Attached is the final version of the co-peace concept note, drafted by Mary Racelis, with inputs from our team. I would like to request you to include it in the next issue of News and Views and on behalf of the team.
Please remind our dear XUNICEF friends about our earlier invitation to join in promoting the CO-PEACE effort.
I look forward to the warm and enthusiastic participation of our friends, who have so much to contribute.
Thanks again. Baquer
Editor's Note: If you are interested in joining CO-PEACE, please contact Karthika Pillai <karthika.msje@gmail.com>
Armed conflict across the globe is inflicting untold suffering on millions of children. While much of the world looks on with apparent helplessness while political adversaries fail to reach reconciliation and consensus, thousands of children are dying, injured, displaced and orphaned. Too many adults shrug their shoulders with resignation wishing someone would take action – but do nothing.
UNICEF staff retirees have come together as CO-PEACE – Corridors of Peace with and for Children Everywhere. We stand ready to volunteer our concern and know-how with any groups interested in taking action to protect children in armed conflict.
A CALL TO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
It is time to:
Activate and Accelerate civil society organizations, enabling us to play our transformative roles on the ground – where children are. Let us take action to identify and empower local groups in the warring countries -- communities, families, women and the children themselves -- to make their voices heard. Enable them to take action for child survival, development, protection and participation. Children deserve a future!
Demand concerted action in conflict areas to create safe spaces where humanitarian efforts can reach innocent victims of warfare.
Convince the warring parties -- government and opposition groups -- to suspend the fighting; create zones of peace, at least for specified periods of time, to enable humanitarian teams to reach thousands of beleaguered child victims with food, clothing, health care, vaccinations, shelter -- and hope.
Enable community groups, mainly women and youth, to identify the priority issues affecting children under siege; help them to organize and take action as empowered citizens, ensuring also the participation of children and youth; facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships with local and international NGOs, faith-based groups and like-minded CSOs.
Assist governments to institutionalize beyond the next set of political leaders, effective and sustainable community practices that support and rehabilitate frightened children and their distressed families.
Utilise information technology and social media to increase public awareness of what community groups as civil society proponents can do to bring about positive change for children in warfare and beyond.
Promote progressive mass movements and global alliances that create solidarity and collaboration toward a more just and equitable new world order for children, their families and communities.
CO-PEACE identifies potential partner organisations, especially those inspired by grassroots initiative, p, community mobilization eople power, collective movements, and It emphasizes partnerships reliant on women-led organisations. Governments with credible humanitarian records may also be considered as partners, provided they adhere to the CO-PEACE code of ethics emphasising independence, impartiality, compassion and professionalism.
CO-PEACE is currently collaborating with the International Network on Peace Building, an umbrella organisation established 20 years ago. INGO addresses the needs of women and children, the groups worldwide most devastated by conflicts and warfare. Young children are placed at the heart of peace-building initiatives. In regions like Latin America and the Western Balkans as well as countries like Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Palestine, South Africa and Tajikistan, its early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs integrate culture of peace processes. Major advocacy efforts in Palestine, Israel, and Lebanon call on the United Nations and other agencies to address the long-term impact of conflict on children. The Network prioritizes children’s rights, psychosocial development, and the effects of occupation as part of its commitments to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for Quality Education and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
CO-PEACE’s partnerships support fundraising efforts and offers knowledge drawn from years of work in conflict-affected countries. It helps facilitate workshops while mobilising other organisations to collaborate under the Network’s umbrella. To strengthen our efforts and attract like-minded individuals, CO-PEACE integrates emergency preparedness and response training into its core activities. This learning activity aims to equip participants with essential tools and skills to respond effectively in conflict-affected areas. Its efforts will be continuous, regularly updated, and adapted to the diverse needs of learners. To be covered are critical topics such as early childhood care and emergency preparedness, aligning with the CO-PEACE agenda.
The curriculum on emergencies is also tailored to develop specific skills relevant to the communities we serve, ensuring they meet the affected persons’ pressing needs. The effort will focus on identifying suitable training manuals and topics, with particular attention to mental health, community participation, and early childhood care. Success stories from striving communities will also be gathered to assess where CO-PEACE can add value to ongoing initiatives.
The millions of children we served for many years in both peaceful and conflict situations continue to reinforce our advocacies. We share the challenge of ordinary citizens worldwide eager to help define a new and more just world order. We, too, yearn for a more peaceful, equitable and prosperous life for all.
For wealthy citizens dubious about these efforts, seeking additional wealth may be justified, but not at the expense of continued suffering of children and families.
Inspired by the challenge for humanists to contribute to defining a new and more just world order, where all people from every part of the world can benefit and lead more peaceful, equitable, and prosperous lives, we hope that this effort—which is futuristic, child-centred, people-oriented, and non-confrontational—will unite all the forces for good. We believe the overwhelming vision to give all children a happy future will inspire and motivate other people-centered groups to present their progressive visions and goals, creating mutually beneficial situations for all and generating waves of public pressure for positive universal change.
It is time to act!
*********************************************************************************
Children in armed conflict deserve a chance at life!
CO-PEACE - CORRIDORS OF PEACE WITH AND FOR CHILDREN EVERYWHERE
Armed conflict across the globe is inflicting untold suffering on millions of children. While much of the world looks on with apparent helplessness while political adversaries fail to reach reconciliation and consensus, thousands of children are dying, injured, displaced and orphaned. Too many adults shrug their shoulders with resignation wishing someone would take action – but do nothing.
