- Peaceworker
A peaceworker is an individual or member of an organization that undertakes to resolve violent conflict, prevent the rise of new violent conflicts, and rebuild societies damaged by war.
The term peaceworker is usually reserved for civilian, unarmed members of
non-governmental organizations . Peacework is also carried out by many armed organizations such as theUN , but armed personnel are seldom called peaceworkers.Peacework
Peaceworker duties include the following:
* Bringing conflicting parties together, opening channels of communication and helping to broker a ceasefire or peace agreement
* Monitoring voting booths, providing technical expertise and other forms of support in order to help ensure a free and fair electioneering environment
* Providing protective accompaniment of people at risk, monitoring borders and other actions for stabilizing preserve ceasefire agreements and preserving human life
* Reintegrating ex-combatants into society
* Promoting a respect for human rights within the local and national legal system, strengthening local institutions and civil society organizations that defend human rightsPeaceworker Training
Peaceworker training and guidance is provided by organizations such as
Peaceworkers UK . University-providedPeace and conflict studies courses also provide valuable and relevant knowledge. As peace work can utilize a very wide variety of skills, it allows those with established, unrelated careers to take up peace work without having to abandon what they have already learned.See also
*
Peacebuilding
*Peacekeeping
*Peacemaking
*Human rights
*Peace activist
*Peacetraining Peaceworker organizations
Any organization dedicated to human rights, humanitarian aid and conflict management could be said to employ peace workers. The following is just a small sample of the dozens of organizations worldwide that provide these services.
*Nonviolent Peaceforce
*Peaceworkers UK
*Peace Brigades International External links
* [http://www.peaceworkers.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181&Itemid=191 Peaceworkers UK website: About peaceworkers]
* [http://www.peacework.org/aboutpeacework.html peaceworkers.org: About Peacework]
* [http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/peace/ University of Bradford: Department of Peace Studies]
* [http://www.peacetraining.org/ The ARCA Project] : A European peaceworker training network
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