Questions
- What is the Canadian Peace Service?
- What is the Goal of the Canadian Peace Service?
- What is the Brian Bronfman Family Foundation?
- What is CATA?
- What is i-Canada?
- What is CpeaceSC?
- Why “Civilian” Peace Service?
- What is Communities@Peace?
- Why link CpeaceSC with Communities@Peace and the Canadian Peace Service?
- Why pragmatic peace? (Phrase coined by the Institute on Environmental Diplomacy and Security)
- What is the Difference between a UN Peacekeeper and a Peace Professional accredited by CpeaceSC?
- What is the difference between a Peace Professional and a professional mediator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, etc.? And between a Peace Professional and professionals active in strategic areas identified in Lederach’s broadly interpreted Peace Wheel? (e.g. law advocacy and solidarity, restorative justice, transitional justice, trauma healing, humanitarian action, government and multilateral efforts, non-violent social change, dialogue/conflict resolution strategies, education, development, dealing with transnational and global threats, law advocacy and solidarity)
- Can an employee of the Canadian Government (including the military) join the Canadian Peace Service?
- How do existing training programs offering peace studies differ from what the accredition of Peace Professionals by the Canadian Peace Service, through CpeaceSC, have in mind?
- Is CpeaceSC setting the bar too high?
- Does this demean those who do not qualify as CpeaceSC professionals?
- How can young people become involved in the face of such high CpeaceSC standards?
Responses
a. What is the Canadian Peace Service?
The Canadian Peace Service is a partnership comprised of the Brian Bronfman Foundation, the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA), the Civilian Peace Service Canada (CpeaceSC), and i-CANADA. For them, ‘pragmatic peace’ is the practical implementation of peace initiatives. This partnership understands that Canada has a precious gift: Canada is the world in miniature. Canada welcomes and includes people from more cultures per capita than any other nation. Through its history, Canada has developed a core capability for negotiating between national sovereignties, rather than fighting. Canada is in truth a “trans-national” nation, embracing the patchwork quilt of humanity with a culturally embedded expertise in peace creation.
Canada invented international peacekeeping, from a foundation of experience in domestic accommodation. Canada traditionally celebrates people who have the most difficult kind of courage — the courage of the peacemaker. Today, however, Canada has let its heritage go undeveloped, and is not even in the top half of the countries around the world, which contribute troops for peacekeeping.
The Canadian Peace Service will re-ignite the flames that drove Canada to create global peacekeeping. The Canadian Peace Service will rebrand Canada, and breath life into its reputation as the global innovator for peacemaking. By professionalizing peace work and giving it the credibility, respect, and visibility it deserves, the Canadian Peace Service ultimately strives to become a firmly established, key component of Canada’s reputation for living in harmony at home and peacekeeping abroad. Preventing the escalation of conflict into armed violence will ultimately save billions of dollars and lead to wealth creation and the avoidance or alleviation of untold suffering.
b. What is the Goal of the Canadian Peace Service?
To ensure that by the year 2020 Canada’s communities, in large part through the vision, knowledge and expertise of its community leaders and youth, will clearly be world leaders in both being at peace, and in being capable of making professional contributions to national and global peace making.
c. What is the Brian Bronfman Family Foundation?
The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation is a Montreal-based private foundation established in 2006 to further the philanthropic ideals of Brian Bronfman and his family. The Foundation believes in using its resources to support creative endeavours that have a concrete impact in bettering the lives of individuals and communities, both in reaction to specific situations and by prevention of potential problems. The Foundation is focused on the creation of a peaceful, non-violent, and just society. Specifically, it supports the following areas of interest: peace, conflict resolution, and human rights. (bronfman.ca)
d. What is CATA?
The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATAAlliance) grows the revenues of its members by creating a collaborative edge — a chain of expanding value that ripples across Canada’s Innovators, Commercializers, Users, and Professionals.
The largest high-tech association in Canada, CATAAlliance matches businesses with opportunities across almost every sector, so that we can all do business together. Reaching out from Canada, CATAAlliance members are connected with investment and partnership opportunities with the major global companies. As 80% are exporters, CATA’s members are the arrow-head for global growth.
Through its Innovation Nation program, CEOs come together to catalyze the development of the Canadian business environment. CATA is the foundation for commercialization, market research, networking, events, access to other associations, and professional development, across the nation.
Add your strength to the collaborative edge — we would like to connect with you! Support Industry Advocacy and Business Development: Apply for membership today
e. What is i-Canada?
i-CANADA is dedicated to the creation of smart communities across the country, through the use of ultra-high-speed networks, for a globally competitive economy.
i-CANADA is nation of Intelligent Communities large and small, central and remote, all enjoying the economic and environmental development, job growth and social prosperity now available in the world’s leading Intelligent Communities or Smart Cities. We will have expanded upon Canada’s “Islands of Excellence” like Moncton, Fredericton, Stratford, Windsor-Essex, Calgary and Waterloo who have all been recognized for excellence by the Global Intelligent Community Forum.
If we ask ourselves what a successful i-CANADA looks like we would expect to see:
- Global companies locating here thanks to the unparalleled quality of place and advanced low cost open access ultra broadband communications supporting an array of talent working in an environment conducive to collaboration and innovation.
- Canada no longer ranks near the bottom of the pack for its broadband performance as it does in 2010: 22nd out of 30 countries in the Harvard Berkman Centre’s recent study for the US Federal Communications Commission and 32nd in the Net International Index of broadband download speeds, ranking behind Moldova, Hungary and Bulgaria. Canada will have reclaimed her crown as one of the world’s leaders in telecommunications.
