Zone of Peace : A Constructive Project for Prevention of Conflicts and Wars
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By Ms. Ivanka Vana Jakic
1. Introduction : Since the dawn of civilization, inspired by love and respect for the divine, peoples around the world have been creating and maintaining a sacred heritage. We have used our best resources to express this sacred impulse in scripture, art, architecture, holy sites, places of worship and pilgrimage, and cherished places of natural beauty. These extraordinary treasures of reverence provide all humankind with a sublime harmony, a sense of holy purpose, and ultimately transcendent peace.
Through both world wars, most of our global cultural treasures were respected and spared. At present, much of our sacred, educational and cultural heritage is in danger of exploitation, desecration and degradation - if it has not already been destroyed!
2. A Proposal : Since this threat is very real, religious and secular leaders of all nations must share accountability for its protection. We therefore propose a new declaration under the auspices of UNESCO to create a convention for establishing International Zones of Peace-places of shared significance, set aside as inviolable areas. Local, national and international Zones of Peace would be demilitarized in times of peace and in times of war. They would be sanctuaries from injustice, violence and abuse.
Many potential Zones of Peace have already been identified by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which was established in 1972 by an international convention. By 1990, 111 countries had ratified this momentous document, whose stated purpose is to define the world - wide natural and cultural heritage, and draw up a list of sites and monuments of such exceptional interest and universal value that their protection is the responsibility of all humankind.
3. Two Maps Of Unesco's World Heritage : examples of places we would like to see as Zones of Peace.
4. Evolution Of Concept : My peace work began in May 1989, when I visited Medjugorje, a small and remote pilgrimage site in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was at that time one of the Socialist Republics in former Yugoslavia. I had never gone to a Christian holy place before, and I was deeply moved by thousands of people streaming in from neighbouring countries and from as far away as Australia, Japan, and China.
[Slowly climbing up the rocky goats' path towards one of the two main pilgrimage sites, I heard groups of pilgrims saying their prayers in at least seven different languages. As they did not have a common language, not even a common faith, they communicated with each other through love and kindness, with smiles. It was that harmony of cultural, religious and ethnic diversity that moved me so deeply. I was told that in the course of the previous 12 years, about 15 million people had come there in search of peace.]
The idea of a Zone of Peace arose at that time and my vision of International Zones of Peace evolved from efforts to declare Medjugorje a Regional and International Zone of Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is significant that I heard my 'call' in a pilgrimage site of international renown carrying a sacred message of peace to the world. But ironically in the country which would soon be torn apart by violence and become one of the worst examples of the ravages of war.
5. The First Endorsements : The Zones of Peace concept was simple, yet overwhelming and somewhat unrealistic. I decided to seek verification of the expanded idea from those I trusted the most - my spiritual guides.
H. H. the Dalai Lama gave his full endorsement, asked me to give the project top priority, and wrote a letter of support that opened doors all over the world.
Mother Teresa has blessed our intention to "create centers of prayers for peace."
And when the late Acharya Sri Tulsi ji, heard me describe the vision of sacred sites of all religions as Zones of Peace, he commented. "My dear, you are doing my job"
In February of 1991, I attended ANUVIBHA's Second International Conference on Peace and Nonviolent Action in Rajsamand (India), where 125 delegates from 21 countries unanimously adopted our resolution. It was calling for a petition to be sent to UNESCO and United Nations asking for a new international convention through which every nation or country could declare as international zones of peace their holy places and sites of historic and cultural importance. Shortly after the conference, along with 32 letters of support and endorsements, the petition was submitted to the UN offices in New Delhi.
Additional reassurance and direction has also come in April 1992, from a brief audience with H.H. Pope John Paul II, and my discussion with the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.
6. Lessons Learnt From Bosnia & Hertsegovina : The ethics and the philosophy behind Zones of Peace concept have met with approval and endorsements from peace-loving individuals and organizations all over the world, With international support well in place, within only four weeks we were able to put together in Sarajevo the first meeting ever of the top leaders of the Muslims, the Catholics, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Jews, and the government of Bosnia and Hertsegovina. It was during that meeting, on the 17th of September, 1991, that eight sacred sites - two from each of the four religions-were simultaneously and officially declared as the first National Zones of Peace. (SLIDE) Among them were Medjugorje and the synagogue and mosque in Sarajevo.
