"Making Peace the News" - GPPAC Pacific and UNSCR1325

(21 September):

"Making Peace the News" is the theme adopted by members of the GPPAC Pacific and UNSCR1325 media and policy network for the 2011 International Day of Peace

"As a network promoting Peacebuilding in particular through the use of media, including community radio, the theme we have adopted is to highlight that too often "conflict" makes the news rather than the small peace initiatives such as vigils, dialogue and trust building" says FemLINKPacific Executive Director, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls: "The GPPAC Pacific network is committed to the promotion of a free media and one which also ensures the safety and protection of journalists especially at times of conflict and violence; the media is a key platform of bringing together peacebuilders, politicians and other stakeholders through news items, radio and TV programmes as well as providing critical analysis of human security issues as linkages with conflict prevention strategies"

Here's what is happening through the GPPAC Pacific network:

FemLINKPacific's correspondent at Leitana Nehan Women's Development Agency in Buka, Bougainville, Louise Anne Laris reports:

"Bougainville civil society groups in collaboration with the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict Pacific network in Bougainville will come together in a peace dialogue to look at the challenges and achievements confronting the peace agreement for Bougainville."

The dialogue is being assisted by the UNDP.

In the Solomon Islands the focal point for GPPAC Pacific "Winds of Change" has launched its Heart of Transformation media campaign on the national broadcaster (SIBC) covering topics on:
-Peace Building
-Conflict prevention
-Conflict transformation
-Reconciliation & Healing

And according to Stanley Holmes Vutiande a community peace dialogue has also been organised together with a women's peace gathering in collaboration with the "1325" network convenors, Vois Blong Mere Solomons.

He also reports that the Solomon Islands national level program for this years event is the "Peace Stakeholders Consultation Dialogue" from September 20 to 22 at the Commonwealth Youth Program Centre in Honiara:

"The three day program is organized by the Solomon Islands government, Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, and it aims to provide an opportunity, for stakeholders,involved in the post conflict peace building, to share common and unique experiences and challenges in the Solomon Islands peace process. The consultation brings together peace practitioners, to collaborate in consultation,
towards formulation of a partnership framework for cooperation and coordination in peace building, that will inform a national peace building policy framework for Solomon Islands."

In Tonga a special broadcast on the recently installed "suitcase" community radio station with the new Generation Next volunteers and in collaboration with the Talitha Project will be hosted at the Ma'afafine moe Famili office

In Fiji, FemLINKPacific as the GPPAC Pacific Secretariat and the convenor of the "Regional 1325 network" is inviting the public to join us for a series of activities - viewing documentaries, youth dialogue and creative expression as well as the lunchtime "Blue Ribbon" Peace Vigil at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral from 10am.

www.femlinkpacific.org.fj

ENDS

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