- New forms of telepresence collaboration accelerate our rate of innovation and the growth of young companies.
- Canadians living in the north, or in aboriginal communities, and throughout Canada will have access to our best interactive and diagnostic health services, learning and training services, and business development services …….. all available without leaving home.
- Open access ultra broadband will allow our new health caregiver support systems to dramatically expand their support for patients with cancer, diabetes and other debilitating ailments. Ageing well in the home through enhanced caregiver support becomes a reality and our healthcare costs per capita decline significantly.
- Intelligent Transportation becomes a reality with reduced environmental impacts, improved service, shorter travel times and fewer accidents.
- Teachers are teaching English as a second language from their own homes to students in other countries like South Korea where ultra broadband is a reality today.
- Intelligent buildings are substantially reducing the carbon footprint of our communities.
- Film editors are working from their homes or community business centres and providing film editing services to directors working in other ultra broadband countries. Directors no longer have to fly to the editing studio between film shoots.
- Educators are providing a more engaging learning experience to meet the diverse needs of learners making the dream of “classrooms without walls” a reality. Learning truly takes place beyond the classroom, tailored to each individual’s own unique style, pace, place and time. Virtual collaboration between parents and teachers really works.
- “IMAX” to the home and other advanced forms of entertainment and information services are easily connected to community home entertainment centres presenting new ways to watch the Paris Opera, the Super Bowl, Wimbledon Tennis and hundreds of other events. (www.i-canada-network.ca)
f. What is CpeaceSC?
CpeaceSC is the Civilian Peace Service Canada.
g. Why “Civilian” Peace Service?
What sets civilian peace professionals apart from the military (the boots) whose mandate ultimately is the defense of Canada, and from the diplomats (the suits) whose mandate ultimately is to represent Canada’s best interests abroad, is that civilian peace practitioners (the roots) have no vested national interests. Like doctors, for whom a patient is a patient is a patient, regardless their creed, colour, or country, peace professionals consider the conflict their patient. Their role is to bring the best professional advice on how to defuse, prevent, and ultimately cure the conflict. All three are needed. The Peace Professional is a professional, who, as in any other profession (including the military), has met the standards set for this vocation.
CpeaceSC Goal: to build a sustainable peace, in partnership with communities at home and abroad. CpeaceSC Vision: world leader in accreditation of peace professionals. CpeaceSC is professionalizing peace work. Like doctors, lawyers, engineers, soldiers, environmentalists, etc., it is time for peace workers to establish and apply standards to the practice of their skills and the application of their expertise. We must:
- apply appropriate values and principles critical to this field of practice,
- build credibility for peace practitioners with the wider public and decision makers in order to effectively influence national and international policy and action, and
- distinguish between those who have taken a few weeks of peace related training and those who have years of related training, experience and evidence of results in the field.
A peace professional is someone who has met the standards of professionalism set by the Civilian Peace Service Canada (CPSC) and has been accredited by a CPSC Assessment Board, based on a rigorous assessment of Core Values and Key Competencies. Conflict prevention, as well as resolution and/or transformation, is increasingly recognized as critical and requires a distinct skill set. As with doctors, lawyers, engineers and soldiers, peace workers must be assessed and accredited for competence and professionalism. Astoundingly, before the ground-breaking work of the CpeaceSC, there was no standard for assessing the qualifications of disparate civilian peace workers.<1>
h. What is Communities@Peace?
Communities@Peace will channel social and technological energy towards serving the highest aspiration of an Intelligent Community: to live our lives in harmony. It will make use of i-CANADA’s extensive social and technical networks in communities across the country, to establish programs aimed at curtailing conflict that strains the fabric of the community — conflict between domestic partners, commercial organizations, social groups, economic interests, and employee-employer relations.
A parallel initiative, Youth@Peace, will bring technology together with social networks to guide youth through a path of peace training, experiential learning and ultimately assessment and formal accreditation. It will work with existing best in the world training organizations and with communities throughout Canada to:
- train youth in the competencies of nonviolent conflict management;
- support existing training and learning institutions and organizations in the development of a curriculum of peace and conflict studies, drawing on world-best examples of “what works”, and make it accessible through online hubs;
- provide career opportunities for employment in community development, peacemaking and civil security.
Communities@Peace is based on the i-CANADA framework for collaboration, in which Open access ultra broadband infrastructures facilitate new support systems that will dramatically expand networking and understanding for all groups within the community. New forms of telepresence collaboration stimulate collaborative research, innovation, the creation of new young collaborations.
Through Communities@Peace, a focus program is being created called the Domestic Violence Eradication (DOVE) Program. DOVE’s objective is to mobilize Canada’s advanced technology sector and the networks of Intelligent Communities such that Canadian communities establish the knowledge-based intelligent solutions and parallel social supports, to ameliorate the single most pervasive human rights violation in Canada today.
Other Communities@Peace programs focus on educators, using advanced technology through social stakeholders to provide a more engaging and interactive learning experience that make the lessons of peace-making more accessible than ever. Learning truly takes place beyond the classroom, tailored to each individual’s own unique style, pace, place and time. Virtual collaboration between potential partners is assured of success.
