PURPOSE/AIM

To empower individuals, organisations, institutions and the community to transform conflict by applying alternative and creative means in order to promote a culture of active, tolerance and peace

OBJECTIVES

•  To research and develop the theory and to implement the practice of Conflict Resolution applying alternative and creative means

•  To research, document and disseminate information on African traditional methods of conflict resolution.

•  To share knowledge and experience through networking

•  To design and share information on early-warning and preventive mechanisms on conflicts

PROGRAMMES

•  Education and Training in Peace Education and Conflict Prevention and Resolution Skills

•  We train various sectors of society to increase their awareness and understanding of sources and types of conflicts and how to actively transform them

•  Our pool of trainers serve as an entry-point for us to work with their particular community (women, youth, police, media, religious, local community etc.)

•  Lobby decision-makers to introduce peace education in the school curriculum

•  Promote conflict prevention and resolution education in non-formal sectors of society

•  Offer training in other life skills as a holistic approach to conflict prevention, management and resolution

II. Media and Peace-building

•  CECORE recognises the crucial role the media plays, but very often the media is used to fuel conflict and misunderstanding. We therefore work with and through the media to promote peace-building and development

•  Project 'Building Bridges' - Conflict Resolution in practice

•  Linking parties in conflict for dialogue with assistance from experienced mediators for healing and reconciliation

•  Designing other programmes to help in peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction

Networking and Advocancy

•  Organise seminars, workshops, conferences, discussions, film shows, exhibitions, drama etc. in connection with or related to the implementation of the main aim

•  Collaborating with the OAU's Department of Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution

  Participation in regional and sub-regional initiatives for peace

•  Lobbying policy and decision-makers to contribute to the culture of peace.

•  Influencing Ministries in charge of education to introduce peace education in the curriculum.

•  Making links and collaborating with similar centers on the continent and internationally.

•  Seeking active collaboration with actors in non-violence, human rights, good governance and democracy.

•  Research Documentation and information dissemination

•  Gather information on sources and types of conflicts.

•  Research the various methods of resolving conflicts, including African traditional methods

•  Research reconciliation efforts between the Uganda government and dissidents in the north and north-east where agreements have been made and opponents returned from exile. This could serve as an example of post conflict reconciliation for the rest of Africa.

•  Act as a documentation center where research results, published and unpublished works and

audio-visual aides are easily accessed.

Focus: Local communities, women, children/

youth, media, educationists, peace, community leaders, parliamentarians, government departments, former and current dissidents, international agencies, mediators and policy-makers, among others.

Membership: Uganda: The Human Rights Network (HURINET), DENIVA, the NGO Forum, the Uganda Debt Network (UDN), Uganda Media Women Association (UMWA).

Internationally : the African Open Forum, AMARC (Community broadcasters), Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA), and the State of the World Forum's Coexistence and Community -building Initiative.

Management : CECORE is governed by a Board of Directors assisted by technical sub-committees of professional researchers, trainers and people conversant with the law

Funding sources : Local support and international grants