Round Tables of Reconciliation:
An Initiative for Nonviolent Conflict Resolution and Global Peace Education
presented at the
UNESCO Seminar on the Contributions of Religions to a Culture of Peace
Barcelona, Spain, April 13 - 18, 1993
presented by Ivanka Vana Jakic, Founder-President, Zones of Peace International Foundation
Overview
International secular powers have been unable to create a global peace. The world's citizens cry out for an end to violence and aggression, and therefore turn to our greatest spiritual teachers - the leaders of humankind's diverse religions - to exemplify peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue.
Specifically, we propose a three-part initiative to:
- Create Round Tables of Reconciliation made up of religious leaders on the local, national and international levels. These would be temporary and/or permanent bodies working in tandem with secular authorities to solve conflicts. They could also be convened as ad hoc groups when necessary to resolve specific issues.
- Implement workable round tables, and to ensure that leaders' agreements can be put into action, we propose global education efforts in the skills of nonviolent conflict resolution, with the same effort and commitment given to teaching peace that we currently give to teaching war.
- Establish national and international Zones of Peace, located at holy sites and places of cultural, historic or environmental importance throughout the world.