September 10, Day 2 at DPI/NGO Conference

Mexico City- " We need to profoundly and fundamentally redefine the issue of security from a definition of national security to a definition of Human Security."- Jacqueline Cabasso- Legal Foundation

Today- I started out remembering two other stories that I didn't share from yesterday- stories that hit me as soon as I woke.

- one- the selection of Mexico City as the site of this conference was very strategic and symbolic because it was the site of a very important treaty to keep the region free of nuclear weapons which was drafted and ultimately signed by 33 countries in 1967 in the Latin American region- the Treaty of Tiatelolco.

The other thought has proved to be the large lesson of the conference today- that is a call to the world community to look at their antiquated and cold war definition of security and move to a modern humanity centered definition of security.

We have now listened to three great Round Tables- each providing experts from the field from around the world who have challenged us in the many many issues related to disarmament.

One of the most important discussions addressed the different definitions of arms based on north /south and east/west interests. In the continent of Africa- the issue of arms is not felt to be an issue of nuclear weapons as it is daily an a issue of small arm conflict in every aspect of society.

Alfredo Lubang of the Philippines expanded the "definition of armed violence" to refer to the Arms of Violence that women face in domestic and gender violence. Violence in every form is an issue of power and is a societal/ culture of violence issue. The solutions have to stem from civil society and lead to making demands of their governments. He described a wonderful story where children were given a week of peace education and education about the harmful consequences of violence. At the end of the week the children made voluntary contributions to start "cycles of peace". Children eagerly brought in their toy guns, toy sword and even video games that had war in them!

Startingly statistics show that of the 740,000 victims of armed violence around the world each year- 490,000 occur outside of war zones! Urban areas have high rates of gun and domestic violence. The economic costs of death, and survival of 250,000 disabled each year is staggering and devastating to society.

Christiane Agbotan Johnson - from Senegal has been conducting a great deal of research on armed violence and presented some really important questions that have been asked in communities discussing disarmament.
-Why do you want to remove the small arms?
-Who has the arms?
-Where do you have them?
-How do we remove the tools of armed violence?
-What are the root causes of armed violence?

After conducting this research Christiane concluded that it is crucial to have women and youth as a part of the action to remove the tools of armed violence. Additionally she said that all human resources need to be partners in working toward achieving this mission.
-Local leaders must do the on the ground work and include women and youth as significant players
-National leaders need create and implement policies and provide security
-International partners are needed for funding and international advocacy.
There has to be synergy and cooperation between all stakeholders for these solutions to work. She presented an 18 month program in Senegal which resulted in voluntary release of arms by many people.

This afternoon Soroptimist International and the International Association of Applied Psychology presentented a workshop titled " Abolishing tools of War and Creating Projects for peace. The workshop included 4 speakers from different organizations who each shared some of the work they have done to promote peace including advocating against tools of war.

Kate Moore of SI and Landmine Action Group presented a variety of international and local projects from demining landmine fields, providing landmine victims assistance, supporting women survivors of war and our current project, Project SIerra which assists girls and young women in Sierra Leone recover from war and gain self sufficiency. David Kovatch addressed a wonderful project for college students which encouraged them to develop peace campaigns. Marina and Sarah Walker from WAGGGS talked about a large variety of peace teaching projects conducted by girl guides and girl scouts around the world and their current focus on the Millenium Development Goals in relationship to developing strong and capable girls and young women. Maty Filena shared riveting stories and projects in Mexico with Journeys for Peace that used creative arts to promote peace and expose the scourge of war. Many important lessons were learned and the packed audience also provided practical ideas for promotion of peace. The session ended with sharing a wonderful light hearted and pointed poem, a solemn peace ceremony with flags, and the singing of an original song in both Spanish and English titled :Lets Stand Up for Peace. The session left no doubt in anyone's mind that CITIZENS CAN be part of the SOLUTION- AND THEY MUST!

The last message of the day followed a very thought provoking Round Table called HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTS GLOBAL SECURITY. We were presented with the challenge of the massive types of endeavors that would really transform our world if the world could change its definition of security.

At the very end of the session a simple and profound request was made to the audience- one that will haunt me for a very long time- " Be lovers of lost causes."

It seems to me that every important cause that NGOs undertake are largely felt to be lost causes. It is easy to think of great saints like Mother Theresa, and Nelson Mandela and two of my personal earthly angels Zainab Salbi and Bingh Ribecki- and how each of their contributions to seemingly "lost causes" has transformed the world.....of many. The famous are not the only heros and I tend to agree with SG Ban Ki-moon that the power of the people for good is a force that is unimaginable!

Dawn Marie Lemonds