It was also agreed that teams of specialists in international, civil and religious law would draft new legislation on the basis of which all sacred sites could be declared zones of peace. The new law was meant to bring closer the law of God and the law of man. The socialist pre-war government and the major religious leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina actually agreed to do this.
The tragic interference of the war in this process of democratization is a separate issue.
Instead of building on the zones-of-peace concept, or using other methods to draw on the non-violent power of public opinion, the political situation collapsed into chaos, and war. As a result, places like Bosnia and Herzegovina will be a part of the collective conscience of the entire world. If we fail to address the issue of "ethnic cleansing" today, how will we be able to solve conflicts in other countries tomorrow?
Of the eight sites, some were destroyed in the conflict. Medjugorje alone survived as a Zone of Peace. We will look at a couple of them and see what they looked like before and after the war:
Tekija na Buni - Muslim Sacred Site, 1991
Podmilacje - Pilgrimage Site of St. John the Baptist in 1991
Podmilacje, view from above, 1991
Podmilacje, stairs in 1991 Podmilacje, stairs in 1998
Ditto-only the tile floor remains, 1998
Ditto-only two statues, 1998
Zitomislici - Serbian Orthodox Holy Place,1991
Ditto, 1998
I @ Zitomislici in 1991 Possibly the site in 1998
Ditto, from distance in 1998 - nothing remains
The Old Bridge in Mostar, 1557-1566 and now
Ditto, after the war
The lessons learned were that eleventh-hour measures came too late to be productive.
An effectual Zone of Peace must be established far in advance of any threat of war or destruction.
The work of peace education needs time to take root in the community and then spread, for true lasting peace to be accomplished.
Finally, international recognition is necessary to ensure that no act of violence can be made against sites of great importance, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, without incurring public outcry and resulting in global repercussions.
11. Definition of A Zone of Peace : Having learned these lessons at such a dear price, I proceeded to work with several international teams of friends-in-peace. Over a period of ten years, we have formulated our vision clearly and taken up a rather unique mission. We kept on refining our definition of peace itself, and then of a Zone of Peace, like cutting different facets of a diamond. We looked at ourselves and at our communities; we saw what was possible and arrived at what we offer today as our understanding of a Zone of Peace. The definition is intended to respect the rights of individual nations to adapt the concept to local cultural values, religious traditions, and environmental concerns. In its current form, our definition states that:
Any site with sacred, religious, historic, educational, cultural, geographical and/or environmental significance may be designated as a Zone of Peace.
The site will be preserved and protected by its own community and officially recognized by a governmental authority as a sanctuary.
It will operate within ethical principles of nonviolence, free from weapons, acts of violence, injustice and environmental degradation. It will remain free from terrorism, vandalism, or other abuse of the sanctuary itself, or threats to the lives or peace of mind of the people within it.
The site may express a particular focus on one aspect of peaceful living, for example, human rights, environmental stewardship, religious pilgrimage, worship or learning. But every site will honour the general principles of peace.
Zones of Peace may also commemorate places like Auschwitz, Hiroshima and Nagasaki where human atrocities occurred. Permanent, internationally recognized monuments to peace built on such locations may well prove to be an effective means of ensuring that such horrors never happen again.
The official declaration or recognition of the Zone of Peace expresses commitments on the part of its community, governmental authority and, if appropriate, religious leadership to preserve the peaceful integrity of the designated site. Its custodians, members, participants and visitors exemplify mutual respect and non-violent behavior while on the site, and share their resources for furthering peace and cooperation.
The principal long-term objective of establishing Zones of Peace is to contribute to the creation of a global culture of peace, advancing a more just and secure world spiritually, socially and economically. All of us hope that Zones of Peace may eventually spread to encompass the entire planet.
12. Role of Religious And Spiritual Leaders : While Zones of Peace International Foundation respects all religious and spiritual traditions, it is not a religious organization nor does it promote any religion. Yet, we recognize that all major religions have prayers for peace at their core and that most religious leaders are already engaged in the work of peace. They have a dynamic role as community leaders and guardians of sacred and religious sites, which are natural candidates for Zones of Peace. We invite religious and spiritual leaders of all beliefs to work in cooperation with one another, with citizens and with their respective governments to establish such sites as Zones of Peace.
13. Government Participation : Although ours is a non-political organization, it recognizes the fact that the basic responsibility of government is to ensure the peace and security of its citizens. Most governments around the world are already making efforts to preserve and protect their important cultural, historical and environmental sites and monuments.
