Vision

Society Where Peace, Tolerance, And Human Dignity Prevail

There are many conditions that must be fulfilled if the dignity of each and every human being is to be established and maintained. A host of economic, social, cultural, and political factors are significant. But peace – in the fullest sense of the word – is a prerequisite, and tolerance, based upon mutual understanding, respect, and forbearance, creates the foundations upon which peace may be built.

Mission

CECORE commits to work with people, especially – but not only – in areas where conflict is present or threatened, to awaken and develop their awareness that peace is within their grasp; to empower them with the knowledge and skills relevant to their situation; and to facilitate conflict resolution, transformation and prevention. This involves training, sensitisation, advocacy, mediation and research . It requires a profound understanding of the causes of conflict; a readiness to listen, learn, and mould approaches that respond to specific circumstances; and the capacity to deliver services that are relevant, timely, and effective.

Values

•  Respect for fundamental human rights, particularly the rights to life, dignity, freedom of expression, and freedom of association

•  Assurance of equal opportunity for all persons irrespective of race, religion, age, or gender

•  Appreciation of differing opinions

•  Professional integrity, transparency and accountability

•  Teamwork and collaboration

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 AU's Peace and Security Department and its various Division

Participation in regional and sub-regional (especially with Regional Economic Commissions) 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 armed groups, 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), Uganda National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), and the Uganda Action Network on Small Arms (UANSA).

Internationally : the African Open Forum, AMARC (Community broadcasters), Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA), and Coexistence Initiative (CI), Network of African Peace-buidlers (NAPS), East African Network on Small Arms (EAANSA) and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA).

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