Home Blog Page 78

Aceptando y apoyando las perspectivas LGBTQ en el género y la consolidación de la paz

By
Jamie Hagen
-
0

Peace News entrevistó a la Dra. Jamie Hagen para reflexionar sobre la paz inclusiva y el proyecto Queering Women, Peace and Security (Una perspectiva queer de la agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad) en Colombia.

Aunque las organizaciones LGBTQ no suelen ser invitadas a las negociaciones de paz, cuando se les da la oportunidad, pueden ofrecer nuevas formas de entender la paz y construir una sociedad posconflicto informada por las necesidades cotidianas de la comunidad queer. Los esfuerzos para incorporar una perspectiva de género al trabajo de paz y seguridad a menudo pasan por alto la forma en que los miembros de las comunidades LGBTQ (lesbianas, gais, bisexuales, personas transgénero y queer) experimentan conflictos, buscan seguridad y trabajan por la paz. Las iniciativas que abordan esta deficiencia abren oportunidades para colaboraciones feministas interseccionales dentro de los movimientos para enfrentar la violencia. Esto es especialmente cierto para aquellas activistas de derechos humanos que llevan las necesidades de las personas LGBTQ a la agenda nacional e internacional. 

Como escribo en mi trabajo sobre una perspectiva queer de la Agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad, la agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad se basa en supuestos heterosexuales (heteronormativos) sobre el género. Esto puede conducir a la invisibilización de experiencias queer por parte de académicos y legisladores. También existe el riesgo de invisibilizar las relaciones lesbianas y bisexuales, que en algunos contextos no son tomadas en serio porque no involucran a hombres. 

Las investigaciones que se centran en las experiencias vividas por las mujeres queer y trans destacan las mayores vulnerabilidades que enfrentan ciertas mujeres debido a sus identidades interseccionales, que incluyen la sexualidad, la raza, la clase y la discapacidad. Por ejemplo, las mujeres trans corren el riesgo de sufrir violencia agravada como resultado de la intersección de la homofobia, la inseguridad económica y el acoso sexual, como se documenta en una investigación realizada por Human Rights Watch sobre las mujeres trans en el Líbano. Es igualmente importante reconocer cómo las personas LGBTQ están liderando protestas en el trabajo de consolidación de la paz en lugares como el Líbano, Colombia, y Birmania. 

Las mujeres queer en el entorno de la paz y la seguridad


Una de las preguntas más frecuentes que recibo es: Somos una organización de mujeres por la paz. ¿No debería una organización LGBTQ apoyar a las mujeres lesbianas, bisexuales, transgénero y queer? En realidad, las organizaciones LGBTQ, especialmente aquellas que trabajan en espacios en el marco de un conflicto, tienen poco personal y están sobrecargadas. Peor aún, aquellas que apoyan a las mujeres lesbianas, bisexuales y queer sufren un grave desfinanciamiento a nivel mundial, lo que conduce a la falta de información sobre estas comunidades y a la falta de servicios para estas cuando otras organizaciones de mujeres se enfocan únicamente en apoyar a las mujeres heterosexuales. Lo más importante es que las mujeres como grupo deben incluir a las mujeres queer. Si bien no todas las personas de la comunidad LGBTQ se alinean con un género binario (masculino o femenino), muchas sí lo hacen. Pensar de forma interseccional incluye también pensar en la orientación sexual y la identidad de género para todas las personas. La sexualidad no es algo relevante únicamente para quienes forman parte de la comunidad LGBTQ. 

Los cuatro pilares (participación, prevención, protección, y socorro y recuperación) de la Agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad ciertamente se aplican a las mujeres transgénero, bisexuales y lesbianas. La investigación también muestra que estas comunidades en muchos casos son aún más vulnerables a daños como la violencia sexual y sufren por la falta de acceso a vivienda y por el desplazamiento. Como ha encontrado una investigación de International Alert, es imperativo que quienes trabajan para incluir las voces de las mujeres en la construcción de la paz también den prioridad al trabajo con mujeres lesbianas, bisexuales, transgénero y queer como una dimensión de la construcción de la paz interseccional.

