peace education and disarment campaign project - page 1
The Agro Tourism, Peace Education and the Literature Exchange Projects are funded by the European Union and realized with the collaboration of the Eymir Culture Foundation. The contents of this web page is the sole responsibility of Winpeace, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union
Click to access the contact info
Click to read: What has been achieved until today?
PEACE EDUCATION AND DISARMAMENT CAMPAIGN PROJECT
page 01
WINPEACE has defended the reduction of the armament budgets of the two countries ever since its creation. We believe it is time to take concrete action in this direction. WINPEACE has conducted research on the military spending of the two countries and concluded that a cut in these expenditures with 5 % would pay for the majority of the activities required to obtain women empowerment.
Disarmament and creating a Peace Culture have been the main objectives of WINPEACE right from the beginning. In the last meeting of WINPEACE Greece and Turkey in Istanbul on April 23rd 2001, a common declaration was given including also the results of a by WINPEACE conducted survey.
UN has declared 2001-2010 as Peace Education Decade for non-violent solutions. The Global Campaign for Peace Education was launched in May 1999 at the Hague Appeal for Peace Conference in Netherlands. The Hague Appeal for Peace Campaign brings together groups that focus on human rights, disarmament, womens rights and social justice to work towards abolishing war in the 21st century. Peace education is a participatory process, which changes our way of thinking and promotes learning for peace and justice. The Hague Appeal for Peace Global Campaign for Peace Education has two goals. First to build awareness and political support for the introduction of peace education into all spheres of education, including non-formal education, in all schools throughout the world. Second to promote the education of teachers to teach for peace. As of today there are 110 peace endorsers in various countries and WINPEACE is the endorser in Turkey and Greece. The Hague Appeal has 3 offices, one in UN - NY, one in Hague-Netherlands and one in Geneva-Switzerland. These offices though their publications printed and on web support the endorsers with information, campaign leading and curriculums.
Activities:
- In both countries publications (and info on web) in both languages will be prepared to introduce both campaigns.
- A pilot Peace Education curriculum will be prepared and application in high school level will be realised for one school semester.
- The educational authorities will be informed of the context and result of this pilot application.
- A media campaign will be carried out through press conference, press releases, Internet, radios and TV channels.
- A meeting in both countries will be organised with women’s and other NGOs to obtain broad support for the campaign. A press meeting will be held subsequently.
- The outcome of the meetings will be published in both languages, together with the materials that have already been prepared in this connection.
- Decision making authorities (e.g. ministers, political parties, related committees in the parliements will be visited to relate the campaign and its outcomes.
Aims:
- To create public debate for arms reduction and the thus saved money to be used in improving the condition of women and peace culture.
- To introduce both countries education systems to Peace Education
- To create a pilot application of Peace Education in high school level
- To involve other NGOs in this campaign, thus enlarging the number of organisations working towards internal and international peace in general, between the two countries in particular.
Target Groups and Beneficiaries:
The direct beneficiaries of the disarmament and peace education campaigns will be the women, the children and whole population of the two countries.
Relevance of the project to the target groups:
The disarmament and peace education campaigns will be to the economical benefit of the women of both countries, creating funds for their empowerment, bring to the surface the demand of peace by the women and increase their political involvement, the children to learn how they can live better in peace.
Estimated Impact on Target Groups:
The disarmament campaign will enable the creation of a discussion platform to improve consciousness and a civil network imposing these ideas on the necessary decision making bodies. It is assumed that this campaign will lead to the desired success in the long term, following the groundwork under this project. The result would lead to important savings in both countries’ budgets, enabling the governments to allocate more money to improve education and women’s status, while creating at the same time a mutual feeling of security and trust.