Advanced forms of entertainment and information services are also harnessed to Communities@Peace, using new media productions and community home entertainment centres to present new ways to provide peace-making skills. New frontiers in digital media produce new collaboration-centric products, services, investments, international trade and employment opportunities for all Canadians, thanks to a competitive blend of creativity and technology.
i. Why link CpeaceSC with Communities@Peace and the Canadian Peace Service?
Creating a peace profession, in conjunction with intelligent communities, has the potential to prevent and stop major conflicts, including wars. In addition, this will have a number of other long and short-term positive outcomes, among them:
- Prosperity through consumer and investor confidence;
- Reduction in unintended harm caused by well-meaning, unaccredited peace workers;
- A strengthened society by reinforcing values and expertise in conflict resolution through the spread of Peace Professionals and their knowledge, in traditional and digital outreach formats, as well as participation in national and international decision making;
- Career opportunities for employment in societal development, civil security and dispute resolution, using online databases and search engines to augment expert guidance;
- Multiplying and enhancing Canada’s reputation across the globe and create an “overhang” of goodwill.
CpeaceSC will work with youth and community leaders, local and regional officials, federal and provincial leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), educational and private sector partners to:
- provide the assessment, training, and accreditation of Peace Professionals, Youth Peace Apprentices and Peace Volunteers;
facilitate the deployment of peace professionals, apprentices and volunteers to areas in need;
- conduct comprehensive research in threat assessment and early warning indicators;
- carry out evaluation, follow-up, and continuous improvement of its programs; and
- effectively engage with the Canadian Government and general public on matters pertaining to preventive peacebuilding and how it contributes to economic prosperity and social cohesion.
j. Why pragmatic peace?
The phrase pragmatic peace was coined by the Institute on Environmental Diplomacy and Security.
The Collins English dictionary describes “pragmatic” as: Advocating behaviour that is dictated more by practical consequences than by theory or dogma. In a single word, which is easily understood and applied, “pragmatic” also sums up three key supporting criteria: the “3 Ps of peace” — positive, practical, and productive (“positive” in the sense that it’s not “anti-” anything: not anti-government, anti-Harper, anti-war [at least explicitly], etc. Instead, it’s pro-communication, pro-empathy, pro-conflict resolution, etc.) The “practical” and “productive” aspects are self-explanatory, and sometimes are simply referred to as “practical” or “concrete” initiatives or approaches. [Courtesy of The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation].
“Positive Peace” (vs. “Negative Peace”) was ultimately considered to be too subtle (and therefore potentially confusing) a distinction for the purposes of the Communities@Peace initiative]. (Claske Dijkema, Saint Martin d’Hères, May 2007:
“Johan Galtung, the father of peace studies often refers to the distinction between ‘negative peace’ and ‘positive peace’ (e.g. Galtung 1996). Negative peace refers to the absence of violence. When, for example, a ceasefire is enacted, a negative peace will ensue. It is negative because something undesirable stopped happening (e.g. the violence stopped, the oppression ended). Positive peace is filled with positive content such as restoration of relationships, the creation of social systems that serve the needs of the whole population and the constructive resolution of conflict. Peace does not mean the total absence of any conflict. It means the absence of violence in all forms and the unfolding of conflict in a constructive way. Peace therefore exists where people are interacting non-violently and are managing their conflict positively – with respectful attention to the legitimate needs and interest of all concerned.”
k. What is the Difference between a UN Peacekeeper and a Peace Professional accredited by CpeaceSC?
The UN Peacekeeping and CpeaceSC Peace Professional requirements shown on the next few pages help to demonstrate the wide differentiation between a qualified UN Peacekeeping Professional and a qualified CpeaceSC Peace Professional. UN Peacekeepers are primarily military professionals providing a peacekeeping service (often for a specific duration), while Peace Professionals accredited by CpeaceSC have demonstrated and are professionally applying the required CpeaceSC competencies and values.
Civilians referred to in the UN peacekeeping web page provide more of a support function for the military peace keeping operation (logistical, engineering, election monitoring, etc.) than as peace specialists per se. What sets civilian peace professionals apart from the military (the boots) whose mandate ultimately is the defense of Canada, and from the diplomats (the suits) whose mandate ultimately is to represent Canada’s best interests abroad, is that civilian peace practitioners (the roots) have no vested national interests. Like doctors, for whom a patient is a patient is a patient, regardless their creed, colour, or country, peace professionals consider the conflict their patient. Their role is to bring the best professional advice on how to defuse, prevent, and ultimately cure the conflict. All three are needed. But the peace keeper, in this formulation, is definitely part of the uniformed defense equation, seconded by nations through the UN. The Peace Professional, is a professional, who, as in any other profession (including the military), has met the standards set for this vocation. (see the two sections below –first the UN Peacekeeper recruitment info and second, the CpeaceSC Canada Peace Professional accreditation criteria).
The UN Peacekeeper
(from www.un.org/en/peacekeeping, with our emphasis inserted in blue and our observations inserted in italics)
United Nations Peacekeeping helps countries torn by conflict create the conditions for lasting peace. We are comprised of civilian, police and military personnel.
As of 31 July 2011, our workforce consisted of:
- 84,898 serving troops and military observers
- 13,124 police personnel;
- 114 countries contributed military and police personnel;
- 5,707 international civilian personnel; (Note the ratio of military to civilian personnel, which include engineers, logisticians, etc. not necessarily mediators etc.)
- 13,870 local civilian staff;
- 2,210 UN Volunteers.