Since governments are there to serve the needs of the people, ZOPIF is now inviting governmental bodies to join in active partnership with citizens who are already engaged in grassroots efforts to reduce violence, injustice and environmental degradation. Such cooperation is needed so that policies for official recognition of Zones of Peace can be developed. In-depth dialogue insures that these policies respect and protect the various codes of religious and ethnic communities and function without regard to race, gender, sexual identity or political affiliation. The right to appropriate religious and spiritual expression in each site must be guaranteed.
By creating sites of national and international recognition, political leaders can take pride in asserting their role of peaceful leadership as they are called upon to honour Zones of Peace across international boundaries.
14. Tipes of Zones of Peace : Where does one start? Mother Teresa advised us to begin our Zones of Peace project small, starting with our hearts and families. So, on a personal level, we can each set aside a room, or even corner of our homes, to be sanctuaries for peace. We can devote short periods of time for cultivating our own inner peace.
At a local level, custodians of a chosen site can begin to create the conditions for genuine harmony through implementing a variety of methods of mediation and conflict resolution. Out of these local and regional peace and security can grow, and with them, Zones of Peace may be established. As this process is applied in wider and wider contexts and geographic areas, conditions are created for National and International Zones of Peace.
On a broader level, when selecting and establishing a regional or national Zone of Peace, it is essential to invite all major ethnic and religious groups, and every nation (whether officially recognized as a country or not) to participate. The incentive for participation will be mutual respect for each other's valued places.
Whatever the level, the right to appropriate spiritual expression in each site must be guaranteed. For example, as in Mecca where nonMuslims are not allowed, likewise in some Native American or other native communities, outsiders may be denied admittance into some sacred sites.
Local, Regional and National Zones of Peace will be recognized through respective governmental policies; whereas international Zones of Peace will be established through a UNESCO declaration, resolution or convention, whenever it is created and adopted.
15. Steps For Becoming A Zone of Peace : There are three gradual steps for a site to become a Zone of Peace and with them come three different statuses:
When community members of a site declare their intent to establish it as a Candidate Zone of Peace and an endorsement of the sponsoring body has been obtained, ZOPIF grants the status of a Prospective Zone of Peace.
When the community, the custodial and sponsoring bodies succeed in maintaining the site in the spirit of a Zone of Peace for a minimum of six months, the sponsoring body submits the "Application for Candidate Zone of Peace" to the ZOPIF Regional Branch. The two then review the application and decide whether all qualifications have been met. If so, ZOPIF then recognizes the site as a Candidate Zone of Peace.
With Candidate Zone of Peace status secured, the sponsoring body, the Branch and ZOPIF will request the appropriate governmental authority to officially recognize the site as a Zone of Peace. This final component for establishing an official Zone of Peace is described in our Guideline. The process, based on international experience, brings local and national governments into active partnership with citizens and religious leaders.
Detailed description of the qualifications for becoming a Zone of Peace and of the Candidacy process are available in our Guidelines.
16. Peace Education : In a world that appears to be increasingly fragmented and devastated by violence and conflict, it is apparent that conflict resolution, mediation skills, and indeed a new way of thinking about and relating to conflict, are essential if we are to survive.
The very foundation of a Zone of Peace is based upon the following primary mandates:
the Site and people are protected by nonviolent means from abuse;
it conducts its own affairs in a peaceful, respectful manner; and
it serves as an example of peace in action to the community at large.
For this to be accomplished, the custodians of the Zone of Peace are encouraged to draw upon their own religious, philosophical and cultural heritage of peace and non-violence. In addition, they can learn and borrow from other traditions of non-violence, and incorporate relevant findings of modern social sciences.
Having received the essential education and training, each custodial body develops and refines its own blend of philosophy and practical nonviolent conflict resolution and mediation techniques. It then conducts training as needed to its community members, especially those directly charged with maintaining peace at the Site. Outside consultants or respected authorities may be called upon to assist the custodial body in developing these programs and conducting training. An ongoing evaluation and modification occurs as experience is gained.
[In addition, the programme can be further enriched through visits from spiritual leaders and representatives from other organizations and schools of mediation and conflict resolution.] As we can see, peace education in general, and nonviolent cont1ict resolution and mediation in particular are essential tools for the establishment of a Zone of Peace.
