Remarks by FPCD Executive Director at the United Nations
The Foundation for Post Conflict Development was invited to speak at the United Nations by the Department of Public Information/ NGO Section, on a Panel entitled "Sustainable Peace through Reconciliation" in honour of the UN 2009 International Year of Reconciliation.
From left to right, participants included, Judge Felicitas Hoffman, Judge at the District Court of Duesseldorf, Germany, and NGO Representative of the S.E.R Foundation to the UN, Her Excellecy, María Roubales de Chamorro, Ambassador of Nicaragua to the United Nations, Moderator Mrs. Maria Luisa Chavez, Chief of NGO Relations, Ms. Jacqueline Murekatete, Rwandan human rights activist and survivor of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and FPCD Executive Director Ms.Claudia Abate.
Remarks by Ms. Claudia Abate, Founder and Executive Director
Panel Discussion on “Sustainable Peace through Reconciliation”
on the Occasion of the United Nations designated 2009 International Year of Reconciliation
Thursday, 5 February 2009, United Nations Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour for me to join this distinguished panel to discuss how the Foundation for Post Conflict Development (FPCD) has contributed to sustainable peace through reconciliation in Timor-Leste. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the United Nations Department of Public Information NGO Section for organizing this Panel Discussion and extending this invitation to me and I wish to thank Ms. Monica Willard of the United Religions Initiative for facilitating this process.
Allow me this opportunity to extend warm greetings to each distinguished guest gathered here today from Timor-Leste’s President and Prime Minister: H.E. Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta and H.E. Mr. Xanana Gusmão, both members of the FPCD International Advisory Board.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to begin, at the beginning, and commend the Government of Nicaragua for leading the process that created the resolution establishing 2009 as the International Year of Reconciliation. Nicaragua’s efforts, together with the Governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras brought a unique and visionary resolution to the forefront of the General Assembly.
There are many examples of reconciliation around the world, especially in post conflict countries. The Foundation for Post Conflict Development makes no judgment on conflict or the manner in which a conflict is resolved. The FPCD remains neutral in order to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals in concrete ways.
Since the restoration of their independence on May 20, 2002 Timor-Leste’s reconciliation process has occurred at many levels, with many actors and in many ways; between countries, communities, individuals, internally displaced persons, youth gangs, veterans, political parties, military and police etc.
There are two well known reports that address this issue from the Commission on Truth and Friendship and the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation – widely available for anyone interested.
However, I am honoured to talk about some of the practical ways in which the Foundation for Post Conflict Development has contributed to sustainable peace through reconciliation focusing on two provocative themes: 1. No Experience Necessary and 2. Spontaneous Reconciliation.
Reconciliation: No Experience Necessary
When the Foundation for Post Conflict Development was entrusted by the Monaco Red Cross to create what would become the first Maternity Clinic in Timor-Leste, none of the parties involved had ever built one. The common thread was that we were committed to creating sustainable peace by addressing some of the root causes of poverty – improving access to health care facilities and reducing infant and maternal mortality. And we have done just that, however the bonus was that together we instilled confidence in the community and contributed to reconciliation in a way that reverberates throughout the country.
If people are given a fresh and healthy start to life, they are less inclined to want to look backwards and hold ill feelings toward one another because they are planning for the future. The Maternity Clinic was created over the span of 3 governments and sustained multiple crisis situations. Jobs were created for the local community who then became fully invested in the success of the clinic and therefore became united.
The landmark project has changed the birthing culture of the nation and is now the model to be applied to all 64 local health centers throughout the country. That’s 64 opportunities to save lives and unite communities.
It is with supreme thanks the Principality of Monaco and His Serene Highness Prince Albert II that the FPCD was able to contribute in such a monumental way and it is precisely these types of community based projects that are needed in order to achieve reconciliation, “no experience necessary.”
Spontaneous Reconciliation
Peace through reconciliation can occur spontaneously. And that is through community based programmes that provide alternatives to gang violence such as through youth centers. Thanks to the UN Staff 1% for Development Fund, we have completed one youth center and will soon create our second. We have seen tolerance and reconciliation occur through the self- organization of sports and simply having a place to convene meetings.
Another example of spontaneous reconciliation is through a project called the Reforestation and Family Income Project. We are planting trees and creating kitchen gardens to diversify the food crops available for families to eat and to sell so that they increase their nutritional intake on one and hand and earn a living on the other.
When people are occupied with meaningful jobs, when their stomachs are full and families healthy and nourished they are less inclined to look to the woes of the past. We recognize that spontaneous reconciliation will certainly not be applicable everywhere. However, engaging, empowering and leaving communities to decide what is best for them in order to lift them out of poverty can yield powerful and spontaneous results (More info about all of these initiatives can be found in the materials provided).
The International Year of Reconciliation 2009 and Beyond
The designation of 2009 as the International Year of Reconciliation coincides with an important year for Timor-Leste: February 11 marks the one year anniversary of the assassination attempts against President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Gusmão. August 30 marks the 10 year anniversary of the UN led referendum that allowed Timor-Leste to choose its independence. In recent months a new period of peace has emerged and I have never been more confident in the future of Timor-Leste. FPCD will be at her side contributing to reconciliation through sustainable peace and development projects well beyond 2009.
All United Nations stakeholders have a role to play in the promotion of the International Year of Reconciliation. The FPCD is ready to do its part and hopes that Member States follow the example of the UN Department of Public Information /NGO section and decide to host conferences and seminars surrounding this important theme so that post 2009 the dialogue on this subject continues.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your attention.