The UN does not have its own military force; it depends on contributions from Member States… Aside from the widely known “blue helmets”, which are military forces provided directly by the Member States of the United Nations, these operations also rely on civilian staff for a wide variety of functions ranging from monitoring the observance of human rights to managing human or material resources. These operations provide significant opportunities for a number of professionals with a variety of professional backgrounds.
At the professional level, candidates must:
- have proven track records in one of the following fields: political affairs, legal affairs, human rights, election monitoring, humanitarian assistance, public information, general administration, procurement, logistics, civil engineering, and electronic data processing (Again, please note that they do not need to have an overview of the basic “Peace Professional” values and competencies required for Peace Professional accreditation)
- have an advanced university degree or its equivalent in a relevant discipline;
- preferably have two to four years of prior relevant professional experience;
- be fluent in English and/or French. Fluency in additional languages, such as Arabic, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish, as well as working experience in developing countries, constitute a definite advantage;
- be in excellent health and prepared to work in hardship areas under difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions.
(N.B. no overt values requirements)
The CpeaceSC
“Peace Professional”
A CpeaceSC “peace professional” is someone from any field who has additionally met the standards of professionalism set by CPeaceSC and has been accredited by a CpeaceSC Assessment Board, based on a rigorous assessment of CpeaceSC Core Values and Key Competencies.
CpeaceSC Core Values: empathy, humility, integrity, personal maturity, sincerity, sound judgment, strong desire for social justice, willingness to learn.
CpeaceSC Key competencies: advanced communication skills, conciliation, conflict analysis and transformation, mediation, negotiation, operational planning, peace building, human security, strategic thinking, teamwork.
Even if drawn from the wide variety of related strategic peace paths shown in the Lederach Peace Wheel below (e.g. mediation, alternative dispute resolution, etc., CpeaceCS professionals must additionally have met a professional peace profile embracing competencies and values set by CpeaceSC.
l. What is the difference between a Peace Professional and a professional mediator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, etc.? And between a Peace Professional and professionals active in strategic areas identified in Lederach’s broadly interpreted Peacewheel.
The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATAAlliance) grows the revenues of its members by creating a collaborative edge — a chain of expanding value that ripples across Canada’s Innovators, Commercializers, Users, and Professionals.
The largest high-tech association in Canada, CATAAlliance matches businesses with opportunities across almost every sector, so that we can all do business together. Reaching out from Canada, CATAAlliance members are connected with investment and partnership opportunities with the major global companies. As 80% are exporters, CATA’s members are the arrow-head for global growth.
Through its Innovation Nation program, CEOs come together to catalyze the development of the Canadian business environment. CATA is the foundation for commercialization, market research, networking, events, access to other associations, and professional development, across the nation.
Add your strength to the collaborative edge — we would like to connect with you! Support Industry Advocacy and Business Development: Apply for membership today
e. What is i-Canada?
i-CANADA is dedicated to the creation of smart communities across the country, through the use of ultra-high-speed networks, for a globally competitive economy.
i-CANADA is nation of Intelligent Communities large and small, central and remote, all enjoying the economic and environmental development, job growth and social prosperity now available in the world’s leading Intelligent Communities or Smart Cities. We will have expanded upon Canada’s “Islands of Excellence” like Moncton, Fredericton, Stratford, Windsor-Essex, Calgary and Waterloo who have all been recognized for excellence by the Global Intelligent Community Forum.
If we ask ourselves what a successful i-CANADA looks like we would expect to see:
- Global companies locating here thanks to the unparalleled quality of place and advanced low cost open access ultra broadband communications supporting an array of talent working in an environment conducive to collaboration and innovation.
- Canada no longer ranks near the bottom of the pack for its broadband performance as it does in 2010: 22nd out of 30 countries in the Harvard Berkman Centre’s recent study for the US Federal Communications Commission and 32nd in the Net International Index of broadband download speeds, ranking behind Moldova, Hungary and Bulgaria. Canada will have reclaimed her crown as one of the world’s leaders in telecommunications.
- New forms of telepresence collaboration accelerate our rate of innovation and the growth of young companies.
- Canadians living in the north, or in aboriginal communities, and throughout Canada will have access to our best interactive and diagnostic health services, learning and training services, and business development services …….. all available without leaving home.
- Open access ultra broadband will allow our new health caregiver support systems to dramatically expand their support for patients with cancer, diabetes and other debilitating ailments. Ageing well in the home through enhanced caregiver support becomes a reality and our healthcare costs per capita decline significantly.
- Intelligent Transportation becomes a reality with reduced environmental impacts, improved service, shorter travel times and fewer accidents.
- Teachers are teaching English as a second language from their own homes to students in other countries like South Korea where ultra broadband is a reality today.
- Intelligent buildings are substantially reducing the carbon footprint of our communities.
- Film editors are working from their homes or community business centres and providing film editing services to directors working in other ultra broadband countries. Directors no longer have to fly to the editing studio between film shoots.
- Educators are providing a more engaging learning experience to meet the diverse needs of learners making the dream of “classrooms without walls” a reality. Learning truly takes place beyond the classroom, tailored to each individual’s own unique style, pace, place and time. Virtual collaboration between parents and teachers really works.
- “IMAX” to the home and other advanced forms of entertainment and information services are easily connected to community home entertainment centres presenting new ways to watch the Paris Opera, the Super Bowl, Wimbledon Tennis and hundreds of other events. (www.i-canada-network.ca)
f. What is CpeaceSC?
CpeaceSC is the Civilian Peace Service Canada.
g. Why “Civilian” Peace Service?
