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CAMPAIGNS
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What is reflected in all of PPMs concerns is the fact that we strive for perpetual ‘positive’ peace and not just the ending of violence. In this sense our campaigns aim at the creation of what we perceive to be more mature societies built on humanism and social justice. Within this quest we address individuals, talk to groups, lobby governments and global actors which then results in a broad scope of activities ranging from training to publications. |
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Conflict Resolution can be described as the process or attempt of resolving dispute or conflict in a way as to create a win-win situation for all actors involved. By listening and providing opportunities for dialogue to feuding parties, the practitioner adequately addresses the interests of all that are involved. PPM implements a unique capacity building technique in conflict resolution, which is designed to train individuals not only on conflict resolution, tolerance, negotiation and mediation skills, but also to provide them with the resources and skills in order to subsequently transfer their knowledge and share these acquired capacities with others. Today, PPM has one of the greatest conflict resolution training capacities in the Arab World. In the past, PPM has delivered conflict resolution training to thousands of people in Cyprus, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, Algeria and Lebanon. The trainings started right after the Civil War in Lebanon in the Shouf region to reconcile conflicts among Druze and Christians. PPM has come a long way since then and currently conflict resolution trainings are being given in Palestinian camps and universities. Most recently PPM has developed techniques to train in conflict resolution through the use of the arts, particularly music and theater techniques. PPM is the coordinating secretariat for the Arab Partnership for Prevention of Armed Conflict (APPAC). |
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Arms Control is an umbrella term describing all action aiming at the limitation of the development, stockpiling, proliferation and usage of weapons. PPM sees arms control as a major aspect of peacebuilding, as it is a reduction in the means and, thus, likeability to fight wars. PPM lobbies for international trade regulations, national laws for possession, use and misuse and raises awareness about the dangers of traditional use of firearms during celebrations. PPM also situates responsibility for arms control, not just with governments and international bodies, but with the very people of the country. PPM is in the steering committee of the MENA Action Network on Small Arms (MENAANSA). PPM has supported the organization of conferences on arms control in Yemen, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. PPMs President Fadi Abi Allam is today one of the major experts on arms control in the region and has addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations twice in concern of the issue as a representative of the MENA region and has also twice addressed the Leagues Council in a plea for greater rules and regulations. PPM has further co-published “Public Perceptions of Small Arms and Light Weapons and Community Security in the Middle East”, a preliminary research paper for the Arab Region. |
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The Optional Protocol to the Prevention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict lead to a definition of child soldiers as children under the age of 18 who directly or indirectly participate in a military or political armed conflict. These include children recruited to the country's armed forces or to non-governmental military organizations, even if the country in question is in a state of peace. The diverse and often violent experiences of armed conflict have profound physical, psychological and social effects on child development and well-being. Although the issue receives much attention in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and South-East Asia, the Arab region has mostly been neglected. PPM is the regional representative for the International Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and has waged the first major awareness raising campaign on the issue in the Arab region. This Action supported the ratification process and implementation of the Optional Protocol. PPM produced a legal study that spelled out obligations arising from the ratification of the Optional Protocol. PPM produced a documentary about the state of Child Soldiers in Lebanon and trained educators from schools and NGOs in order to subsequently educate children. This resulted in an outreach to over 9.000 youth in Lebanon. PPM also produced the first training guide for how to teach and train on the subject of child soldiers. This manual is currently being translated into English. PPM is currently in the planning phases of a follow-up project that would increase both scope and outreach. |
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Democracy and Development as far as PPM is concerned means far more than electoral process and economic growth. We perceive both as the pillars of any productive cooperation between human beings, whether on the company, family or society level and both are pre-requisites for and building blocks of peaceful societies. We believe that accepting differences and even building on them allows individuals to contribute towards their desired society in the best possible way. The majority of our projects have participative component, and no matter what training we deliver, we do so in order to empower individuals to take active part in their community. As part of a major community dialogue project in the Shouf mountain region in Lebanon, PPM has facilitated access to micro credit schemes to local businesses. Currently PPM is implementing a local citizen project, together with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) |
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Restorative Justice is a broad term which encompasses a growing social movement to institutionalize more humanitarian, peaceful approaches to harm, problem-solving and violations of legal and human rights. As a theory it emphasizes restoration after harm was caused by criminal activity, involving all stakeholders. For example restitution or community services are ways in which this theory is already applied. Most current justice systems are retributive and emphasize revenge. Here the state, taking the position of a victim, punishes the offender for his crime. PPM has delivered broad training courses about restorative justice within Lebanon and has been lobbying the government continually to raise the age of criminal responsibility from seven to twelve years. Also PPM published one of the first training manuals in the Arab World on the topic. In the future we will penetrate even deeper into the campaigning sphere and raise broader awareness about the issue. |
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Nonviolence is both a moral philosophy and a set of strategic actions that reject the use of physical violence, or thereof threat, in strive to achieve social, political or economic change. It is a real alternative to both passive acceptance of oppression and armed struggle. Nonviolent tactics are active and range from education, civil disobedience and persuasion to direct nonviolent action such as non-cooperation with authorities. Nonviolence is, thus, not, as frequently conceived, a synonym for pacifism. PPM is the secretariat for the Nonviolence Network in the Arab Countries (NNAC), and is currently in the planning phases of one of the most comprehensive nonviolence capacity building campaigns in the region. We believe that giving people a tool to both liberate themselves and resist oppression is a basic humanitarian issue. |
