Peace Brigades International (PBI) is an NGO (non-governmental
organization) promoting and protecting human rights, non-violent
conflict resolution, and peace worldwide. Upon invitation,
PBI places and maintains teams of volunteers to work in areas
of conflict. PBI teams attempt to open a space for peace for
local activists to work, where conflicts can then be more
easily resolved non-violently and peacefully. These teams
work to cultivate peaceful solutions through specific approaches
unique to PBI.
Unlike some NGOs or development groups, PBI is nonpartisan
and does not attempt to introduce solutions from the outside.
They do not actively involve themselves in the work of the
organizations in which they support nor do they propose solutions.
PBI supports organizations and individuals involved in conflict
through the following key methods:
Protective accompaniment
PBI volunteers use their international status and profile
as a tool to protect individuals who are threatened by political
violence. PBI teams have accompanied humanitarian aid workers,
clergy, union leaders, human rights defenders, refugees returning
from exile, lawyers, and other civil society figures who are
targets for political violence. Perpetrators will rarely display
extreme violence or blatantly violate human rights if their
actions are exposed to the watching world. Such exposure not
only displays violations but also potentially threatens foreign
relations and aid. PBI volunteers are unarmed relying instead
upon their multinational status, and the support of numerous
diplomatic and grassroots networks.
Peace education
Peace education activities support local communities in seeking
non-violent solutions to conflict. PBI peace education teams
work alongside local community members to provide workshops
incorporating role-plays, theatric tactics, and reenactments
of situations. In conducting such workshops, participants
learn that they, rather than the facilitator, are central
to creating models of conflict transformation that matches
their own local context.
Documenting Conflicts and Peace Initiatives
Part of providing future conflicts with peaceful resolution
strategies is through documentation of successful peace initiatives
by local communities where PBI is present. PBI teams record,
report, and keep detailed documentation on their work and
the situations in the countries where they are present. Approaches
and solutions vary based on the particular climate and nature
of conflict from country to country. By keeping professional
records, PBI can discretely and thoughtfully create awareness
on particular conflicts as well as the nonviolent strategies
and models which local groups are developing. This contributes
to and supports a global non-violent movement.
Since 1981, PBI has worked internationally in many locations
of violent conflict. Countries have included Haiti, El Salvador,
Sri Lanka, the Balkans, and the USA and Canada (working with
First Nation‘s people). PBI Currently has teams in Columbia,
Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, and opened a project in Nepal
in 2005.
Indonesian Project
PBI’s Indonesia Project (IP) began in 1999 initially
upon the request of human rights and woman’s groups
in East Timor, and later in West Timor, Aceh, and Papua. Indonesia
embodies a diverse variety of ethnic make up, hundreds of
languages, and dozens of religions throughout it’s thousands
of islands. Many conflicts spawn from the diversity alone
and the challenges the central government of Jakarta and military
face in maintaining such a large territory.
PBI has developed partnerships with Indonesian organizations
and humanitarian groups to assist in cultivating peaceful
solutions for the various conflicts in Indonesia. Current
projects in Indonesia include:
Banda Aceh, Sumatra
PBI was present in Aceh from 2000 until May 2003, when the
Indonesian Government declared Martial Law and foreign organizations
were asked to leave. After the tsunami in 2004, the government
reopened Aceh’s borders to accept relief and support
for the disaster. PBI participated in recovery efforts in
Aceh, and is still present, providing accompaniment and peace
building activities in 2005. The peace building climate has
become more supportive since the May 2005 peace agreement
between the GAM (Fee Aceh Movement) and the Indonesian Government.
Jayapura and Wamena, Papua
PBI teams are present in both Jayapura and Wamena providing
both protective accompaniment and peace education to support
the peace building efforts in Papua. On 18 December 2004,
PBI successfully started a series of monthly discussions as
part of their peace building activities in Papua. These events
have been increasingly well attended, and the local community
is involved in suggesting topics as well as assisting with
format and leading of discussions.
Jakarta, Java
Jakarta remains the hub of PBI networking for all of the sub
teams in Indonesia. In addition to coordination and networking
with the government of Indonesia and diplomatic community,
this sub team has two clients for protective services, including
WALHI (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia, Friends of the Earth
Indonesia) and PBHI (Perhimpunan Bantuan Hukum dan HAM Indonesia,
Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association).
How you can become involved
There are many ways to become involved with PBI, such as joining
a PBI Country Group (in one of 16 nations), apply to become
a field volunteer, join PBI’s ERN (emergency response
network), and/or support PBI’s outreach and public relations.
The first step in supporting PBI’s efforts is to visit
our website and start learning more about our mission, past
work, and activities. Please visit PBI at www.peacebrigades.org
