the theme of peace as one of the principle national processes and since then a much wider conception.

For example, the organization “Servicios y Asesoría para la Paz (Services and Accessory to Peace inherited the National Commission of Intermediation- CONAI, which mediated between the federal government and the Zapatista National Liberation Army- EZLN). They began to articulate various initiatives under a concept of peace that they defined as “transformation of the social relations, economic, political and cultural towards just forms of coexistence, democratic and dignity, with exercise of individual and community rights.”

On March 5th and 6th, together with other organizations in Mexico City were invited to attend a workshop “To construct a national Peace reference.” The general objective of said meeting was to: “define a strategy of peace in Mexico while looking to articulate a national referendum and its probable ties to international processes. The specific objectives were:

• To identify the objectives for the construction of Peace in Mexico.
• To gather the lessons learned of the work done to date.
• To develop the work agenda for Peace that integrates the regional, national, Latin America and international.
• To form a space in which to promote the Mexican network.
• To define the essence of the network and the core group.

The participants (see following point) agreed that they were important in rearticulating a movement of action for peace according to the new realities of the context and a national referendum conceived as a network of peace- inclusive and open.

During the following meeting (July), they furthered in the development of a strategic plan (see following)

b. Present integrations/Partnerships

Since August 2004, the Network for Peace integrated the Mexican Network of Peace Builders. Also the Mexican Network now works in participation with:

The City of Mexico (various with works in other Mexican states)

• Alianza Cívica DF (Civic Alliance Mexico City)
• Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Francisco Vitoria (Cnter for Human Rights Fray Francisco Vitoria)
• Centro Nacional de Comunicación Social (CENCOS) (Center for National Social Communication)
• Comisión Intercongregacional Justicia, Paz y Vida (Intercongressional Commision for Justice, Peace and Life)
• Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos (Mexican Commision of Defense and Promotion of Human Rights)
• Consejo de Educación de Adultos de América Latina (CEEAL) (Consultation of Adult Education in Latin America)
• Jóvenes en Resistencia Alternativa (Youth of Alternative Resistance)
• Movimiento por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad (Movement towards Peace with Justice and Dignity)
• Mujeres para el Diálogo (Woman for Dialogue)
• Red Nacional de Organismos Civiles de Derechos Humanos ‘Todos los Derechos para Todos’ (National Network of Civil Organizations for Human Rights ‘All Rights for All’)
• Secretariado Internacional de Solidaridad con América Latina (SICSAL) (International Secretariat for Solidarity with Latin America)
• Servicio Paz y Justicia (SERPAJ) (Service Peace and Justice)
• Servicios y Asesoría para la Paz (SERAPAZ) (Services y Counseling for Peace)

FROM OAXACA

• Consejo Indígena de Oaxaca Ricardo Flores Magón (CIPO-RFM) (Indigenous Council of Oaxaca Ricardo Flores Magón)

They formed a “nucleus” whose objective is to follow-up the accords to those who can attend the meetings and Encounters. It has no direct role. Also it seeks to stimulate communication and exchanges between meetings.

c. Vision

During the July workshop of 2004, they defined that the future vision of the Mexican Network would be to: “Contribute to the construction of social peace with justice and dignity, paying attention to the structural causes and the cultures in the conflicts on the local and national sphere.”

d. Mission

To be/ to consolidate a national space, large and influential that contributes to the development of peace, justice and dignity.

e. General objectives

• Develop our capacity to work with the actors of civil society who are in conflict and through counseling strive to follow through.
• Strengthen the capacity of the organizations that make-up the Network, and exchanging experiences (inside work).
• Participate in initiatives, movements, advocacy and other activities related to the peace process.

f. The focuses of work and other activities already carried out

The first two meetings have been by definition strategic. The nucleus has given pursuit to various actions: see point about the Latin American Network, the international consultant theme concerning the role of civil society and the prevention of armed conflicts, for example. The concrete activities they planned on the horizon over the next three years for the advancement of the following lines of work.

Construct a national referendum for Peace

Before the actual threat of armed conflict in Chiapas and the clash of society and politics, it is necessary to redevelop a national articulation that connects the organizations with an agenda and work explicitly for Peace.

• There must be a space for the analysis, exchange, information, formation, articulation and the construction of new forms of relations between the social actors, so that actions are not repeated, nor are new work and financial tasks generated and financiers for the participants.
• An open forum, including the diverse issues, participants and agendas in a movement of action for Peace in accordance to the new realities of the context.
• Since getting to know and validate the diverse roles and contributions of today’s organizations they allow for the organization’s free and flexible operations to guarantee the communication, the completion of works and the collective flow.
• That local initiatives bring together and articulate the regional processes for an exchange of experiences and knowledge may be generated from concrete experiences. The local, national and regional and international dimensions must be bound together to realize the objective of Peace.

Create a conceptual common standard about structuralized peace and violence

• Redefine the concept of Peace and our strategy for peace.
• Redefine the bond of Peace with human rights, justice, solidarity, prevention and transformation of conflicts.
• Systematize and evaluate the work and civil contributions toward the construction of Peace. Develop reports and strategic products based on lessons learned.

To develop a strategy and common code for the accompaniment of the social process in conflict and transference of capacities

• A permanent analysis of the changes in the context, so that the conflict and the specific processes for which to define adequate strategic solutions and prevent conflictive situations that could derive violent confrontations. To get to know similar experiences in other countries, especially those of Latin America.
• The development of a strategy of help for the social actors in conflict so as to develop an effective response that contributes to the overall prevention and transformation of social conflicts. Design and procure processes from dialogue and negotiation for a political solution to the causes. To facilitate and bring about forums for dialogue in-between distinct social actors.
• Promote spaces for the formation of human recourses for peace through the means of the development of the capacity in analysis, prevention, transformation of conflicts, mediation, negotiation, dialogues, etc. Work toward a culture of Peace.

Articulation with other networks and the construction of new forms of communication

• Articulation with international, Latin American and national networks. To learn from the Latin American processes and incorporate them with our experiences.
• To influence other agendas with the theme of peace.

To make visible the conflict in Chiapas

• To make the persistence of the situation of war in Chiapas visible.
• To earn the presence and incidence from the public through to the work of the dialogues, political pressure and to utilize the means of communication to construct peace.