CCLP Initiatives
In order to promote a culture of peace, the Coalition has 4 main programming initiatives that address conflict resolution and peacebuilding at all levels of society. CCLP works on the following:
International Law & Legislation
After the forming of the United Nations, countless treaties made -- and broken -- and hundreds of Nobel peace prize winners, wars and conflicts are unfortunately still a reality.
This is a result of: 1) States not following the current international law, and 2) Current international law itself is not aimed at preventing and ceasing war but only at resolving conflict once it arises.
Therefore, we must address the principles and practices of peace in a more active and progressive manner. As such, the coalition recognizes the importance of the rule of law in developing peace by advocating the adoption of mechanisms for peace in national constitutions and regional bodies to advance a culture of peace at the same time.
Election Monitoring
In late 2019 and 2020, the major conflicts in the Caribbean and Latin America revolved around elections. From unrest and daily violence in Haiti over the timeline and handling of elections, to clashes between protesters and security forces in Venezuela’s charade legislative election in December 2020. In Peru, deadly protests resulted from controversial changes in the executive branch and postponed presidential elections until April 2021. In Bolivia, clear manipulation of the voting system led to massive protests and repressive responses. And in Guyana, the nation had to wait 5 months for the government to certify a victory of the new administration and peacefully transition to the new legitimately elected government.
Comprising former heads of state from the region, CCLP is uniquely positioned to monitor election campaigns in order to mitigate these kinds of conflicts and promote peaceful and just transfers of power in the region. Former Heads of State provide valuable expertise and guidance as those who understand how governments work yet are not subject to the influence of government policies. Being from this region, CCLP members are also uniquely suited to be able to monitor election campaigns because they know firsthand the type of corruption that can exist and unfold.
Food & Humanitarian Work
The coalition also works to address the basic needs of citizens by conducting food drives. In addition to donating food, the Coalition supports local efforts to cultivate ecosystems that enhance sustainable food security in the region.
Peace Literacy
Prior to the pandemic, A November 2021 UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report stated that in 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, children from the richest households were five times as likely as the poorest to complete upper secondary school, and only half of 15-year-olds achieved minimum proficiency in reading. Given the further impact of COVID-19 on education, the Coalition has begun supporting literacy to address inclusion and the urgent need to prevent education progress backsliding as a result of the pandemic. The Coalition is collecting and donating books for the elementary (first grade) level and facilitating a peacebuilding book club for students in order to provide more opportunities to practice reading and increase literacy but also promote and build a culture of peace beginning with youth.