Veyito Nyekha
Project Coordinator, Peace Channel
The world in transition has been taking its turn of chaos in economy, polity, society and down to personal lives very differently than the decades back. With COVID-19 pandemic, the socio-economic standard of all the sections of the people have greatly been affected, and under such situations, the whole social structure, economic transactions, political functioning and educational development have been hindered. No society in the world is free from these typical problems. However, the world at present is facing a totally different atmosphere fuelled by fear psychosis, anguish, insecurity, stress, depression etc which are being exhibited in the form of oppression, aggression and active conflict even in our communities. Such negatively fuelled situations have been critically impacting all the sections of the society.
At this acute interval, a ‘Culture of Peace’ could be seen as an immediate need which can instil values, attitudes and behaviours that redirects the principles of freedom, justice and democracy, human rights, tolerance and concord, which will cast-off the negative social hitches and attempt to prevent violence and conflict by any means and this is possible through tackling the bases by adopting more passive measures such as dialogue and negotiation. The reference here is to eliminate the use of ‘force against force’. This can further enhance social participation and interaction towards the desired growth and development. The idea of ‘a culture of peace’ does not imply that a new culture is intended to be introduced, however, it is an initiative to acknowledge the existing noble values and amalgamate more constructive principles as enhancements to the existing structures. This also emphasized the need to root out unethical bits in the existing culture and be replaced and transformed in an enhanced ‘culture of peace’ with renewed principles and values. The ‘Culture of Peace’ advocates for the recognition of human rights, democratic practices, vibrant economic and social development, tolerance and resilience, freedom of information and speech as well as, equal gender participation in politics and economic empowerment among many.
The call of the time thus, is to promote the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values making, it sure thatcan bring about behavioural changes among the children, youth and adults to prevent any form of destructive aggressions and hostilities, to resolve inter-community issues peacefully and create such a situation conducive for truth, justice, honesty and transparency to prevail in our society. This action also appeals for an edification to enhance behaviour, social cohesion, governance policy and advocacy for wider outreach and also, can be best practiced in personal, family, professional workplaces and any social lives.
Peace Channel, thus, is advocating ‘a Culture of Peace’ into the educational institutions, colleges, universities and localities with strategic capacity building and training activities in the form of dialogue, mediation, negotiation etc involving the children, youth, community leaders and women in particular. It envisions to create a transformed state where people are trained with the skillsets to cope with problems in their personal lives, which can ultimately manifested in the larger picture of community lives. We look forward to enhance personality and behaviour, skills for problem solving, skills for peaceful conflict resolution and transformation.