17 The Foundation : The Zones of Peace International Foundation, or in short ZOPIF, is a non-profit organization. It comprises citizens of the world who appreciate and share the view expressed in the opening paragraph of UNESCO's Constitution that states: "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that defenses for peace must be constructed."
As mentioned in our organization's guidelines, we strive to become "people of genuine peace and nonviolence, who regard no one as an enemy, wage no wars, and sanction no destructive acts against the environment Individuals who hunger for peace and are allied to one another; together we nurture personal peace and transmit it to others."
Committed to inner education, we are willing to learn and dedicate a substantial portion of our lives, resources and expertise to see the fulfillment of our vision, which is a global culture of peace. Our unique mission is to enact this vision by fostering and assisting in the establishment of sites of special significance as Zones of Peace. This, in turn, is accomplished by citizens of any country working in active partnership with religious and spiritual leaders and their government authorities, who have recognized the merit of preserving these sites for the future.
Our International Board of Directors is represented by eleven people from five countries, namely: India, Canada, USA, Belize and Croatia. Its Executive Committee is located in Seattle, Washington. Here is a slide of the Directors who belonged to the first generation, most of whom continue to serve on the present Board. (SLIDE).
ZOPIF's first King County Branch has representatives from five cities: Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Auburn and Federal Way. (SLIDE) All of them are wonderful, hard-working individuals, deeply dedicated to peace and to our cause.
In the state of Michigan, we have an Acting Branch, called the LiGhT, which is active indeed and on its way to incorporate. (SLIDE)
18 Candidate Zones Of Peace : You have been patiently waiting to hear something concrete, something that will make your coming to this workshop worthwhile. Our entire Foundation also has been waiting for several years to see the first sprouts of our seeds of peace, the first results of conflict prevention and transformation through peace education.
Since 1989, when the inspiration placed me on a seemingly endless road in search of peace, as the Zones of Peace concept has grown to address the needs of both large and small communities, more and more people have come to appreciate its relevance to their personal lives.
Four years ago, in Auburn, Washington, the youth of the First United Methodist Church declared their youth room as a Zone of Peace. This created such a ripple effect through the congregation that, on June 6th of this year, the entire church was certified by ZOPIF as a Candidate Site. Only three months later, the City Council and the Mayor officially recognized it as the First Zone of Peace in the United States.
Despite the separation between church and state, active partnership among citizens, their secular and religious leaders is not only possible, but has produced far-reaching results. This has been one of the most encouraging steps on a long road to peace.
Another example is a community in Columbiaville, Michigan, who has been acquiring skills in non-violent conflict resolution and mediation over a period of four years. A part of 172 acres of their beautiful, fertile ground called the "Land Stewardship Center," recently became a Candidate Site and it is on its way to becoming a Zone of Peace officially recognized by its local government.
It is especially among the children and youth in Michigan that I have found great openness and readiness to learn about compassionate ways of interacting.
There are a couple of other cases when young communities and their elders embraced the vision with such enthusiasm, that they declared themselves Zones of Peace.
At the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamsala, India, for example, the village temple in the centre of the campus has been set aside as a Zone of Peace. The faculty plans eventually to encompass the entire school. Similarly, instructors and 200 trainees of the ManavaBharati Nursery Teachers Institute in New Delhi declared their assembly hall as a "Peace Zone" in affirmation of India's cultural heritage of nonviolence.
From a global perspective, these may not be very impressive events. Nonetheless, just one working example of this, kind sends a powerful message of hope and joy to the rest of the world looking for a solution to violent, selfperpetuating conflicts on all levels. They have strengthened our resolve to learn new ways of solving problems without destroying ourselves in the process. They have given us a sense of accomplishment on a very personal level. As a 17-year-old member of the Auburn 1st United Methodist Youth Fellowship said to me: "You know, Vana, your project has actually very little to do with our site... it is we who have become zones of peace!"
The effectiveness of the program here speaks for itself.
19 Presentations : Working toward international recognition and support, we have presented the Zones of Peace initiative before numerous international conferences. In most cases, the responses have been very positive.
In October, 1991, I had several meetings in Paris with the Director of UNESCO's Division of Human Rights and Peace, where it was agreed that I would both coordinate a team of lawyers to draft a new Declaration or Convention on International Zones of Peace, and find a UNESCO Member State to present it before its General Assembly. Zones of Peace International Foundation has subsequently decided that local, regional and national Zones of Peace should first be established within their own countries before asking for world recognition, thus delaying the international measure until several nations actively support the program.