UNICEF staff retirees have come together as CO-PEACE – Corridors of Peace with and for Children Everywhere. We stand ready to volunteer our concern and know-how with any groups interested in taking action to protect children in armed conflict.
A CALL TO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
It is time to:
Activate and Accelerate civil society organizations, enabling us to play our transformative roles on the ground – where children are. Let us take action to identify and empower local groups in the warring countries -- communities, families, women and the children themselves -- to make their voices heard. Enable them to take action for child survival, development, protection and participation. Children deserve a future!
Demand concerted action in conflict areas to create safe spaces where humanitarian efforts can reach innocent victims of warfare.
Convince the warring parties -- government and opposition groups -- to suspend the fighting; create zones of peace, at least for specified periods of time, to enable humanitarian teams to reach thousands of beleaguered child victims with food, clothing, health care, vaccinations, shelter -- and hope.
Enable community groups, mainly women and youth, to identify the priority issues affecting children under siege; help them to organize and take action as empowered citizens, ensuring also the participation of children and youth; facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships with local and international NGOs, faith-based groups and like-minded CSOs.
Assist governments to institutionalize beyond the next set of political leaders, effective and sustainable community practices that support and rehabilitate frightened children and their distressed families.
Utilise information technology and social media to increase public awareness of what community groups as civil society proponents can do to bring about positive change for children in warfare and beyond.
Promote progressive mass movements and global alliances that create solidarity and collaboration toward a more just and equitable new world order for children, their families and communities.
CO-PEACE identifies potential partner organisations, especially those inspired by grassroots initiative, p, community mobilization eople power, collective movements, and It emphasizes partnerships reliant on women-led organisations. Governments with credible humanitarian records may also be considered as partners, provided they adhere to the CO-PEACE code of ethics emphasising independence, impartiality, compassion and professionalism.
CO-PEACE is currently collaborating with the International Network on Peace Building, an umbrella organisation established 20 years ago. INGO addresses the needs of women and children, the groups worldwide most devastated by conflicts and warfare. Young children are placed at the heart of peace-building initiatives. In regions like Latin America and the Western Balkans as well as countries like Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Palestine, South Africa and Tajikistan, its early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs integrate culture of peace processes. Major advocacy efforts in Palestine, Israel, and Lebanon call on the United Nations and other agencies to address the long-term impact of conflict on children. The Network prioritizes children’s rights, psychosocial development, and the effects of occupation as part of its commitments to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for Quality Education and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
CO-PEACE’s partnerships support fundraising efforts and offers knowledge drawn from years of work in conflict-affected countries. It helps facilitate workshops while mobilising other organisations to collaborate under the Network’s umbrella. To strengthen our efforts and attract like-minded individuals, CO-PEACE integrates emergency preparedness and response training into its core activities. This learning activity aims to equip participants with essential tools and skills to respond effectively in conflict-affected areas. Its efforts will be continuous, regularly updated, and adapted to the diverse needs of learners. To be covered are critical topics such as early childhood care and emergency preparedness, aligning with the CO-PEACE agenda.
The curriculum on emergencies is also tailored to develop specific skills relevant to the communities we serve, ensuring they meet the affected persons’ pressing needs. The effort will focus on identifying suitable training manuals and topics, with particular attention to mental health, community participation, and early childhood care. Success stories from striving communities will also be gathered to assess where CO-PEACE can add value to ongoing initiatives.
The millions of children we served for many years in both peaceful and conflict situations continue to reinforce our advocacies. We share the challenge of ordinary citizens worldwide eager to help define a new and more just world order. We, too, yearn for a more peaceful, equitable and prosperous life for all.
For wealthy citizens dubious about these efforts, seeking additional wealth may be justified, but not at the expense of continued suffering of children and families.
Inspired by the challenge for humanists to contribute to defining a new and more just world order, where all people from every part of the world can benefit and lead more peaceful, equitable, and prosperous lives, we hope that this effort—which is futuristic, child-centred, people-oriented, and non-confrontational—will unite all the forces for good. We believe the overwhelming vision to give all children a happy future will inspire and motivate other people-centered groups to present their progressive visions and goals, creating mutually beneficial situations for all and generating waves of public pressure for positive universal change.
It is time to act!
*********************************************************************************For further information, contact Karthika Pillai, CO-PEACE karthika.msje@gmail.com
Core Support Group of Former UNICEF Staff - Years in UNICEF
David Bassiouni, former Deputy Director Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPs) 26
Core Support Group of Former UNICEF Staff - Years in UNICEF
David Bassiouni, former Deputy Director Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPs) 26
Kul Gautam, former Deputy Executive Director UNICEF 35
Richard Jolly, former Deputy Executive Director 18
Mehr Khan-Williams, former Deputy High Commissioner, OHCHR 31
Baquer Namazi, former UNICEF Representative, Egypt 14
Mary Racelis, former UNICEF Regional Director, Eastern/Southern Africa 13
Rima Salah, former Deputy Executive Director 23
Karin Sham Poo, former Deputy Executive Director
Richard Jolly, former Deputy Executive Director 18
Mehr Khan-Williams, former Deputy High Commissioner, OHCHR 31
Baquer Namazi, former UNICEF Representative, Egypt 14
Mary Racelis, former UNICEF Regional Director, Eastern/Southern Africa 13
Rima Salah, former Deputy Executive Director 23
Karin Sham Poo, former Deputy Executive Director
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