The Peace Corner Podcast

Whilst COVID-19 rapidly spreads across the globe, misinformation is filling up millions of feeds and web pages. A dangerous trend that is also often seen in conflicts. Accurate information informs decisions and creates a space for learning. So, how can we break through the deafening noise of fake news and the overload of information? How can readily available information empower youth and women to create peace in their societies?

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.

Promises of peace followed 50 years of armed conflict in Colombia. However whispers of rearmament scuttle through the streets. Not only is the reality of conflict faced in Colombia, but also the existence of massive social injustices. Within Latin America, second only to Haiti, Colombians face the most significant inequalities. Discussion of pension reforms at Congress sparked mass protests in November 2018. Called by unions and student groups, large numbers of youth took to the streets. The FARCs removal from the conflict created space for the youth to reflect on social inequities and come forward, together, for this cause. But how have the youth of Colombia been affected by the peace agreement and have their needs been met?

Juan Manuel Martinez, Founder and Partner of Umain, a consultancy group for transitional justice, joined the podcast to shed some light on these events. Juan tells us how the youth in rural areas were most significantly impacted by the events in Colombia. But hope and positive action prevails! Juan praises the overwhelming support of the youth and how this pushed the peace agreement across the line. With youth raising issues surrounding their rights, what is the Colombia's response? To find out, tune in here!

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.

Everyday, we are reminded of the war and violent conflict that surrounds us. Televisions, radios and newspapers flood us with the daily reality of humanity at war. But what remains largely invisible are those at the forefront of conflict -peacebuilders, striving for peace. For many it is easier to name warlords than peacebuilders. It is time to move peacebuilding out of the shadows and into the spotlight. We need to highlight its use as a far better alternative to never-ending wars. But how do we change the narrative surrounding peace? How do we widen its scope of reach?

Madeline Rose, the Director of +Peace, a new collective action campaign platform housed at the Alliance for Peacebuilding, dropped in to discuss opening up the space of peacebuilding and building a louder peacebuilding movements through the +Peace coalition. Born in the US, Madeline was influenced in her path towards peace by stand out events such as the invasion of Iraq. Through observing violence, she was drawn towards creating peace. With violent conflict at a 30 year high and hate and polarisation consuming societies, the time to act is now. Madeline delves into how the +Peace coalition is moving towards changing the world of peacebuilding.

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.

2013 was a significant year in Ukraine. On 21st November 2013, a student-led protest broke out in response to Ukraine’s former President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to end talks on a Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement. Referred to as ‘Euromaidan’, it began peacefully, however, as this march gained traction, it was met with violence from the police. Older generations began to join the students, expanding the civil resistance against the use of authoritarian power. Tensions erupted again on the 20th February 2014, which would later be known as ‘the Revolution of Dignity’. Scenes of street clashes, petrol bombs and the shooting of protesters flooded television screens and newspapers.

To shed some light on these events and the role that peace education played, we sat down with Roman Koval, Founder and Head of Board at the Institute for Peace and Common Ground. Roman highlights how education in schools can shape and form the lives of peacebuilders. He shares personal stories of training those who went on to negotiate and mitigate violent conflict in the Maidan protests. To find out how Roman helped to shift mediation from the classroom to the streets of Ukraine, tune in here!

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.

Despite the existence of many indigenous communities in Libya, they are often marginalised. Eight months of protests and revolution beginning in 2011 called for Muammar Al-Gaddafi to step down after his 42 years of reign. The end of rule placed people in a space where they could more freely express themselves, however, society was used to the norm of one culture, one language and one religion. The struggle for recognition and rights for the indigenous people continued. But what can be done to achieve inclusion?

To find out more, we sat down with Lamis Ben Aiyad, project manager at Tamazight Women’s Movement. Lamis gave us an insight into the struggles faced by indigenous peoples living in Libya today. Through the work Lamis does, problems such as gender-based violence and lack of political participation for Tamazight women are brought to the table. She strongly believes that inclusion stems from the involvement of everyone. Gender-based violence and marginalisation is something faced by both women and men. Through projects such as the creation of art exhibitions and videos, Lamis helps indigenous communities move forward in the path towards achieving inclusion.

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.

In conflict, youth are either seen as victim or perpetrator. Why is this the case and what impact does this have on the potential for achieving peace? Youth are often left to defend themselves during times of conflict, having to take survival into their own hands. These difficult situations have led to the negative portrayal of youth in conflict. How can we change the role and vision of youth? Are agency and participation really the answer to achieving peace? Can we move children from being leaders in war to leaders in peace?

To find out more, we sat down with Anne de Graaf, Professor for Human Rights and Human Security and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Amsterdam. Anne used personal experiences ranging from Liberia to Sierra Leone, to show us how the youth can create sustainable peace. But first, they need to be included. In Anne’s words, “inclusion is not about being invited to the party, it’s about being able to organise the party”.

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.

With tensions mounting in Bolivia, violent protests sparked the end of Morales’ reign as president. Shadowed by controversy for his position in power lasting more than a decade, he was the first Indigenous president that Bolivia had seen. Surely this marked a move towards inclusion?

To find out whether this was the case, we sat down with Theo Roncken, a peacebuilder of Accion Andina in Bolivia. Theo shared his personal experience with coca farmers. Some faced the harsh reality of crop eradication. Others were given the support of Morales, news which did not reach media publication. Theo tackles the issue of a one size fits all drugs policy in Bolivia, sharing the stories of consumers who are failed by the current legislative approach.

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.

In 2001, only two terrorist organisations existed in Afghanistan. Eighteen years later, the number stands at twenty. Does the road towards peace need to be rewritten? What role can youth and women play in ending conflict? Does the international lens towards Afghanistan need to be changed?

To answer our burning questions on this escalating situation, we sat down with human rights activist Najeebullah Azad. Najeeb spoke to us about how the youth are the future of the country’s prospects for peace and how women should contribute to peacebuilding. However, women in Afghanistan are still very restricted and currently cannot engage within this role. Najeeb shatters our tunnelled vision of Afghanistan created by the international media and gives us a real insight into both the struggles and the scope of a bright and prosperous future, free of conflict.

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.

Images of young children, armed with guns, forced to fight for rebels are often depicted in the news. But we do not hear about what happens next. Once they are saved, what is the next step? How can these children be accepted back into the community after all the violence? In Uganda, this is the harsh reality faced by many children and communities. So, how can those whose childhoods were stolen be given a brighter future?

To find out more about creating cohesion within these communities, we sat down with peacebuilder Patrick Bwire of the Center of Conflict Resolution in Uganda. Patrick shares some heart warming stories of successful reintegration. Whilst this transition can be so difficult, Patrick tells us how the medium of storytelling, sport and dance can rebuild bonds which once seemed unsalvageable.

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.

This year in Chile, a situation of emergency was declared after marches led to arson riots, looting and the collapse of the subway. Despite the negative portrayal of the youth in the recent demonstrations and their association with the violence that erupted, the involvement of the youth has contributed to significant changes. The demands of the people of Chile are being met and the marches have led to the re-writing of the Pinochet-era constitution. Following these events, the Interior Minister, Gonzalo Blumel announced that, “We must focus on the goal of reconfiguring the social contract, which has arisen as a fundamental demand of our citizens”

To shed some light on these events in Chile, we sat down with Catalina Salazar from Social Hip Hop NGO. In this episode, Catalina talks about students leading the call for social equality and her personal experience in this movement. The injustices and lack of trust civilians have in public order has caused a lot of anger in Chile. Catalina dives into the use of hip hop to channel and voice the anger and frustration of the youth to enact positive change.

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.