What sets civilian peace professionals apart from the military (the boots) whose mandate ultimately is the defense of Canada, and from the diplomats (the suits) whose mandate ultimately is to represent Canada’s best interests abroad, is that civilian peace practitioners (the roots) have no vested national interests. Like doctors, for whom a patient is a patient is a patient, regardless their creed, colour, or country, peace professionals consider the conflict their patient. Their role is to bring the best professional advice on how to defuse, prevent, and ultimately cure the conflict. All three are needed. The Peace Professional is a professional, who, as in any other profession (including the military), has met the standards set for this vocation.
CpeaceSC Goal: to build a sustainable peace, in partnership with communities at home and abroad. CpeaceSC Vision: world leader in accreditation of peace professionals. CpeaceSC is professionalizing peace work. Like doctors, lawyers, engineers, soldiers, environmentalists, etc., it is time for peace workers to establish and apply standards to the practice of their skills and the application of their expertise. We must:
- apply appropriate values and principles critical to this field of practice,
- build credibility for peace practitioners with the wider public and decision makers in order to effectively influence national and international policy and action, and
- distinguish between those who have taken a few weeks of peace related training and those who have years of related training, experience and evidence of results in the field.
A peace professional is someone who has met the standards of professionalism set by the Civilian Peace Service Canada (CPSC) and has been accredited by a CPSC Assessment Board, based on a rigorous assessment of Core Values and Key Competencies. Conflict prevention, as well as resolution and/or transformation, is increasingly recognized as critical and requires a distinct skill set. As with doctors, lawyers, engineers and soldiers, peace workers must be assessed and accredited for competence and professionalism. Astoundingly, before the ground-breaking work of the CpeaceSC, there was no standard for assessing the qualifications of disparate civilian peace workers.<1>
h. What is Communities@Peace?
Communities@Peace will channel social and technological energy towards serving the highest aspiration of an Intelligent Community: to live our lives in harmony. It will make use of i-CANADA’s extensive social and technical networks in communities across the country, to establish programs aimed at curtailing conflict that strains the fabric of the community — conflict between domestic partners, commercial organizations, social groups, economic interests, and employee-employer relations.
A parallel initiative, Youth@Peace, will bring technology together with social networks to guide youth through a path of peace training, experiential learning and ultimately assessment and formal accreditation. It will work with existing best in the world training organizations and with communities throughout Canada to:
- train youth in the competencies of nonviolent conflict management;
- support existing training and learning institutions and organizations in the development of a curriculum of peace and conflict studies, drawing on world-best examples of “what works”, and make it accessible through online hubs;
- provide career opportunities for employment in community development, peacemaking and civil security.
Communities@Peace is based on the i-CANADA framework for collaboration, in which Open access ultra broadband infrastructures facilitate new support systems that will dramatically expand networking and understanding for all groups within the community. New forms of telepresence collaboration stimulate collaborative research, innovation, the creation of new young collaborations.
Through Communities@Peace, a focus program is being created called the Domestic Violence Eradication (DOVE) Program. DOVE’s objective is to mobilize Canada’s advanced technology sector and the networks of Intelligent Communities such that Canadian communities establish the knowledge-based intelligent solutions and parallel social supports, to ameliorate the single most pervasive human rights violation in Canada today.
Other Communities@Peace programs focus on educators, using advanced technology through social stakeholders to provide a more engaging and interactive learning experience that make the lessons of peace-making more accessible than ever. Learning truly takes place beyond the classroom, tailored to each individual’s own unique style, pace, place and time. Virtual collaboration between potential partners is assured of success.
Advanced forms of entertainment and information services are also harnessed to Communities@Peace, using new media productions and community home entertainment centres to present new ways to provide peace-making skills. New frontiers in digital media produce new collaboration-centric products, services, investments, international trade and employment opportunities for all Canadians, thanks to a competitive blend of creativity and technology.
i. Why link CpeaceSC with Communities@Peace and the Canadian Peace Service?
Creating a peace profession, in conjunction with intelligent communities, has the potential to prevent and stop major conflicts, including wars. In addition, this will have a number of other long and short-term positive outcomes, among them:
- Prosperity through consumer and investor confidence;
- Reduction in unintended harm caused by well-meaning, unaccredited peace workers;
- A strengthened society by reinforcing values and expertise in conflict resolution through the spread of Peace Professionals and their knowledge, in traditional and digital outreach formats, as well as participation in national and international decision making;
- Career opportunities for employment in societal development, civil security and dispute resolution, using online databases and search engines to augment expert guidance;
- Multiplying and enhancing Canada’s reputation across the globe and create an “overhang” of goodwill.
CpeaceSC will work with youth and community leaders, local and regional officials, federal and provincial leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), educational and private sector partners to:
- provide the assessment, training, and accreditation of Peace Professionals, Youth Peace Apprentices and Peace Volunteers;
facilitate the deployment of peace professionals, apprentices and volunteers to areas in need;
- conduct comprehensive research in threat assessment and early warning indicators;
- carry out evaluation, follow-up, and continuous improvement of its programs; and
- effectively engage with the Canadian Government and general public on matters pertaining to preventive peacebuilding and how it contributes to economic prosperity and social cohesion.
j. Why pragmatic peace?
The phrase pragmatic peace was coined by the Institute on Environmental Diplomacy and Security.