La Perspectiva Queer de la agenda de MPS en el primer Plan de Acción Nacional (PAN)
de Colombia


Nuestro proyecto Queering Women, Peace and Security (WPS), una beca de innovación financiada por la Academia Británica dirigida por Anupama Ranawana de Christian Aid UK y yo, se enfoca en mejorar la participación de mujeres lesbianas, bisexuales, transgénero y
queer (LBTQ) en la programación de la agenda de MPS. La beca de un año se centra en el papel de incluir a las mujeres LBTQ en el desarrollo y la implementación de los Planes de Acción Nacionales de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad y contribuye a un esfuerzo mayor de adoptar un enfoque de estudios críticos de seguridad para comprender la consolidación de la paz. El equipo completo de investigación también incluye a María Susana Peralta Ramón de Colombia Diversa quien se desempeña como coordinadora de investigación del proyecto, y Nathalie Mercier de Christian Aid Colombia, quien se desempeña como asistente de investigación.


El proyecto se involucra y apoya el trabajo en curso para la aplicación de una perspectiva queer de los esfuerzos de paz y seguridad a través de la colaboración con la organización LGBTIQ+ líder en Colombia, Colombia Diversa. La investigación también está explorando
lo que la teoría queer y la incidencia LGBTQ podrían ofrecer para mejorar las prácticas de implementación de la Agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad a nivel internacional al garantizar un enfoque de género en todos los esfuerzos de paz y seguridad. 

Este proyecto surge en un momento importante con el reciente lanzamiento del Quinto Plan de Acción Nacional del Reino Unido para la implementación de la agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad, y los planes para el primer Plan de Acción Nacional de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad en Colombia. El quinto PAN del Reino Unido incluye una mención de las personas LGBTQ, al igual que los PAN anteriores del Reino Unido. Nuestra esperanza es que el PAN colombiano vaya aún más lejos, aprovechando la experiencia de organizaciones LGBTQ como Colombia Diversa para incorporar una perspectiva queer sobre ideas clave del Plan de Acción Nacional, sobre todo la seguridad, de una manera significativa para impactar las vidas de las personas de la comunidad queer.  Reconociendo que esto es importante no solo para Colombia, sino para todos los PAN futuros, una de las publicaciones clave del proyecto será un kit de herramientas que brindará oportunidades de capacitación para personas que trabajan en la agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad, y permitirá el intercambio de conocimientos de organizaciones LGBTQ en el futuro, que será publicado esta primavera. Los talleres en Bogotá con personas de la comunidad LGBTQ son fundamentales para el proyecto de investigación.

Formas de apoyar una perspectiva queer de la paz y la seguridad

Aunque he enfrentado desafíos y dificultades, me ha complacido mucho el amplio apoyo que hemos recibido a lo largo del proyecto. Aunque este es un proyecto marginado, hay muchas personas interesadas en apoyarlo al incluir la atención a la orientación sexual y la identidad de género como parte de su trabajo de paz y seguridad. También reconozco mi posición privilegiada como mujer blanca lesbiana queer que realiza este trabajo desde la seguridad de una universidad ubicada en el Norte Global.

Como siempre, nos enfrentamos al desafío de cómo se seguirá financiando este trabajo. Por ejemplo, si bien Colombia Diversa fue inicialmente invitada a participar en temas LGBTQ durante las consultas sobre la redacción del primer Plan de Acción Nacional de Colombia, el gobierno colombiano no ofreció ningún financiamiento para esto. Afortunadamente, Outright International ha ofrecido financiación para este trabajo.


Según mi experiencia trabajando en espacios de formulación de políticas, profesionales y académicos relacionados con el género, la paz y la seguridad, muchas personas están interesadas en apoyar a las personas LGBTQ. Al mismo tiempo, todavía existe cierta confusión sobre lo que significa incorporar una perspectiva queer a la construcción de paz y a la seguridad.  En respuesta a esto, he comenzado a generar recursos, incluyendo una página de Preguntas Frecuentes y una postal con detalles sobre cómo involucrar a las mujeres queer en la agenda de MPS. Recientemente, también fui coanfitriona de una sesión de café y conversación: ¿Cómo incorporamos una perspectiva queer sobre la paz y la seguridad invitando a los actores de la sociedad civil a unirse a una conversación informal para pensar cómo continuar haciendo más para involucrar a las comunidades queer en el trabajo de paz y seguridad?. Consulte los resultados de esas discusiones. Otros recursos útiles incluyen la serie de informes de políticas sobre la incorporación de una perspectiva Queer a la agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad del Center for Gender in Politics (Centro de estudios sobre el género en la política), que incluye la publicación más reciente,  Supporting Queer Feminist Mobilizations in Peace and Security (Apoyando las Movilizaciones Feministas Queer sobre Paz y Seguridad).


