The SIPAZ Coalition

Since its creation, the SIPAZ program in Chiapas has developed itself through the support of the same international coalition that founded it, interacting in different ways with each of its constituent parts. To date, that coalition has had a fundamentally deterrent function in the scope of the defense of human rights in Mexico. We maintain direct contact and frequent exchanges with several of the member organizations. From several of them, we receive contributions and/or assistance in the creation of our executive structure. From others, the association is more timely: in the concrete support of their donations, the distribution of our materials, or answers to our urgent calls to action. Still others send frequent delegations to Chiapas. Our work is enriched by our interaction with the members of our coalition, diverse and heterogeneous, and, without a doubt, allows us to confront effectively the present challenges.

List of members of the SIPAZ Coalition:

• Asociación Cristiana de Jóvenes - Argentina
• Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America (USA)
• Benedict Sisters of Erie (Pennsylvania, USA)
• Brigadas Internacionales de Paz (Gran Bretaña)
• Capacitar (California, USA)
• CAREA (Germany)
• Carolina Interfaith Task Force on Central America (USA)
• Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men´s Institutes - Peace and Justice Committee (Washington DC, USA)
• Centro Memorial Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Cuba)
• Christian Peacemaker Teams (Illinois, USA)
• Church of the Brethren (USA)
• Dominican Sisters of San Rafael (California, USA)
• Episcopal Peace Fellowship (Washington DC, USA)
• Fellowship of Reconciliation (New York, USA)
• FOR Austria (Austria)
• Franciscan Friars, Santa Barbara Province (California, USA)
• Franciscan National Justice, Peace and Ecology Council (Washington DC, USA)
• Global Exchange (California, USA)
• IF/When (California, USA)
• GRM/Mayan Ministries (Illinois, USA)
• Iniciativa Ecuménica Oscar Romero (Uruguay)
• International Committee for the Peace Council (Wisconsin, USA)
• International Fellowship of Reconciliation (Aalmark, Holland)
• Centro Cristiano para Justicia, Paz y Acción No Violenta - Justapaz (Colombia)
• Kentucky Interfaith Taskforce on Central America (Kentucky, USA)
• Leadership Conference of Women Religious (Washington DC, USA)
• Loretto Community Latin America/Caribbean Committee (Colorado, USA)
• Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas (California, USA)
• Michigan Peace Teams (Michigan, USA)
• Movimiento Ecuménico por los Derechos Humanos (Argentina)
• National Benedictines for Peace (Pennsylvania, USA)
• Pax Christi (Pennsylvania, USA)
• Pax Christi International (Belgium)
• Peaceworkers (California, USA)
• Presbiterio de Chicago (Illinois, USA)
• Racine Dominican Sisters, USA
• Resource Center for Nonviolence (California, USA)
• Servicio Paz y Justicia en America Latina (Montevideo, Uruguay)
• Sojourners (Whashington DC, USA)
• Southeastern Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) (Florida, USA)
• Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation - SweFOR (Sweden)
• Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (Massachusetts, USA)
• Washington Office on Latin America (Washington DC, USA)
• Western Dominican Province (Arizona, USA)
• Witness for Peace (Washington DC, USA)

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Peace Network

The Peace Network began in December 2000, springing from a meeting held by three organizations working in Chiapas: the Education Collective for Peace (CEPAZ), the Commission of Support for Communal Unity and Reconciliation (CORECO), and our own SIPAZ. Currently, it is a space of reflection and integrated action for ten organizations that maintain a permanent program of analysis of the local and national context, with timely actions like pronouncements before violent incidents, observation missions, or themed meetings.

Current members of the Peace Network:

• Centro de Derechos de la Mujer de Chiapas (CDMCH) (Women's Rights Center of Chiapas) - San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Yajalón y Comitán
• Centro de Derechos Indígenas AC (CEDIAC) (Indigenous Rights Center) - Chilón
• Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center) -  San Cristóbal de Las Casas
• Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Pedro de la Nada (Fray Pedro de la Nada Human Rights Center) – Ocosingo
• Comisión para el Apoyo a la Unidad y la Reconciliación Comunitaria (CORECO) (Commission of Support for Communal Unity and Reconciliation) – San Cristóbal de Las Casas
• Desarrollo Económico y Social de los Mexicanos Indígenas AC (DESMI) (Social and Economic Development of Indigenous Mexicans) – San Cristóbal de Las Casas
• Educación para la Paz AC (EDUPAZ) (Education for Peace) - Comitán
• Enlace Capacitación y Comunicación AC (Training and Communication Connection) – Ocosingo y Comitán
• Servicios y Asesoría para la Paz (SERAPAZ) (Social Services and Counseling for Peace) – Ocosingo
• Servicio Internacional para la Paz (SIPAZ) – (International Service for Peace) San Cristóbal de Las Casas.

For more information: Peace Network Chiapas

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Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC)

SIPAZ is also a member of GPPAC (Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict), a global civil society initiative that seeks to build an international consensus about the necessity for peace and the prevention of violent conflicts. Currently, it works in 15 regions in four program areas: Preventative Action, Dialogue and Mediation, Peace Education, and Human Security. SIPAZ is part of the North America group, which includes Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and works primarily on Peace Education and Human Security.

For more information: GPPAC website