PBI accompaniment in relation to the Positive Peace Report and the Global Peace Index
The global network Rotary highlights on its Promoting Peace webpage that, “Rotary has partnered with the Institute for Economics and Peace, an independent think tank and leader in the study of peace and conflict, to help address the root causes of conflict and create conditions that foster peace.”
Rotary adds, “The institute has identified eight factors that lead to Positive Peace: 1) Low levels of corruption; 2) Acceptance of rights of others; 3) Free flow of information; 4) Strong business environment; 5) High levels of human capital; 6) Equitable distribution of resources; 7) Good relations with neighbors; and 8) Well-functioning government.
In the Positive Peace Report 2019 produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Canada ranked 10th with a score of 1.41.
The countries where Peace Brigades International (PBI) accompanies at-risk human rights defenders ranked 67th (Mexico with a score of 3.00), 80th (Colombia, 3.10), 103rd (Honduras, 3.39), 110th (Guatemala, 3.49), and 119th (Kenya, 3.60).
The Institute for Economics and Peace also produces a Global Peace Index.
That report uses 23 indicators to measure a country’s peacefulness score including number of deaths from internal organised conflict; number of refugees and displaced persons as percentage of population; number of internal security officers and police per 100,000 people; and military expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product.
In their Global Peace Index 2019, Canada ranked as the 6th most peaceful country in the world with a score of 1.327.
The countries where PBI accompanies at-risk human rights defenders ranked 114th (Guatemala with a score of 2.264), 119th (Kenya, 2.300), 123rd (Honduras, 2.341), 140th (Mexico, 2.600), and 143rd (Colombia, 2.661).
Rotary has highlighted, “Despite high crime rates in recent years, Mexico’s potential for peace is one of the highest in the world. During the 2019 pilot workshop in Mexico, Rotary and Rotaract members will work with emerging leaders and experts in the country to build regional coalitions that support Positive Peace and Rotary’s efforts for peacebuilding in the country.”
It has also noted, “Signing the Colombian peace agreement put an end to one of the world’s longest armed conflicts and marked the beginning of a process to build lasting and sustainable peace. Through the workshop, Rotary and Rotaract members will help shape this process by leveraging its networks and engaging key stakeholders to identify ways to build Positive Peace at the local level.”
Peace Brigades International is a non-partisan organization that originated in Canada in 1981 in response to calls by Central American human rights organizations to provide non-violent accompaniment to human rights workers.
Through protective accompaniment to organizations and communities, PBI seeks to reduce violence and open up political space for social change.
In this Rotary article about Rotary Club of Lethbridge East member Brandon McNally, it notes, “Brandon worked for Peace Brigades International (PBI) in Kenya as a field officer. PBI provides security mechanisms for human rights defenders at risk. Brandon assisted in providing security assessments, accompaniments, advocacy, as well as recommending and fulfilling non-violent protection measures.”
PBI-Canada is a charitable organization that raises the profile of human rights concerns through speaking tours and a weekly e-newsletter and that seeks out volunteers in Canada to accompany human rights defenders in the field.
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