Todos tenemos un interés personal en abordar las prácticas de exclusión que excluyen a las mujeres queer y a las personas trans de la agenda de paz y seguridad. Lo que me gustaría compartir sobre todo con otros constructores de paz es que todos pueden y deben pensar tanto en el género como en la sexualidad como una dimensión de su trabajo de construcción de paz. Si bien es importante comprender las vulnerabilidades de las comunidades LGBTQ, es aún más importante reconocer a los miembros de las comunidades queer y trans como agentes de cambio positivo.

Traducido al español por Carlos Andrés Lara Ruiz

Imagen principal: Jamie Hagen

Puedes leer este artículo en inglés aqui

This Week in Peace #10: November 25

By
Peace News Staff
-
0
The Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, where a recent hijacking has threatened a crucial peace process

Welcome back to This Week in Peace, our weekly roundup of global peacebuilding. 

This brief weekend edition covers a significant deal to stop the fighting in Gaza and release some hostages held there, the collapse of peace talks between Ethiopia and Oromo rebels, and the slim chances for a peace deal in Yemen. 

Israel-Palestine

This week, a long-awaited deal between Israel and Hamas resulted in a four-day pause in fighting in Gaza, and the release of some hostages. The deal is imperfect for both sides – Israel refused to extend the pause in fighting beyond four days, and Hamas refused to release more hostages, despite over a month of negotiations. The United States and Qatar played an important role in working with both sides, and this deal could be a foundation for a more lasting end to the fighting. The deal will bring a much-needed break in Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, where over 14,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, are estimated to have been killed since the start of the war. There is also hope that continued negotiations could lead to the release of more hostages, following the recent deal, which included a parallel release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Many of those freed were Thai, Filippino, children, or the elderly, and aid deliveries into Gaza are increasing, with many more planned. Speaking on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden was hopeful that a long-term ceasefire could be possible. With continued international mediation, an end to fighting could be within reach, as long as both sides are open to it. 

Read our recent story on how the media has covered this conflict here, and check out our past stories on Israel and Palestine here. 

Yemen

A ceasefire in Gaza would be a positive driver for peace in the broader Middle East, not just in Israel and the Palestinian territories. One clear example of this is Yemen, where negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Iranian-backed Houthis continue. One major obstacle has been the frequent Houthi attacks on Israeli, and sometimes American, targets, especially in the Red Sea. The U.S., a close ally of Saudi Arabia, has been backing the peace talks, has objected to the Houthi hijacking of an Israeli-owned cargo ship this week. The Houthis have shot down a U.S. drones and threatened to hijack more Israeli ships in the Red Sea. An end to both conflicts is necessary to prevent further loss of life, and this situation provides a very real illustration of the potential dangers of further escalation of the conflict in Gaza. Peace is not just confined to one geographic area – a lasting peace in Gaza is necessary to prevent escalation across the entire region, especially given the number of actors with stakes in the conflict. 

Read more of our past stories about Yemen here.

Ethiopia

In another setback for peace, talks between Ethiopia and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) came to an end without an agreement being reached. Past editions of This Week in Peace have extensively covered the threat of a second civil war in Ethiopia. The OLA is not a major threat, fighting a low-level insurgency confined to parts of the Oromia region. However, it still poses a threat to peace in Ethiopia’s most populous region, and puts a lasting peace for the country out of reach. Despite one-year anniversary of the end of the Tigray War, peace in Ethiopia seems unlikely, and further talks with the OLA and other armed groups are necessary to prevent another devastating civil war. 
You can read our past coverage of Ethiopia here.