In 1992, the 1991 Resolution adopted in Rajsamand served as a basis for another resolution which was adopted at the Thirty fourth Annual Conference of the Fellowship of Reconciliation for the States of Washington and Oregon (USA) and British Columbia (Canada), held in Seabeck, Washington.
In April of 1993, I presented the Zones of Peace initiative at UNESCO's Seminar on the Contributions of Religions to the Culture of Peace in Barcelona, Spain. This was followed by another major presentation that same year at the Centennial Parliament of the World's.
Religions in Chicago, USA, There the request for a new Convention, as stated in the Rajsamand Resolution, was again endorsed and supported by spiritual leaders of different faiths and by secular dignitaries from all over the world. (3 SLIDES of Christian and Buddhist pledges)
It was also adopted at the 1994 Women of Vision Conference in Washington, D. C., organized by the Center for International Dialogue.
And in December, 1995, at Ladnun, India, this time as President of the Zones of Peace International Foundation and not just as a peaceloving individual, I presented a new resolution with an expanded definition of the Zones of Peace to the Third International Conference on Peace and Non-Violent Action. This resolution, too, was unanimously adopted.
Workshops on Zones of Peace have been held and well received at the above-mentioned Thirty fourth Annual Conference of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the International Women's Conferences in Washington, D.C. (October 1994) and, in 1995, at the United Nations Fourth World Conference For Women, held in Huairou in the People's Republic of China.
20. How to Get Involved : We have good reason to trust that the Zones of Peace initiative will be accepted worldwide. For one, whenever people have heard about the project, they have responded with sincere and overwhelming enthusiasm. This has been as true of Americans and Mongolians as of Sri Lankans and Indians. Religious and secular leaders alike consider the initiative not only very timely, but also long overdue. Countries both large and small are already eager to cooperate - and will be even more willing to unite their efforts with the backing of UNESCO and other similar organizations.
Why is the initiative so inspiring? Because most people are deeply concerned about losing their sacred, cultural and natural heritage. This desire for cultural self-preservation can be transformed into a very powerful motivation for altruism.
Furthermore, Zones of Peace could serve as centers for negotiations and humanitarian and religious relief efforts. They would become natural neutral locations for conflict resolution, to contain violence before it ever gets out of hand. Imagine how history might have been different had our first eight national Zones of Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina been internationally recognized. UN peacekeeping forces could have had a legal right - even a responsibility-to intercede at the first incidence of aggression at anyone of them!
The time for action is now because we may no longer have time for far-reaching future plans. We must therefore awaken our collective conscience. Even as we speak, some of our precious treasures are being destroyed. So, we urgently request you to help in a number of ways:
Give serious co'nsideration to our Guideline for establishing Zones of Peace, which we will be most happy to provide copies of, and begin applying it in your country.
Enlist the help of your spiritual, cultural, social and governmental authorities.
Contact the International or National Fellowship of Reconciliation, or similar organizations in your own country, for information on how to begin nation-wide education in conflict resolution skills.
Become part of the International Zones of Peace Movement, and receive updates by joining the Zones of Peace International Foundation.
Work toward adoption of a resolution calling for a new declaration or convention on International Zones of Peace.
In due course of time, we will begin forming a transnational team of specialists in international, civil and holy laws to prepare a draft of a new convention. It will be submitted to UNESCO's Division of Human Rights and Peace for critique and final revisions. To be ratified and sent to the UNESCO's General Assembly, the resolution must be endorsed by a minimum of 35 to 40 countries. We need your nation to be one of them - and we need each and every one of you to help secure your nation's support!
Admittedly, this is a large and momentous undertaking. Our hope, however, is that while protecting the world's sacred and cultural heritage, more of our planet's people will discover the transforming inner power of peace. We will learn how to control our actions from within our own hearts, families and communities. And we will start taking personal responsibility for the creation of a new global culture of peace through non-nonviolence.
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Author : Ms. Ivanka Vana Jakic is Founder President of the Zones of Peace International Foundation, USA. She is an internationally acclaimed nonviolent crusader.
Article Source : Anuvibha Reporter ( Special Issue : Dec. 2000 )
Ahimsa, Peacemaking, Conflict Prevention and Management Proceedings and Presentations
Fourth International Conference on Peace and Nonviolent Action ( IV ICPNA )
New Delhi : Nov. 10-14, 1999
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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
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