.....
From left to right, participants included, Judge Felicitas Hoffman, Judge at the District Court of Duesseldorf, Germany, and NGO Representative of the S.E.R Foundation to the UN, Her Excellecy, María Roubales de Chamorro, Ambassador of Nicaragua to the United Nations, Moderator Mrs. Maria Luisa Chavez, Chief of NGO Relations, Ms. Jacqueline Murekatete, Rwandan human rights activist and survivor of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and FPCD Executive Director Ms.Claudia Abate.
Remarks by Ms. Claudia Abate, Founder and Executive Director
Panel Discussion on “Sustainable Peace through Reconciliation”
on the Occasion of the United Nations designated 2009 International Year of Reconciliation
Thursday, 5 February 2009, United Nations Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour for me to join this distinguished panel to discuss how the Foundation for Post Conflict Development (FPCD) has contributed to sustainable peace through reconciliation in Timor-Leste. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the United Nations Department of Public Information NGO Section for organizing this Panel Discussion and extending this invitation to me and I wish to thank Ms. Monica Willard of the United Religions Initiative for facilitating this process.
Allow me this opportunity to extend warm greetings to each distinguished guest gathered here today from Timor-Leste’s President and Prime Minister: H.E. Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta and H.E. Mr. Xanana Gusmão, both members of the FPCD International Advisory Board.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to begin, at the beginning, and commend the Government of Nicaragua for leading the process that created the resolution establishing 2009 as the International Year of Reconciliation. Nicaragua’s efforts, together with the Governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras brought a unique and visionary resolution to the forefront of the General Assembly.
There are many examples of reconciliation around the world, especially in post conflict countries. The Foundation for Post Conflict Development makes no judgment on conflict or the manner in which a conflict is resolved. The FPCD remains neutral in order to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals in concrete ways.
Since the restoration of their independence on May 20, 2002 Timor-Leste’s reconciliation process has occurred at many levels, with many actors and in many ways; between countries, communities, individuals, internally displaced persons, youth gangs, veterans, political parties, military and police etc.
There are two well known reports that address this issue from the Commission on Truth and Friendship and the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation – widely available for anyone interested.
However, I am honoured to talk about some of the practical ways in which the Foundation for Post Conflict Development has contributed to sustainable peace through reconciliation focusing on two provocative themes: 1. No Experience Necessary and 2. Spontaneous Reconciliation.
Reconciliation: No Experience Necessary
When the Foundation for Post Conflict Development was entrusted by the Monaco Red Cross to create what would become the first Maternity Clinic in Timor-Leste, none of the parties involved had ever built one. The common thread was that we were committed to creating sustainable peace by addressing some of the root causes of poverty – improving access to health care facilities and reducing infant and maternal mortality. And we have done just that, however the bonus was that together we instilled confidence in the community and contributed to reconciliation in a way that reverberates throughout the country.
If people are given a fresh and healthy start to life, they are less inclined to want to look backwards and hold ill feelings toward one another because they are planning for the future. The Maternity Clinic was created over the span of 3 governments and sustained multiple crisis situations. Jobs were created for the local community who then became fully invested in the success of the clinic and therefore became united.
The landmark project has changed the birthing culture of the nation and is now the model to be applied to all 64 local health centers throughout the country. That’s 64 opportunities to save lives and unite communities.
It is with supreme thanks the Principality of Monaco and His Serene Highness Prince Albert II that the FPCD was able to contribute in such a monumental way and it is precisely these types of community based projects that are needed in order to achieve reconciliation, “no experience necessary.”
Spontaneous Reconciliation
Peace through reconciliation can occur spontaneously. And that is through community based programmes that provide alternatives to gang violence such as through youth centers. Thanks to the UN Staff 1% for Development Fund, we have completed one youth center and will soon create our second. We have seen tolerance and reconciliation occur through the self- organization of sports and simply having a place to convene meetings.
Another example of spontaneous reconciliation is through a project called the Reforestation and Family Income Project. We are planting trees and creating kitchen gardens to diversify the food crops available for families to eat and to sell so that they increase their nutritional intake on one and hand and earn a living on the other.
When people are occupied with meaningful jobs, when their stomachs are full and families healthy and nourished they are less inclined to look to the woes of the past. We recognize that spontaneous reconciliation will certainly not be applicable everywhere. However, engaging, empowering and leaving communities to decide what is best for them in order to lift them out of poverty can yield powerful and spontaneous results (More info about all of these initiatives can be found in the materials provided).
The International Year of Reconciliation 2009 and Beyond
The designation of 2009 as the International Year of Reconciliation coincides with an important year for Timor-Leste: February 11 marks the one year anniversary of the assassination attempts against President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Gusmão. August 30 marks the 10 year anniversary of the UN led referendum that allowed Timor-Leste to choose its independence. In recent months a new period of peace has emerged and I have never been more confident in the future of Timor-Leste. FPCD will be at her side contributing to reconciliation through sustainable peace and development projects well beyond 2009.
All United Nations stakeholders have a role to play in the promotion of the International Year of Reconciliation. The FPCD is ready to do its part and hopes that Member States follow the example of the UN Department of Public Information /NGO section and decide to host conferences and seminars surrounding this important theme so that post 2009 the dialogue on this subject continues.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your attention.
.....
posted by Claudia Abate at 7:50 PM
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