The Collins English dictionary describes “pragmatic” as: Advocating behaviour that is dictated more by practical consequences than by theory or dogma. In a single word, which is easily understood and applied, “pragmatic” also sums up three key supporting criteria: the “3 Ps of peace” — positive, practical, and productive (“positive” in the sense that it’s not “anti-” anything: not anti-government, anti-Harper, anti-war [at least explicitly], etc. Instead, it’s pro-communication, pro-empathy, pro-conflict resolution, etc.) The “practical” and “productive” aspects are self-explanatory, and sometimes are simply referred to as “practical” or “concrete” initiatives or approaches. [Courtesy of The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation].
“Positive Peace” (vs. “Negative Peace”) was ultimately considered to be too subtle (and therefore potentially confusing) a distinction for the purposes of the Communities@Peace initiative]. (Claske Dijkema, Saint Martin d’Hères, May 2007:
“Johan Galtung, the father of peace studies often refers to the distinction between ‘negative peace’ and ‘positive peace’ (e.g. Galtung 1996). Negative peace refers to the absence of violence. When, for example, a ceasefire is enacted, a negative peace will ensue. It is negative because something undesirable stopped happening (e.g. the violence stopped, the oppression ended). Positive peace is filled with positive content such as restoration of relationships, the creation of social systems that serve the needs of the whole population and the constructive resolution of conflict. Peace does not mean the total absence of any conflict. It means the absence of violence in all forms and the unfolding of conflict in a constructive way. Peace therefore exists where people are interacting non-violently and are managing their conflict positively – with respectful attention to the legitimate needs and interest of all concerned.”
k. What is the Difference between a UN Peacekeeper and a Peace Professional accredited by CpeaceSC?
The UN Peacekeeping and CpeaceSC Peace Professional requirements shown on the next few pages help to demonstrate the wide differentiation between a qualified UN Peacekeeping Professional and a qualified CpeaceSC Peace Professional. UN Peacekeepers are primarily military professionals providing a peacekeeping service (often for a specific duration), while Peace Professionals accredited by CpeaceSC have demonstrated and are professionally applying the required CpeaceSC competencies and values.
Civilians referred to in the UN peacekeeping web page provide more of a support function for the military peace keeping operation (logistical, engineering, election monitoring, etc.) than as peace specialists per se. What sets civilian peace professionals apart from the military (the boots) whose mandate ultimately is the defense of Canada, and from the diplomats (the suits) whose mandate ultimately is to represent Canada’s best interests abroad, is that civilian peace practitioners (the roots) have no vested national interests. Like doctors, for whom a patient is a patient is a patient, regardless their creed, colour, or country, peace professionals consider the conflict their patient. Their role is to bring the best professional advice on how to defuse, prevent, and ultimately cure the conflict. All three are needed. But the peace keeper, in this formulation, is definitely part of the uniformed defense equation, seconded by nations through the UN. The Peace Professional, is a professional, who, as in any other profession (including the military), has met the standards set for this vocation. (see the two sections below –first the UN Peacekeeper recruitment info and second, the CpeaceSC Canada Peace Professional accreditation criteria).
The UN Peacekeeper
(from www.un.org/en/peacekeeping, with our emphasis inserted in blue and our observations inserted in italics)
United Nations Peacekeeping helps countries torn by conflict create the conditions for lasting peace. We are comprised of civilian, police and military personnel.
As of 31 July 2011, our workforce consisted of:
- 84,898 serving troops and military observers
- 13,124 police personnel;
- 114 countries contributed military and police personnel;
- 5,707 international civilian personnel; (Note the ratio of military to civilian personnel, which include engineers, logisticians, etc. not necessarily mediators etc.)
- 13,870 local civilian staff;
- 2,210 UN Volunteers.
The UN does not have its own military force; it depends on contributions from Member States… Aside from the widely known “blue helmets”, which are military forces provided directly by the Member States of the United Nations, these operations also rely on civilian staff for a wide variety of functions ranging from monitoring the observance of human rights to managing human or material resources. These operations provide significant opportunities for a number of professionals with a variety of professional backgrounds.
At the professional level, candidates must:
- have proven track records in one of the following fields: political affairs, legal affairs, human rights, election monitoring, humanitarian assistance, public information, general administration, procurement, logistics, civil engineering, and electronic data processing (Again, please note that they do not need to have an overview of the basic “Peace Professional” values and competencies required for Peace Professional accreditation)
- have an advanced university degree or its equivalent in a relevant discipline;
- preferably have two to four years of prior relevant professional experience;
- be fluent in English and/or French. Fluency in additional languages, such as Arabic, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish, as well as working experience in developing countries, constitute a definite advantage;
- be in excellent health and prepared to work in hardship areas under difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions.
(N.B. no overt values requirements)
The CpeaceSC
“Peace Professional”
A CpeaceSC “peace professional” is someone from any field who has additionally met the standards of professionalism set by CPeaceSC and has been accredited by a CpeaceSC Assessment Board, based on a rigorous assessment of CpeaceSC Core Values and Key Competencies.
CpeaceSC Core Values: empathy, humility, integrity, personal maturity, sincerity, sound judgment, strong desire for social justice, willingness to learn.
CpeaceSC Key competencies: advanced communication skills, conciliation, conflict analysis and transformation, mediation, negotiation, operational planning, peace building, human security, strategic thinking, teamwork.
