February: Peace-building and conflict prevention month
Conference open to the public.
Rotarians, Rotaractors and their friends are welcome to attend.
In person:
L'ESPACE, 1 Rue du 23-Août, 1205 Geneva
Open building, simple signposted route (20m from the entrance)
On line :
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8378022867?pwd=FfXnYZFOQ9kbaADq7hbEKbuuC8tx2A.1
Peace and conflict prevention: what role for Rotaract?
When it comes to
peace, we have no shortage of fine words. But where are the deeds? Peace is
multi-faceted and is often understood simply as the absence of war. However,
long-term stability is necessary to ensure peace. Stability in politics, health
care, democracy, the economy, education and others are needed to prevent social
conflicts. Every time there is an economic crisis, conflicts flare up.
In February 2023
the open war between Russia and Ukraine will already be a year old. Let’s not
forget that one year is very short compared to other conflicts that have been
going on for years. We tend to forget about them, because they are further away
from Europe, like the conflict in Yemen, Ethiopia, Syria or South America.
There are currently 32 open conflicts in the world. Ukraine is close to us,
also by its culture. This proximity perhaps brutally reminds us of the
fragility of peace, bringing back memories of the Balkan conflict.
For many, Peace is
something abstract, somewhat diffuse, intangible. It is not like polio
vaccination, which allows us to count the number of people vaccinated and gives
a precise figure. Nor is it like the strategic axes of water, education,
maternal and child health. Peace is not just the absence of war, the definition
is more complex: it is especially once the guns fall silent that the real work
of peace begins. The aim is to achieve a positive peace rebuilding society and
its governing systems including education, infrastructure, democracy.
Rotarians are
people of action, and we must engage in peace and conflict resolution. Let’s
have a good look at the way we can foster positive peace within us, in our
families, with neighbours, colleagues and fellow citizens.
Elisabeth Antunes : Elisabeth.Antunes@rotaract.ch
Boris Fernandez : boris.fj@icloud.com