How to build peace while covering war: peace journalism and the Israel-Hamas War

By
Leo Weakland
-
0
Image credit: James Cridland

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has dominated news since the October 7th Hamas attacks and Israeli air and ground campaigns in the Gaza Strip that followed. Around the world, islamophobia and antisemitism have skyrocketed, as the conflict divides societies and has led to mass protests. The media, especially in the West, has found itself struggling to report on the crisis, with both sides accusing it of biased coverage. Due to the nature of news coverage, which favors sensationalism and victory framing, the subject of peace and focus on long-term solutions has been largely absent. 

Peace News Network spoke with three experts on peace journalism –  Professor Jake Lynch at the University of Sydney, Professor Steven Youngblood, of Park University, and Vanessa Bassil, the founder of Media Associaton for Peace (MAP), Lebanon. They shared their thoughts on the current media coverage of the conflict, and how this could change to enhance the prospects for peace.

One aspect of journalism that all three mentioned is that the media, especially in the West, tends to reflect the interests of political elites. In this current conflict, they thought that this had  resulted in a broadly pro-Israeli narrative focused on security and responding to violence, with a limited Palestinian perspective focused on short-term suffering without appreciation for the general conditions they endure or overall power imbalance. Bassil noted that this is not just a Western phenomenon. In Lebanon, for example, she mentioned that some news stations reflect the views of Hezbollah’s leadership, while others are more sympathetic to other political factions. 

All agree that there is more the media should be doing to accurately report on the conflict, and that it should play a role as an agent of change. For Lynch, the media should take a role in pushing for a ceasefire to end civilian suffering in Gaza, by including more perspectives of activists and those working for peace, and providing more background on the effects of Israeli settlements on the peace process and the hopes for a two-state solution. 

A future Palestinian state “would have to include the whole of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank.” Gaza has not been occupied by Israel since 2005, but has been blockaded since Hamas took over the densely populated territory, and there are concerns that Israel could move to reestablish its military presence following the end of this current war. The other territories are either occupied by Israel or under limited control of the Palestinian Authority. Lynch told Peace News that as long as the settlements exist in the occupied territories, and continue to expand, a two-state solution is impossible. Furthernore, Lynch noted that the media needs to provide this full background in order to present the full reality of the conflict, and in his view it has failed to do so. 

Lynch believes that more coverage of peacebuilding groups like the Parents Circle (which Peace News has covered in a previous story) and protest leaders could lead the media to be an effective voice for change. He sees the media as a potential agent for change on this subject, especially in the West. If the work of activists and peacebuilders like the Parents Circle becomes a more visible narrative in the Western media, he believes it can help lead to peace, by motivating politicians and other influential figures to support a peace agenda and make military support for Israel conditional. 

Like Lynch, Bassil also agreed that the media must do more to portray a balanced narrative and work to call for an end to the fighting. As a journalist, who works to train others as peace journalists, she agrees that the media has a responsibility to provide appropriate background in the conflict, and to contribute to a ceasefire and the protection of women and children. As she said to Peace News, conflict journalism is “not a sports game” where one side will win and the other will lose; lives are at stake and the media has a responsibility to recognize the consequences of its reporting. 

Youngblood agreed that the media still has a great deal of work to do on this conflict. He believes that the role of the media in conflict situations is to build bridges, give a “voice to the voiceless”, reject simple, one-sided narratives, and emphasize contextual reporting that rejects false equivalencies. He criticized some aspects of the Western media’s coverage of the current conflict, mentioning that at the beginning of the conflict it took a sensationalized approach, without sufficient inclusion of a Palestinian perspective. 

Recently, he has noticed a positive change, with more Palestinian voices present on mainstream outlets such as CNN. Younblood pointed out that the issue of a lack of balance is common, and not exclusive to Western outlets. Al Jazeera, funded by the Qatari government, has extensively covered the current conflict, and has provided an alternative perspective. According to Youngblood, while they have done well to provide a Palestinian perspective and give a platform to voices in Gaza, they have a clear bias, and fail to provide context from the Israeli side. 

Youngblood mentioned that the issue of how to provide proper context in a conflict without taking a side or justifying violence against civilians is one of the most important aspects of peace journalism. In many modern conflicts, peace journalists face a major challenge in how to remain objective without minimizing atrocities committed by one side or the other. 

