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Organization: House of Erasmus of Rotterdam, Center for Humanism, Safety and Nonviolence
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade?

In 2000 the Humanist Peace Council has taken the initiative to launch a project to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence. Together with the the Dutch peace organization Pais we organized in 2001 in Rotterdam a series of debates and projects with children with the device 'Round about Erasmus'. At the end of this we presented a Peace Manifesto to the municipality of Rotterdam. In this manifesto we proposed the foundation of a peace center in order to promote a 'Culture of Peace and Nonviolence'. Since 2001 we have achieved that the scope of the culture of peace and nonviolence has been broadened throughout Dutch society by executing several projects and programs around this theme.
Following several discussions and consultations with the local authorities of the town of Rotterdam we have recently been invited to participate in a municipal committee. This committee has the assignment to establish a public Center dedicated to the remembrance of the great Dutch humanist philosopher Erasmus.
We have made proposals to organize in this center a program in which the Culture of Peace is the keynote. The program is strongly related to the thoughts of Erasmus and concentrates on organizing debates, conferences, training courses and classes in order to promote the vision and skills of nonviolent handling of conflicts. Also the establishment of a Peace Museum is proposed.
While developing our plans and strategies we have also built up a network of contacts with other peace centers in Europe and with other organizations and institutions not directly linked to the peace movement.

OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?

· The poor example to handle conflicts in a nonviolent way given by most political leaders.
· A poor understanding of the real meaning of prevention in case of conflicts, ignoring the root causes of arising conflicts.
· The national and international political climate.
· Difficulties to obtain sufficient financial support for our plans.

ACTIONS: What actions have been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?

Throughout the year 2001 we have organized and executed a large culture-of-peace project, called 'Around Erasmus': consisting of two conferences, i.e. 'The Reconnaissance' and 'The Pleas', combined with projects in which artists and schools with their pupils played a central role.
At the end of the project the 'Rotterdam Peace Manifesto' was handed over to an alderman of the municipality of Rotterdam. In this manifesto the establishment of a permanent Peace Center was proposed.
The following year 2002 we organized, together with the theater group 'Formaat', an interactive theater project with a couple of primary schools. This resulted in a theater play 'The image of nonviolence', performed by the pupils in a local theater hall.
From 2001 onwards we had regular discussions and deliberations with the local authorities in order to get the proposed Peace Center realized. In the meantime our project group developed a policy plan. This resulted in the official foundation of the 'House of Erasmus' in March of this year (2005) together with the launch of an internationally oriented website (www.huisvanerasmus.nl).
On 18 June 2005, on the occasion of 'World Humanist Day', a public presentation of our plans and policy will be held.

ADVICE: What advice would you like to give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade?

We like to advise the Secretary-General and the General Assembly that they will give wide public support to all the initiatives taking place all over the world. And that they call on the governments and authorities in all nations to substantially support all these volunteers who devote themselves to promote a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence in order to give hope and perspective especially to the children of this world.

PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?

We are continuously building networks with potential partners, like
· Groups and organizations of citizens;
· NGOs that have expertise and that have the disposal of training facilities, etc.;
· Political parties and public authorities;
· The national Platform Peace Culture (about 18 organizations);
· The Humanist Alliance (about 45 organizations).

PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)?

We present ourselves with the device 'Peace in the World, Safety in the City'.
After a public presentation on 18 June our foundation will start to carry out its plan of action this autumn. We need to start a fundraising campaign. Dependent on its result we can start executing (part of) our program of planned activities.
Along with debates we hope to organize this year a so-called 'City Conference'.
For 2006 we have also planned a first set of training courses.
In the meantime we will continue to deliver our ideas and proposals into the municipal committee and the local authorities.

Postal address of organization

Bergweg 279-B
3037 EM  Rotterdam
The Netherlands

E-mail address of organization

info@protipico.nl

Website address of organization

www.huisvanerasmus.nl

Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace

We present ourselves with the device 'Peace in the World, Safety in the City'.
After a public presentation this June our foundation will start to carry out its plan of action this autumn. We need to start a fundraising campaign. Dependent on its result we can start executing (part of) our program of planned activities.
Along with debates we hope to organize this year a so-called 'City Conference'.
For 2006 we have also planned a first set of training courses.
In the meantime we will continue to deliver our ideas and proposals into the municipal committee and the local authorities.

Second priority action domain of a culture of peace

Understanding, tolerance, solidarity
International peace and security

Highest priority country of action (or international)

Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Second priority country of action (or international)

National and international
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Organization: House of Erasmus of Rotterdam, Center for Humanism, Safety and Nonviolence

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