Culture of Peace

The Great Lakes Region of Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has been beset by massive violations of human rights during the last decades. The 1996 civil war in the DRC has been considered the longest one in the country. Right now, violations of human rights continue in the eastern part of the country, where people are being killed, and a high number of women are being raped. This situation demonstrates how a Culture of Peace is not a reality in the DRC. In 1997, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year 2000 as the "International Year for the Culture of Peace", and in 1998, the same Assembly declared the period 2001-2010 the "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World." Nonviolent Action is the best way to face violations of human rights, and should be used as a strategy to restore democracy in different countries, especially the DRC. In this curriculum, the Author demonstrates how violent actions are not a solution to the misery of populations.Nonviolent methods are very important to bring a positive peace and democracy to our communities and countries.