Youngblood presented one prominent example of the difficulty of this with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in which he alleges that they have carried out deliberate attacks on civilians, including attempts to destroy Ukrainian power plants in the middle of winter, the horrific massacre committed in Bucha, and attacks on schools and hospitals. How can peace journalists cover these conflicts without explicitly taking sides, or minimizing the actions of the aggressor? 

The current conflict presents the same issue. The latest chapter of this conflict began with the massacre of civilians in their homes and at a music festival, including many peace activists. In response, thousands of civilians have been killed by an indiscriminate bombing campaign that has displaced over a million and left many without reliable access to water, food, or electricity, and Israeli settlers in the West Banks have escalated their attacks on Palestinians. Effective peace journalism must cover the actions of every side contextually, without an agenda besides peace and the protection of civilians. 

Civilians should be covered equally, with the focus on their humanity rather than their place of birth. The Israeli blockade of Gaza, the high and disproportionate civilian death toll from IDF airstrikes, both now and in past conflicts, the continued expansion and protection of settlements, and the extremist members of the current government must all be mentioned as part of the wider context of the war. The brutality of the October 7th attacks, and Hamas’ stated dedication to destroying the state of Israel also can’t be ignored. And above all, it is crucial that none of these things be used to justify the actions of one side or the other. Lynch agreed, telling Peace News “we are at the stage where it is of particular importance to distinguish between justifying violence, on the one hand, and understanding and explaining it, on the other.” Empathy, context, a focus on solutions, and a recognition of the shared humanity of both sides are essential elements of peace journalism. All three experts noted the ability of peace journalism to make a positive difference, empower its audience, and give a voice to solutions instead of spreading divisive rhetoric. 

For more of our coverage of peacebuilding around the world, you can sign up for our monthly newsletter. We recently published an article on peacebuilders working in Israel and the Palestinian territories who, despite having lost loved ones to the conflict, work to build peace and reconciliation through organizations like the Parents Circle. We will continue to cover this conflict, and efforts to find a peaceful solution. 

Experts interviewed: Steven Youngblood, Jake Lynch, Vanessa Bassil.

This Week in Peace #9: November 17

By
Leo Weakland
-
0
A recent summit between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping may lead to the return of "panda diplomacy" between the U.S. and China. Image Credit: Smithsonian Institution

Welcome back to This Week in Peace, our weekly series covering global peacebuilding. 

This week, we discuss “panda diplomacy”, Russian peace activists who remain steadfast despite facing , a rare instance of a military deployment building peace in South Sudan, and continued international efforts to negotiate a ceasefire or “humanitarian pause” in Gaza. 

The US and China

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a summit in San Francisco on Wednesday, for their first meeting in over a year. The two discussed a wide variety of topics, and in a positive sign, were able to reach a consensus on a wide variety of topics. The meeting was an important diplomatic step to reduce tensions, especially as disputes over the status of Taiwan and territorial boundaries in the South China Sea have raised fears of future war. While the talks did not resolve all disputes between the two states – and Biden stated that he still sees Xi as a dictator – it did result in some positive developments that will help to reduce the threat of a potential future conflict  between the two nuclear superpowers. Crucially, the summit resulted in the agreement to reestablish military-to-military communication, which is highly important to reduce the risk of miscommunication leading to escalation and potential conflict. While the status of Taiwan remains a major issue, Xi was adamant that China does not have plans to invade Taiwan, despite increased military activity around the island. Such a war would be extremely destructive and likely draw in the U.S. and other regional actors, avoiding it is crucial to maintaining a peaceful environment in the East Pacific. 

In lighter news, the meeting did result in at least one positive development. Xi seemed open to giant pandas returning to American zoos, calling them “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American people”. Whether or not “panda diplomacy” can lead to a more peaceful sort of competition and cooperation between the world’s two largest economies remains to be seen. Along with China’s decision to invite thousands of Americans to China for study programs, this sort of cultural diplomacy can help to build positive personal connections between both societies and reduce the risk of war in the Pacific. 

Peace News has published a number of stories focused on U.S. peacebuilidng, which you can find here. 

