In countries where governments are concerned with projecting a positive image regarding human rights, the international observer presence -in sites and moments of high tension or conflict- has a deterrent effect against the possible use of violence. The observer presence increases the political costs of such violence. This dynamic of protection opens political spaces for local human rights defenders, indigenous organizations, social sectors, rural communities, and civil society groups who suffer repression because of their work. By feeling accompanied, these actors -including groups of men and women- have less fear in filing complaints concerning human rights violations to which they are subjected, and feel empowered to organize more proactively.

The presence of SIPAZ in Chiapas can be seen in different forms:

• Community field trips and/or participation in Observation Brigades conducted jointly with other organizations, in order to maintain a protective presence in emergency situations and/or to document possible human rights violations.
• Accompaniment of non-violent actions carried out by social groups organized in defense of human rights and positive peace.
• If deemed appropriate after conducting risk assessments, protective accompaniment to threatened individuals or organizations.
• Regular visits or field trips to meet with social and political actors present in work zones.
• Relationship building that allows appropriate support, aimed at expanding the scope of action of organized local groups.
• Participation in meetings to analyze socio-political conflicts or cases of human rights violations that occur in work zones.

Since 2005, SIPAZ has expand its work into the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, where the same structural conditions that provoked the EZLN uprising in Chiapas are found: social, political, and economic marginalization, discrimination and racism wrought by centuries of internal and external colonialism, and repression and violations of human rights. We do not maintain permanent offices in either of these regions, but we carry out long-term excursions three to four times per year in each state which informs our work.

The work of SIPAZ has two main functions:

• Making visible the patterns of social and political conflicts and human rights violations, and outlining alternatives in which local, national, and international actors and institutions can interact to transform conflicts through non-violence and dialogue. Besides limiting direct violence by exposing the causes and consequences of conflicts, we also wish to focus a spotlight on actors and initiatives that represent positive alternatives and reasons for hope in the region.
• Informing and training grassroots actors about social and political conflicts and current processes of grass-roots organizing. The goal is to encourage peace-building initiatives, reduce tensions, and support grassroots actors in developing effective strategies of thier own to reduce local conflict.

We operate several publications: a quarterly newsletter (distributed in four languages – Spanish, English, French, and German, with a print version in Spanish and English), a website (also in these four languages, where everything published by SIPAZ since its creation is archived and accessible), a blog (in Spanish and English, with flash-news information), and Urgent Actions and Bulletins (in all four languages).

In order to inform national and international stakeholders to carry out diplomacy for peace in Southern Mexico, SIPAZ has been developing public relations with Mexican authorities at all levels as well as with Embassies and multilateral organizations. We also offer information and analysis to delegations and individuals who visit our office in Chiapas. From time to time, we organize tours, mainly for groups from Europe and the United States.

SIPAZ has also developed analysis workshops in order for grassroots actors to strengthen their strategic refllection, as well as workshops on active nonviolence, conflict transformation, peace, and reconciliation.

SIPAZ actively maintains contacts and dialogue with a wide range of organizations, movements, and networks in Mexico and other countries that are engaged in processes of peace-building and/or are interested in similar issues.

SIPAZ also participates in forums and other spaces of information exchange, analysis, and dialogue regarding promotion of cultures of peace. For instance, we actively participate in:

• The Peace Network (Red por la Paz), a platform of analysis and action composed of 10 organizations that participate in an ongoing analysis of the local and national contexts. The Network engages in specific actions such as pronouncements about serious rights violations, observer missions, and thematic meetings.
• Organizing the presentation of the “jTatic Samuel jCanan Lum” award for human rights defenders and monitoring activities.
• GPPAC (Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict), a global initiative of civil society organizations seeking to build international consensus about the urgent need for peace and the prevention of violent conflicts.
• RAMAT, the Support Network for Mother Earth (RAMAT) composed of different organizations that implement training activities in the pastoral regions of the San Cristóbal de Las Casas Diocese.