:: OUR WORK IN MEXICO
The work of the SIPAZ team in Chiapas is organized into four areas:
 International Presence in Chiapas and Mexico
SIPAZ acts as a deterrent in the areas of greatest tension and thus assists in conflict prevention. We maintain an important presence in the indigenous communities of Chiapas, communicating with the many different political actors in an effort to promote dialogue and reduce tension and violence.
The consequences of the low-intensity warfare following many years of conflict are evident in the profoundly ruptured social fabric.
Working in such circumstances, we seek to assure that our presence as international observers will reduce the tension, rather than contributing to generating more.. Therefore, the SIPAZ team is careful to cultivate contacts among the many different actors: leaders of the conservative groups, opposition forces, security forces and paramilitary groups, members of different churches, Zapatista support bases, rural and social organizations, NGOs, etc. Many of these groups are not in contact with each other; therefore, SIPAZ serves as a bridge for creating spaces of dialogue, easing tension and preventing possible human rights violations.
Our team has broadened its work to include other areas in Mexico, specifically the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. This work will primarily consist of the monitoring of information, periodic visits and the exchange of information with organizations and movements present in these areas.
Promotion and training for building a culture of peace
EDUCATION FOR PEACE
SIPAZ aims to strengthen the skills of local actors in the construction of peace, primarily through workshops, classes and meetings dealing with the transformation of conflicts and human rights.We start from the understanding that peace is not only the absence of violence, but rather the effective realization of economic, political, social and cultural justice, which implies a respect for all human rights, understood globally to include civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
SIPAZ propelled the creation of the Network for Peace, a local space for action and reflection, which has sought since 2000 to promote processes of reconciliationand peace with organizations and communities in Chiapas.
INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
Given that we are a coalition composed of many faith-based groups, SIPAZ has always considered that religion, rather than being a source of division, can help bring together groups in conflict.SIPAZ seeks to strengthen the links among members of the different churches present in the conflict zones, participates in ecumenical gatherings, and looks for opportunities to promote ecumenical cooperation at a local and international level.
Information about the causes, consequences and responses to the conflicts in México
Our contacts with the different social and political actors in Chiapas allow us to produce and distribute first-hand information as well as a complete and objective analysis of the situation.
The SIPAZ team produces a quarterly bulletin, urgent actions and articles about the current political situation, which are distributed over the internet (list serves and our website) or in print media. We also offer information and analysis to delegations, the media and diplomats who visit our Chiapas office.
Links and Exchanges
SIPAZ maintains contacts with several networks and organizations at the national and international level. We share with them the conviction that we can and should develop effective and practical structures for preventing violent conflicts, minimizing their reach when they do occur and reconstructing the social fabric damaged by the violence.
This means participating in regional, continental and international meetings and forums. The goal of these efforts is the strengthening of the crucial role of the international community, providing a source of credible information and analysis and advocating in critical moments in favor of peace efforts and the defense of human rights.
At the same time, this allows us to build channels for sharing experiences and information, communication and coordination among the different local, national and international actors in the construction of economic, social and cultural alternatives.
Today SIPAZ belongs to the Chiapas Network for Peace, the Mexican Peace builders Network and the Latin American Peace builders Network.
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SIPAZ
team in Chiapas