Russia

Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, accompanied by continued repression at home and in occupied areas of Ukraine. The prospects for peace remain distant, as anti-war voices within Russia find themselves silenced or persecuted by the state security forces and justice system. This week, an artist named Sasha Skochilenko was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in a penal colony, for posting anti-war messages in a supermarket. Following Russia’s invasion, draconian laws outlawed many forms of protest against the war. Skochilenko, who had been detained since April, was convicted of “discrediting the Russian army”, and is one of many activists and journalists given harsh sentences for speaking out in support of peace, or opposing the regime. In the last week alone, Russia instituted new restrictions on the media ahead of next year’s presidential elections, and added three imprisoned lawyers, who represent jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, to a list of “extremists and terrorists”. As the war in Ukraine continues, many Ukrainians are fleeing Russian-occupied territory, where they face oppressive military rule. That occupation remains the largest impediment to peace, 

Peace News has covered the Russian invasion of Ukraine, along with the preceding conflict in the Donbas, and will continue to highlight efforts to build peace in the region. You can find our past coverage here, and keep an eye out for future stories on the subject.  

South Sudan

This week in South Sudan saw one of the rare cases where a military deployment actually helps build peace. Since the end of a destructive civil war in 2018, the resulting unity government has struggled to fully implement the peace agreement that ended the fighting. An important aspect of the peace deal was the incorporation of former rebels into the armed forces. This week, the first unified battalion was officially deployed for the first time. This was an important step to ensure that the peace process remains on track, in advance of the first-ever presidential election in 2024. It combines forces loyal to President Salva Kiir, and Vice President Riek Machar, former enemies who now serve in a unity government together. Five years after the end of the destructive civil war, in which 400,000 were killed and many more displaced, further progress is necessary to ensure free and fair elections next year, and a peaceful first transition of power in the world’s youngest country. 

Peace News has extensively covered South Sudan in the past, you can find our previous stories here. 

Israel Palestine

Global pressure continues to build for a ceasefire in Gaza as Israel’s ground campaign continues. Peace remains out of reach, and while the broad international consensus on the need for a permanent resolution to the wider conflict in the form of a two-state solution is welcome, it has done little to bring an end to the current fighting. Qatar has been attempting to mediate a deal between the two sides that would see 50 hostages released from Gaza and a three-day truce implemented. French President Emmanuel Macron remains one of the most prominent global voices calling for a ceasefire, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau strongly emphasized the need for Israel to show restraint in order to protect civilians in Gaza. Biden continues to reject calls for a ceasefire, but in a significant development, the UN Security Council approved a resolution calling for “dayslong humanitarian pauses” to save lives in Gaza. The resolution calls for the protection of civilians, especially children, and for the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. While the resolution will likely not be implemented by either side, it is a positive sign that there is growing global consensus around the need to end civilian deaths in Gaza, and prioritize the protection of civilians. 

Unfortunately, this week also saw the confirmation of the death of Vivian Silver, a renowned peace activist who was killed by Hamas on October 7th. Silver was the founder of Women Wage Peace, and dedicated her life to finding a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. This news is yet another reminder that civilians have suffered the most from this conflict, and that unless a permanent peaceful resolution to the wider conflict is found, the cycle of violence will continue. The work of Silver, and of a new generation of Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders, is crucial to making that happen, and 

You can read more of our coverage of this topic here, and check out our recent story on peacebuilders working to build bridges between Israelias and Palestinians here. 

This Week in Peace #8: November 10

By
Peace News Staff
-
0
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who negotiated a controversial amnesty agreement with a Catalan separatist party this week. Image credit: European Parliament


Welcome back to This Week in Peace, our weekly summary of global peacebuilding. 

This week, we continue our coverage of attempts to find a peaceful solution to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and developments in Ethiopia. Peace talks between opposing factions in Sudan failed to find a resolution, but did find some common ground. Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” initiative faced major challenges, although there is still hope for long-term peace. And a controversial amnesty plan in Spain might lead to a peaceful resolution of the debate over the status of Catalonia – or further inflame tensions. 

