The Ibero-American Commission on Human Rights for the Development of the Americas (CIDHPDA) celebrated the incorporation of the “First Cohort of Peacebuilders for the Development of the Americas”, in an emotional event held at 15:00 hrs in the Auditorium Hall of the Honorable Academy of History of Ecuador. The ceremony was attended by the President Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, Dr. Víctor Hugo Gutiérrez Yáñez, who highlighted the importance of peace building in the region as a tool for positive transformation that contributes to making humanity and the country a more peaceful society, without forgetting that this is a job for everyone.
“Peacebuilding is a long-term process that involves encouraging people to speak out, repairing relationships and reforming institutions. For positive change to last, all those affected by the destructive conflict need to be involved in the peace-building process,” said Dr. Gutiérrez Yáñez.
Also in attendance were Dr. Franklin Barriga López, Honorary Director of the Honorable Academy of History of Ecuador, and Dr. Lesly Salas, Commissioner President of the CIDHPDA-Ecuador Chapter. The grand program brought together intellectuals, civil society organizations, academics and community leaders.
The Commissioner President of the CIDHPDA emphasized that “peace is made by society and all the people who inhabit it, and there is no manual to follow to build it. However, there are a series of attitudes and actions that we citizens can implement on a daily basis in order to improve peace.
To this end, he urged the current generation of student peacebuilders to carry out some practices that can contribute from their professional field and generate the transformations that humanity and the country of Ecuador need to be a more peaceful society, among them: respecting their lives and the lives of all; transforming their thoughts and always keeping in mind a positive perception; transforming language to eliminate hate speech; establishing clear, free, voluntary and sincere agreements with family, classmates, workmates and friends, which will allow them to strengthen their ties and avoid possible conflicts; practicing empathy; recognizing and respecting diversity in all its dimensions.
The incorporation of this first cohort is a manifestation of the Ibero-American Commission's commitment to promote spaces for dialogue and cooperation between different sectors, incorporating emerging leaders who will work in the promotion of human rights and the integral development of the region.