| The International Fellowship of Reconciliation is composed of branches and groups of the organization, together with affiliates. Branches: An IFOR branch is an organization of people committed to acting on the principles contained in the IFOR statement of purpose and to supporting the work of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, and which has been formally accepted as a branch by the IFOR International Council. The work and purpose of an IFOR branch normally are national or regional, rather than purely local, in scope. Groups: An IFOR Group is a group with which IFOR has developed a working relationship and which may eventually seek branch status. Status as an IFOR Group is decided by either the IFOR International Committee or IFOR Representative Consultative Committee. Affiliates: An IFOR Affiliate is an organization of people who wish to collaborate with IFOR and who find the IFOR statement of purpose and program compatible with their own spirit and program. An IFOR Affiliate will have been formally granted such status by the IFOR Council or IFOR Representative Consultative Committee. Individual members: Exceptionally, individuals
may be granted individual membership of IFOR. Such status is granted
by decision of the IFOR International Committee.
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At the end of 2006, IFOR counted 69 member
organizations in nearly 43 different countries throughout the world.
During 2006, IFOR welcomed 2 new branches, 5 new groups and 5 new affiliates: BranchesBikalpa Gyan Tatha Bikas Kendra (Alternative Learning and Development Centre) in Nepal runs multiple peace/development education programs on various issues, higher education loan program for underprivileged youth, a micro-credit loan program for women, and the Junkiri literacy program. Due the recent popular protests this past spring, the country has finally begun the process of becoming a parliamentary democracy and working hard to build a peaceful society. Stella Tamang, board member of Bikalpa and member of the IFOR International Committee, and Shelley Anderson, WPP Program Officer, will conduct trainings that will build women’s capacity to contribute to the Nepalese peace process. It is absolutely vital to have rural and indigenous women’s voices heard in this newly written constitution. Le Mouvement de la Reconciliation de Peuples in Congo-Brazzaville, is continuing to play an important role in building peace between many of the communities in Congo. Building on their strong commitment to the nonviolent and reconciliation teachings found in the Gospels, the organization focuses on training teachers to teach young people and adults the way to reconcile through active nonviolence. MRP also collaborates with MIR France and with other peace organizations in Congo such as the ACAT, Justice and Peace, and Congolese Alliance for Nonviolence. GroupsIn western Pakistan, the Sustainable Peace and Development Organization (SPADO) works on many different levels. Their four main focus areas include campaign against small arms, landmine advocacy, development and poverty reduction, and peace and security. Their main activities include human rights education program, DO NO HARM Project, nonviolence education mobilization and peace building, School of Democracy, and an HIV/AIDS program. The Sudanese Organization for Nonviolence and Development (SONAD) has had a longstanding and cooperative relationship with FOR Sweden and has continued to build peace in a country ravished by war for over three decades. Their main activities include human rights education program, DO NO HARM Project, nonviolence education mobilization and peace building, School of Democracy, and an HIV/AIDS program. Dauphins Munzihirwa-Kataliko (DMK) is very active in human rights education, peace action initiatives, and development activities in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Benin, a small ecumenical Christian group is active in nonviolence education and training, community development; and unity and democracy promotion. Le Mouvement National de Reconciliation du Benin (MONAR) is continuing on actively recruiting members and hopes to build up a larger and more regional capacity in the country. In Rwanda, Umuryango W’Amahoro/ Famille De Paix conducts nonviolence trainings and also has a library with materials and resources on nonviolence. AffiliatesThe Glencree Centre for Reconciliation is a very active retreat center that has a very eclectic focus. The focus areas are running a church program, a women’s program, an education program, an ex-combatant program, an international program, a business program, the LIVE program, a youth program, and political program. More information can be found on their website. The Peace Union of Finland is also another affiliate that has developed a working relationship with IFOR throughout the past few years. They are continually advocating for peace and are based out of Helsinki. Family Mediation and Conciliation (FAMEC) based in Nairobi, Kenya, focuses on peace and human rights, mediation and conflict transformation counseling, legal empowerment, and researching and documentation. Peace Makers Society works for the “empowerment of local communities with a target on youth, women, and disadvantaged groups through capacity building training programs and community development programs” (organization summary). Most of their work is being conducted in the Northern region of Cameroon. The Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, an international spiritually-based nonviolence network, is very active in with 1,200 individual members in over 30 countries, as well as a sister organization, the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, in the USA.
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To read the
2006 IFOR Annual Report with activity reports from other IFOR BGAs, 