Peace Brigades International

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Peace Brigades International (pbi) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) for the protection of human rights and promotion of non-violent transformation of conflicts. It is guided by the principles of non-violence, international character, non-partisanship and non-hierarchical functioning. It only sets up operations in a new country upon the invitation of a local organization.

1 Basic History
2 The Work of pbi
3 Structure
4 Awards
5 External links

[edit] Basic History

As a reaction to the violent action performed in Bombay, at late 1921, Mahatma Gandhi propagated the idea of the establishment of a Volunteer Body, whose mission was to set presence between the parties involved in violent conflicts.

The first implementation of this idea took place in 1957, with the creation of “Shanti Sena” (Peace Army) by the spiritual pupil from Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave. The members of this army acted as mediators to the leaders of a region, achieving reunion and conciliation in torn apart locations, and stood in the violent conflict between Hindus and Muslims.

In 1962 was created in Beirut for the first time an International Peace Troupe for peaceful actions (“World Peace Brigades for Non-violent Action”). This group also performed actions such as a big peace marching to support the independent movement in North Rhodesia (currently Zambia) or its controlling interest over the activities for a peace agreement between the central region and the insurgent group in the Indian Nagaland. However, there weren't enough resources to allow the continuity of the work.

In the Canadian island of Grindstone, under the effect of the abolition of the Solidarnosc movement in Poland, the soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the imminence of the USA action in Nicaragua, a group of peace activists from four different continents finally created the Peace Brigades International, on September 4. 1981. Unlike past attempts of its implementation, its goal wasn't to only undertake projects, but also to construct a solid, long and international structure.

[edit] The Work of pbi

pbi sends international observers as eye witnesses in crisis and conflict regions. The volunteer teams from pbi aim to protect people who suffer from threats due to political motives through their personal assignments. The concept developed by pbi of a protective accompaniment for the local civilian population represents a direct contribution to the prevention of violence and leads, in a long term, to the strengthening of the possibilities for the resolution of conflicts.

Currently pbi has projects in Colombia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Nepal and Mexico (Guerrero), as well as in the efforts for a peace coalition in the Mexican territory of the Chiapas. Furthermore, there is the implementation of Trainings in peaceful settlement of conflicts in Indonesia and the region of the Great lakes and Central Africa, and in relation to victims of trauma experienced in Colombia. Initiatives of dialogue and general work of information between the parties of a conflict can also be performed, as for example the inter-religious dialogue of the SIPAZ Project in Chiapas. Through these activities, pbi accomplishes an active contribution for the de-escalation and prevention of violent conflicts.

The peace forces from pbi were placed in the past in Guatemala (1983-1999), El Salvador (1987-1992), Sri Lanka (1989-1998), North America (1991-1999), East Timor (1999-2002), Haiti (1995-2000), as well as in short assignments in North Nicaragua and Central Africa (2004-2005), and for the World Uranium Hearing in Salzburg. pbi was in addition a member organisation for the Balkan Peace Team (1994-2001).

[edit] Structure

pbi is an international non-governmental organisation registered by the United Nations and possesses a consultative status within the Organisation. Until the present moment, there are 15 recognized country groups and 2 associated from Europe and North America, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The International Secretariat is located in London. These 17 country group administer financial and organisational assistance for the projects placed in conflict areas. They also work to engage people involved with the public life in the assistant network or to inform about the work from pbi and to strengthen the human rights situation in their own land. The main office of the German country group is located in Hamburg and it is supported by regional groups in Berlin, Cologne, Freiburg, Bremen, Leipzig and Hamburg, as well as by inter-regional work groups.