Nonviolence
Nonviolence is the cornerstone in building a culture of peace. The core
values of nonviolence-respect for life, and the pursuit of justice and
dignity for all humanity-reflect key values from the world's main spiritual
traditions. For some people, nonviolence is a set of values that bears
witness to their religious beliefs. These values are shared by many
people who do not identify with any particular religion. They also form
the basis of important international human rights treaties.
Nonviolence is a way of life. It is also a means to make social,
political and economic change. Exploring nonviolence begins with looking
at power. Many people define power as the opportunity to control other
people or resources. In this definition, power is assumed to be based
on violence: to gain more power over people or resources means using
more violence. Nonviolence offers another definition of power. Nonviolence
seeks to empower communities and individuals. It works to help people
find power within themselves, and to share power. This is power inside
and power with people, not power over others.
Nonviolence assumes that power derives from cooperation. All systems
of injustice need people's cooperation to continue. A change in the
power relationship can occur when cooperation is denied or withdrawn.
Examples of this took place throughout the 1980s, 1990s and into
the new millennium in Latin America, the Philippines, Eastern Europe
and most recently the countries of the former USSR. In these cases,
masses of nonviolent and unarmed people toppled governments who used
physical, psychological and economic violence in order to stay in
power.
More concrete examples of spiritually-based nonviolence include the
Christian Plowshares movement. Inspired by the Biblical passage (Micah
4:3), which states "they will hammer their swords into plowshares",
Plowshares activists enter military bases in Europe or the USA and
hammer planes and other military equipment. They use the resulting
court cases against them to educate the public about the suffering
the arms trade creates. In another example, Buddhist monks and nuns
in Cambodia now organize dhammayietras, traditional walks from village
to village in order to explain Buddhist teachings, to spread life-saving
information about HIV/AIDS, land mines, and the need for peace in
order to rebuild the country.
Photos courtesy of WPP archives
Six Principles of Nonviolence
By the King Center, USA
 Principle
1: Nonviolence Is A Way Of Life For Courageous People.
Principle
2: Nonviolence Seeks To Win Friendship And Understanding.
Principle
3: Nonviolence Seeks To defeat Injustice Not People.
Principle
4: Nonviolence Holds That Suffering Can Educate And Transform.
Principle
5: Nonviolence Chooses Love Instead Of Hate.
Principle
6: Nonviolence Believes That The Universe Is On The Side
Of Justice.
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Photos courtesy of WPP archives
Gender
Refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with being
male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls
and boys, as well as the relations between women and those between men.
These attributes, opportunities, and relationships are socially constructed
and are learned through socialization processes.
They are context/ time-specific and changeable. Gender determines what
is expected, allowed and valued in a women or a man in a given context.
In most societies there are differences and inequalities between women
and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access
to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities.
Gender is part of the broader socio-cultural context.
Other important criteria for socio-cultural analysis include class,
race, poverty level, ethnic group, and age.
Definition by OSAGI , United Nation's Office of the
Special Advisor on Gender Issues
Gender Equality
(Equality between Women and Men)
Refers to the equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of
women and men and girls and boys.
Equality does not mean that women and men will become the same but
that women’s and men’s rights, responsibilities and opportunities
will not depend on whether they are born male or female.
Gender equality implies that the interests, needs, and priorities
of both women and men are taken into consideration while recognizing
the diversity of different groups of women and men.
Gender equality is not a women’s issue but should concern and
fully engage men as well as women.
Equality between women and men is seen both as a human rights issue
and as a precondition for, and indicator of, sustainable people-centred
development.
Definition by OSAGI , United Nation's Office of
the Special Advisor on Gender Issues
Masculinity
Gender involves the social construction of masculinities and femininities,
and the power relationship between men and women. In many cultures a
link has been constructed between masculinity, dominance and the use
of force. In such cultures weapons may be seen as a sign of masculinity;
war as a proving ground for masculinity; and sexual violence against
women and girls during armed conflict as an appropriate reward for aggressive
behavior. Such a militarized definition of masculinity must be critically
examined and challenged. A complete understanding of the root cases
of armed conflict, and hence the corresponding attempt to build cultures
of peace, can never be complete without a gender analysis. (Every WPP
activity has a gender focus which explores this analysis.)
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