Even if drawn from the wide variety of related strategic peace paths shown in the Lederach Peace Wheel below (e.g. mediation, alternative dispute resolution, etc., CpeaceCS professionals must additionally have met a professional peace profile embracing competencies and values set by CpeaceSC.
l. What is the difference between a Peace Professional and a professional mediator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, etc.? And between a Peace Professional and professionals active in strategic areas identified in Lederach’s broadly interpreted Peacewheel.
CpeaceSC is the Civilian Peace Service Canada.
What sets civilian peace professionals apart from the military (the boots) whose mandate ultimately is the defense of Canada, and from the diplomats (the suits) whose mandate ultimately is to represent Canada’s best interests abroad, is that civilian peace practitioners (the roots) have no vested national interests. Like doctors, for whom a patient is a patient is a patient, regardless their creed, colour, or country, peace professionals consider the conflict their patient. Their role is to bring the best professional advice on how to defuse, prevent, and ultimately cure the conflict. All three are needed. The Peace Professional is a professional, who, as in any other profession (including the military), has met the standards set for this vocation.
CpeaceSC Goal: to build a sustainable peace, in partnership with communities at home and abroad. CpeaceSC Vision: world leader in accreditation of peace professionals. CpeaceSC is professionalizing peace work. Like doctors, lawyers, engineers, soldiers, environmentalists, etc., it is time for peace workers to establish and apply standards to the practice of their skills and the application of their expertise. We must:
- apply appropriate values and principles critical to this field of practice,
- build credibility for peace practitioners with the wider public and decision makers in order to effectively influence national and international policy and action, and
- distinguish between those who have taken a few weeks of peace related training and those who have years of related training, experience and evidence of results in the field.
A peace professional is someone who has met the standards of professionalism set by the Civilian Peace Service Canada (CPSC) and has been accredited by a CPSC Assessment Board, based on a rigorous assessment of Core Values and Key Competencies. Conflict prevention, as well as resolution and/or transformation, is increasingly recognized as critical and requires a distinct skill set. As with doctors, lawyers, engineers and soldiers, peace workers must be assessed and accredited for competence and professionalism. Astoundingly, before the ground-breaking work of the CpeaceSC, there was no standard for assessing the qualifications of disparate civilian peace workers.<1>
h. What is Communities@Peace?
Communities@Peace will channel social and technological energy towards serving the highest aspiration of an Intelligent Community: to live our lives in harmony. It will make use of i-CANADA’s extensive social and technical networks in communities across the country, to establish programs aimed at curtailing conflict that strains the fabric of the community — conflict between domestic partners, commercial organizations, social groups, economic interests, and employee-employer relations.
A parallel initiative, Youth@Peace, will bring technology together with social networks to guide youth through a path of peace training, experiential learning and ultimately assessment and formal accreditation. It will work with existing best in the world training organizations and with communities throughout Canada to:
- train youth in the competencies of nonviolent conflict management;
- support existing training and learning institutions and organizations in the development of a curriculum of peace and conflict studies, drawing on world-best examples of “what works”, and make it accessible through online hubs;
- provide career opportunities for employment in community development, peacemaking and civil security.
Communities@Peace is based on the i-CANADA framework for collaboration, in which Open access ultra broadband infrastructures facilitate new support systems that will dramatically expand networking and understanding for all groups within the community. New forms of telepresence collaboration stimulate collaborative research, innovation, the creation of new young collaborations.
Through Communities@Peace, a focus program is being created called the Domestic Violence Eradication (DOVE) Program. DOVE’s objective is to mobilize Canada’s advanced technology sector and the networks of Intelligent Communities such that Canadian communities establish the knowledge-based intelligent solutions and parallel social supports, to ameliorate the single most pervasive human rights violation in Canada today.
Other Communities@Peace programs focus on educators, using advanced technology through social stakeholders to provide a more engaging and interactive learning experience that make the lessons of peace-making more accessible than ever. Learning truly takes place beyond the classroom, tailored to each individual’s own unique style, pace, place and time. Virtual collaboration between potential partners is assured of success.
Advanced forms of entertainment and information services are also harnessed to Communities@Peace, using new media productions and community home entertainment centres to present new ways to provide peace-making skills. New frontiers in digital media produce new collaboration-centric products, services, investments, international trade and employment opportunities for all Canadians, thanks to a competitive blend of creativity and technology.
i. Why link CpeaceSC with Communities@Peace and the Canadian Peace Service?
Creating a peace profession, in conjunction with intelligent communities, has the potential to prevent and stop major conflicts, including wars. In addition, this will have a number of other long and short-term positive outcomes, among them:
- Prosperity through consumer and investor confidence;
- Reduction in unintended harm caused by well-meaning, unaccredited peace workers;
- A strengthened society by reinforcing values and expertise in conflict resolution through the spread of Peace Professionals and their knowledge, in traditional and digital outreach formats, as well as participation in national and international decision making;
- Career opportunities for employment in societal development, civil security and dispute resolution, using online databases and search engines to augment expert guidance;
- Multiplying and enhancing Canada’s reputation across the globe and create an “overhang” of goodwill.
CpeaceSC will work with youth and community leaders, local and regional officials, federal and provincial leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), educational and private sector partners to:
- provide the assessment, training, and accreditation of Peace Professionals, Youth Peace Apprentices and Peace Volunteers;
facilitate the deployment of peace professionals, apprentices and volunteers to areas in need;
- conduct comprehensive research in threat assessment and early warning indicators;
- carry out evaluation, follow-up, and continuous improvement of its programs; and
- effectively engage with the Canadian Government and general public on matters pertaining to preventive peacebuilding and how it contributes to economic prosperity and social cohesion.
j. Why pragmatic peace?
