Page last updated 1/24/2001
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Peace Brigades International/USA
Peace Brigades International (PBI) sends unarmed peace teams, when invited, into areas of violent conflict or repression. These volunteers provide nonviolent protective accompaniment to those whose lives have been threatened for working toward justice and peace. PBI teams also conduct peace education and conflict resolution workshops and report on the human rights conditions in Guatemala, Colombia, Haiti, Sri Lanka, the Balkans, Chiapas, and Native communities in North America.
Our program encompases four major goals:
- 1) provide protective accompaniment for those whose lives have been threatened. Accompaniment refers to the physical presence of foreign volunteers with the purpose of protecting civilian activists from violent attacks. The presence of our international volunteers works as a deterent for human rights abuses.
2) provide the moral support that encourages human rights leaders to continue working. Accompaniment creates a "breathing space" for groups to excercise their legal rights to organize and speak. Our volunteers stand by these organizations, symbolizing the recognition of the activists' work by the international community.
3) foster peaceful dialogue and reconciliation among conflicting parties.
4) give training, when asked, in non-violence and human rights.
PBI was conceived in 1981 as an international network to support both local and international initiatives in nonviolent action and reconciliation. In 1991, PBI was officially recognized by the United Nations as an NGO Associate- an international non-governmental organization.
Peace Brigades International challenges the myth that violent institutions and warfare must dominate human affairs. By pursuing international and nonpartisan strategies for peacemaking, PBI volunteers and supporters around the world demonstrate that individuals working together can act boldy as peacemakers even when governments can or will not. PBI/USA is one of many country groups worldwide that are a part of this important international effort.
If you would like more information on PBI and how you can get involved in the international human rights struggle, please let us know.
Visit the Peace Brigades International/USA home page.
