Conflict Accompaniment

Causes and backgrounds of international and domestic conflicts are very complex and divers. But in general one can say that the bereaved of the so called new conflicts is the civil society whose rights are in constant danger and who suffer varies abuses. The international agreements such as the human right declaration, UN- conventions or the international humanitarian law give little protection to the affected people. Disregarded by the international community the conflicts threaten the lives of millions of individuals and collectives in different regions of the world.

In this workshop we would like to present you to one possibility on how to intervene in an existing conflict and on how to support the local population. To see and to be seen is the motto of our international human right observing programs in Chiapas, Guatemala, Colombia and Palestine/Israel. In our workshop you will be given a lively presentation with pictures, films and inputs from former observers about the situation of the people who have to life under precarious conditions in the four regions.

This workshops aims at:

• Sharing thoughts about the chances and limits of accompaniment
• Visualizing different possibilities on how to support the locals in their home countries but also on how to do advocate work within our own societies

Accompaniment is not only done in so called conflict areas. It means as well to inform people back home and to change our perceptions towards a conflict.

Peace Watch Switzerland

Peace Watch Switzerland (PWS) sends observers to conflict areas as an accompaniment of communities. The goal is to contribute your part to the prevention of violent assaults of the civil population, through our international presence. Peace Watch Switzerland looks for volunteers in Switzerland. The volunteers get an intensive training before they are sent for two or three months to one of the project areas. Our workshop wants to give you an overview of their work and what you have to expect if you want to get involved with their program.

For more information, please visit www.peacewatch.ch