Ethiopia

As we covered in last week’s edition, there are still numerous obstacles to long-term peace in Ethiopia. This week, there have been some positive developments that have led to hope for long-term peace in Tigray and the rest of Ethiopia, even as fears grow over the possibility of another war with Eritrea. The Ethiopian government is reportedly holding talks with the Oromo Liberation Army, an armed group which has waged a five-year war against the government. The government has also announced plans to resolve a territorial dispute between the Amhara and Tigray regions with a referendum. Following the end of the Tigray War over a year ago, tensions in the regions have remained, with fighting breaking out between the federal government and local militias. A peaceful resolution would be an important step towards long-term peace in Ethiopia. There is growing concern that Ethiopia and Eritrea could be headed towards a new conflict, however. Ethiopia is landlocked, and recent statements by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have referred to the importance of acquiring a port, while hinting at a willingness to use force. Another war with Eritrea, whose forces were accused of committing numerous atrocities in Tigray during the war, would be extremely destructive, and must be avoided to ensure peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. 

You can read more Peace News coverage of Ethiopia here. 

Sudan

As attention remains focused on the Middle East, the war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has continued. The RSF has gained ground in the province of Darfur, where it carried out widespread crimes against humanities in the early 2000s. The humanitarian situation in that province, and the rest of the country, is dire, with almost five million Sudanese displaced within the country, with another million living as refugees in neighboring countries. Recent peace talks facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the U.S. in Jeddah failed to find an agreement for a ceasefire, although according to the U.S. Department of State, there some success in confidence-building measures and efforts to ensure access to humanitarian aid. Continued negotiations to build peace, with the involvement of both sides and international involvement, is crucial to ending the war and ensuring peace for the people of Sudan. 

Peace News has written a number of stories on Sudan in the past, which you can read here. 

Israel Palestine

As the world remains fixed on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and reports of civilian casualties continue to increase, there have been a few positive signs for peace. Israeli leaders continue to reject calls for a ceasefire, and recent reports say that early in the war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a five-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of some of the hostages held in Gaza. There have been some positive developments brought about partially by international diplomacy. On November 9, the White House announced that Israel had agreed to daily 4-hour pauses in the fighting, in order to allow civilians to flee. U.S President Biden mentioned that he had called for at least a three-day pause in the fighting in a call with Netanyahu. Other heads of state have called for further humanitarian pauses or a ceasefire, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who opened a peace summit in Paris with a call to protect civilians in Gaza. Continued international diplomacy is important to build peace, as the civilian death toll continues to climb and concerns mount over increased violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.  

You can read more of our coverage of this topic here. Peace News published a story recently discussing the work of organizations and individuals working to build peace between Israelis and Palesitinians, which you can read here. 

Colombia

In Colombia, the “total peace” agenda of President Gustavo Petro continued to encounter obstacles. A major aspect of that initiative was the outreach to armed groups, including the Marxist National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident groups that split from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, both of whom had recently agreed to negotiations with the government. Recent developments have threatened hopes for negotiated peace, however. The public kidnapping of the parents of soccer star Luis Diaz, by ELN gunmen, has raised concern over the group’s willingness to work towards peace. Both were released, but the kidnapping was the most high-profile violation of a ceasefire agreement which is seen as crucial to peace negotiations. In a further blow to Petro, the largest FARC dissident group, the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), announced that it was pulling out of negotiations with the government. There is still some hope – the EMC confirmed that it is still observing a ceasefire until January. However, these two events threaten the Colombian peace process, and it is crucial that both sides continue to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict and avoid a return to widespread violence in Colombia. 

You can read our past coverage of Colombia here, including a recent video and article we published on the Colombian peace process and the total peace initiative. 

Spain 
In Spain, the aftermath of the illegal 2017 Catalan independence referendum continues to divide the country. The unofficial vote, organized by separatist parties, was met with a police crackdown and resulted in mass protests, with some Catalan independence leaders going into exile. Following a snap election this summer, no party was able to form a government on its own. Incumbent Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, of the Socialist Party, was able to find a majority, which required the support of Basque and Catalan separatist parties. An amnesty for those involved in the 2017 referendum was necessary for the support of the pro-Catalan independence Junts party. Protests against the amnesty have broken out across the country, many led by members of the far-right Vox party, which has taken a hard line on the issue. On November 9, Alejandro Vidal-Quadras, a longtime Catalan member of the PP who helped found Vox, was found shot in Madrid. He is expected to survive, and there is no link found yet between the shooting and the amnesty law. It remains to be seen whether implementing the agreement will further divide the country, or lead to reconciliation and an end to political polarization.

1...777879...188Page 78 of 188