 |
|
|
The Local Zone of Peace |
||
| In 1998, the Coordinadora's constituent communities committed themselves to ending the violence that has been endemic to the region since the end of El Salvador's civil war (1980-1992). They declared their communities a Local Zone of Peace and resolved to change the region's culture of violence to one of reconciliation, collaborative problem solving and non-violent conflict resolution. |
 The shaded southern area represents the Local Zone of Peace in El Salvador; the Coordinadora's 86 communities are located in the green area. |
||
|
The modern concept of peace zones dates back to 1971 when the United Nations began declaring the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and other regions zones of peace. These efforts generally fell victim to the politics of the Cold War. In 1987, as civil wars in several Central American countries were winding down, the Presidents of Central America declared the region a Zone of Peace, Freedom, Democracy, and Development. In 1994 the United Nations Education, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) instituted a Culture of Peace Program and launched a pilot National Culture of Peace program in El Salvador. Organized through the government, the project has had relatively little visible impact and has been criticized for the way it selected NGO participants and the limits set to their input. Ramón López-Reyes, Director of the International Center for the Study and Promotion of Zones of Peace in the World, in Hawaii, has questioned whether a zone of peace can function effectively if it is organized from the top down. |
|||
|
López-Reyes came to southern Usulután, El Salvador, in 1996 at the invitation of José "Chencho" Alas, whom he had met at a conference in Ireland. They discussed the concept of a grassroots Local Zone of Peace with community leaders. Also participating was Dr. Fabio Castillo, a prominent peace advocate who was President of the University of El Salvador and soon would be appointed head of El Salvador's Human Rights Commission. Community leaders, concerned with the continuing violence in southern Usulután, found the concept attractive. During the next two and one-half years Chencho conducted 25 two-day Culture of Peace workshops in the region to heighten awareness of issues of peace, human rights, and non-violent conflict management. |
|||
Declaring the Local Zone of Peace On August 14, 1998, representatives of the Coordinadora's constituent communities gathered in Ciudad Romero in southern Usulután. More than 2,000 Salvadoran campesinos and observers from Europe and the United States witnessed their declaration of the Local Zone of Peace. |
 The Declaration of the Local Zone of Peace. August 14, 1998 |
||
The Coordinadora, which coordinates and directs the Local Zone of Peace effort, has identified five integral work areas that are crucial to achieving sustainable peace. These areas are: Production and Environment, Culture of Peace, Organization, Disaster Prevention, and Local Participation. The Coordinadora has focused its work on these areas so that the peace that their efforts generate is meaningful and sustainable. |
 The March for Peace, from San Marcos Lempa to Ciudad Romero. |
||
The Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America and other international NGOs are working with the Coordinadora to help make their goal a reality. |
|||