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Organization: Canadian Department of Peace Initiative  (CDPI), formerly the Working Group for a Federal Department of Peace
The following information may be cited or quoted as long as the source is accurately mentioned and the words are not taken out of context.
Posted: April 23 2010,00:21 If you wrote this report, you will find a button here that you may click
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Postal address of organization/institution

45 Cambridge St., Victoria, BC V8V 4A7

E-mail address of organization/institution

info@departmentofpeace.ca

Website address of organization/institution

www.departmentofpeace.ca

Telephone of organization/institution

1-250-383-5878

PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity

EDUCATION FOR PEACE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RIGHTS
WOMEN'S EQUALITY
DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION
UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY
FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity

INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

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

We are working with over 30 endorsing organizations, most of them national in scope.

ACTIONS: What activities have been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010 report.

Given work done by Cercle de Paix/ Circle of Peace in Quebec, an affiliate of CDPI. both the Parliament of Canada and the Quebec National Assembly have passed motions recognizing the International Day of Peace. Municipal governments in several Canadian cities have also done so.

1. Introduction and first reading of the Department of Peace Bill, C-447, in the  Parliament of Canada, Sept. 2009. ( This is a non-government Bill and is not supported by the party in power.) A total of 23 Members of  Parliament have formally endorsed the Bill.
2. The 38-member New Democratic Party (NDP) caucus supports the formation of a department of peace  along with the National Green Party.  Over 20 members  of the Liberal Party have shown interest in the BIll and their national leader supports a Minister of State for Peacebuilding and Confliuct Prevention. A total of 23 Members of Parliament have formally endorsed  Bill C-447 from the NDP and Liberal parties.
3.  Selected as Chair, Leadership Council, of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace, representing 35 countries
4. Endorsing organizations represent over a million Canadians
5. Created a coast to coast network of chapters now numbering 12 that meets as a national board.
6. Hosted several peace festivals during the international Days of Peace and  Nonviolence and hosted a Women Building Peace event
7. Increased capacity to work with other bodies concerned with development of a culture of peace, e.g. the Civilian Peace Service Canada (CPSC), the Canadian Voice of Women,  Facebook and our newsletter.
8. Significantly increased media coverage, nationally and locally.

PROGRESS: Has your organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of action and in your constituency during the second half of the Decade?

The introduction of the Department of Peace Bill was a major milestone. However, the current government has moved away from UN peacebuilding and peace diplomacy towards hard power and military combat missions. On the other hand, domestic progress has been made in promoting a culture of peace through peace festivals, peace education, restorative justice and othe initiatives.

OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?

Despite the tremendous amount ot work carried out by civil society and the longing for a culture of peace in Canada, there has been a failure at all levels of government to provide human or financial resources towards this end.
Specifically, we have failed to make inroads with the federal government of Canada despite consistent attempts to do so, since our approach is non-partisan.

PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?

Partner with the Peace and Justice Studies Association to carry out  our 2010 AGM and to partner with the PJSA; continue to lobby federal politicians of all parties; meet in South Africa in the Fall of 2011 for the 5th Global Alliance Summit;  continue to expand our festivals of peace  and collaboration with peace educators and women peacebuilders; continue to build our chapter base; create a petition campaign.

GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??

Increase the number of national ministers of peace beyond the 3 countries that have such ministers, Costa Rica, Nepal and the Solomon Islands; continue our work with the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace and our biennial  Summits in different parts of the world to promote such ministries.
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Organization: Canadian Department of Peace Initiative  (CDPI), formerly the Working Group for a Federal Department of Peace

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