Together, the North and the South Can Build Peace!

“Nous ne voulons pas la guerre ! Nous voulons la Paix, la Paix, la Paix !” Dessin de Arzan Antia, 8 ans, réalisé dans le cadre du projet d’éducation à la tolérance " Khoj ", repris dans plusieurs dizaines d’écoles de Bombay, en Inde.

In Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the majority of the partners of Frères des Hommes experience social violence directed against the poorest populations everyday. Many of them struggle against the hatred generated by the institutionalization of ethnic differences. Several groups see a direct negative impact of government militarization on the capacity for development and on fundamental rights in their countries.

In such contexts, their engagement is a form of citizen resistance to destructive policies, and their projects are the foundations for a world of peace.

In the face of violence, hatred, arbitrary decision-making, and injustice, our partners have deliberately chosen the path of non-violent resistance. This choice moves them to engage in constructive conflicts that result in increased rights; to maintain dialogue and build mutual comprehension; and to encourage civil society initiatives for dynamic democracy.

By bringing cooperative support to our partners, Frères des Hommes sees itself as an actor for peace. It is the underlying meaning of our information actions and public awareness campaigns that mobilize the active members in the organization’s local chapters.
It is also through multi-directional exchanges, meetings, and partnerships that Frères des Hommes promotes and develops links between all continents.

Founded on equality and reciprocity, these citizen-citizen partnerships symbolize a new era of international cooperation that we want to see promoted by state and local governments so that together, we can build peace.

Jean-Pierre Dardaud
President of Frères des Hommes France