The phrase pragmatic peace was coined by the Institute on Environmental Diplomacy and Security.
The Collins English dictionary describes “pragmatic” as: Advocating behaviour that is dictated more by practical consequences than by theory or dogma. In a single word, which is easily understood and applied, “pragmatic” also sums up three key supporting criteria: the “3 Ps of peace” — positive, practical, and productive (“positive” in the sense that it’s not “anti-” anything: not anti-government, anti-Harper, anti-war [at least explicitly], etc. Instead, it’s pro-communication, pro-empathy, pro-conflict resolution, etc.) The “practical” and “productive” aspects are self-explanatory, and sometimes are simply referred to as “practical” or “concrete” initiatives or approaches. [Courtesy of The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation].
“Positive Peace” (vs. “Negative Peace”) was ultimately considered to be too subtle (and therefore potentially confusing) a distinction for the purposes of the Communities@Peace initiative]. (Claske Dijkema, Saint Martin d’Hères, May 2007:
“Johan Galtung, the father of peace studies often refers to the distinction between ‘negative peace’ and ‘positive peace’ (e.g. Galtung 1996). Negative peace refers to the absence of violence. When, for example, a ceasefire is enacted, a negative peace will ensue. It is negative because something undesirable stopped happening (e.g. the violence stopped, the oppression ended). Positive peace is filled with positive content such as restoration of relationships, the creation of social systems that serve the needs of the whole population and the constructive resolution of conflict. Peace does not mean the total absence of any conflict. It means the absence of violence in all forms and the unfolding of conflict in a constructive way. Peace therefore exists where people are interacting non-violently and are managing their conflict positively – with respectful attention to the legitimate needs and interest of all concerned.”
k. What is the Difference between a UN Peacekeeper and a Peace Professional accredited by CpeaceSC?
The UN Peacekeeping and CpeaceSC Peace Professional requirements shown on the next few pages help to demonstrate the wide differentiation between a qualified UN Peacekeeping Professional and a qualified CpeaceSC Peace Professional. UN Peacekeepers are primarily military professionals providing a peacekeeping service (often for a specific duration), while Peace Professionals accredited by CpeaceSC have demonstrated and are professionally applying the required CpeaceSC competencies and values.
Civilians referred to in the UN peacekeeping web page provide more of a support function for the military peace keeping operation (logistical, engineering, election monitoring, etc.) than as peace specialists per se. What sets civilian peace professionals apart from the military (the boots) whose mandate ultimately is the defense of Canada, and from the diplomats (the suits) whose mandate ultimately is to represent Canada’s best interests abroad, is that civilian peace practitioners (the roots) have no vested national interests. Like doctors, for whom a patient is a patient is a patient, regardless their creed, colour, or country, peace professionals consider the conflict their patient. Their role is to bring the best professional advice on how to defuse, prevent, and ultimately cure the conflict. All three are needed. But the peace keeper, in this formulation, is definitely part of the uniformed defense equation, seconded by nations through the UN. The Peace Professional, is a professional, who, as in any other profession (including the military), has met the standards set for this vocation. (see the two sections below –first the UN Peacekeeper recruitment info and second, the CpeaceSC Canada Peace Professional accreditation criteria).
The UN Peacekeeper
(from www.un.org/en/peacekeeping, with our emphasis inserted in blue and our observations inserted in italics)
United Nations Peacekeeping helps countries torn by conflict create the conditions for lasting peace. We are comprised of civilian, police and military personnel.
As of 31 July 2011, our workforce consisted of:
- 84,898 serving troops and military observers
- 13,124 police personnel;
- 114 countries contributed military and police personnel;
- 5,707 international civilian personnel; (Note the ratio of military to civilian personnel, which include engineers, logisticians, etc. not necessarily mediators etc.)
- 13,870 local civilian staff;
- 2,210 UN Volunteers.
The UN does not have its own military force; it depends on contributions from Member States… Aside from the widely known “blue helmets”, which are military forces provided directly by the Member States of the United Nations, these operations also rely on civilian staff for a wide variety of functions ranging from monitoring the observance of human rights to managing human or material resources. These operations provide significant opportunities for a number of professionals with a variety of professional backgrounds.
At the professional level, candidates must:
- have proven track records in one of the following fields: political affairs, legal affairs, human rights, election monitoring, humanitarian assistance, public information, general administration, procurement, logistics, civil engineering, and electronic data processing (Again, please note that they do not need to have an overview of the basic “Peace Professional” values and competencies required for Peace Professional accreditation)
- have an advanced university degree or its equivalent in a relevant discipline;
- preferably have two to four years of prior relevant professional experience;
- be fluent in English and/or French. Fluency in additional languages, such as Arabic, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish, as well as working experience in developing countries, constitute a definite advantage;
- be in excellent health and prepared to work in hardship areas under difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions.
(N.B. no overt values requirements)
The CpeaceSC
“Peace Professional”
A CpeaceSC “peace professional” is someone from any field who has additionally met the standards of professionalism set by CPeaceSC and has been accredited by a CpeaceSC Assessment Board, based on a rigorous assessment of CpeaceSC Core Values and Key Competencies.
CpeaceSC Core Values: empathy, humility, integrity, personal maturity, sincerity, sound judgment, strong desire for social justice, willingness to learn.
CpeaceSC Key competencies: advanced communication skills, conciliation, conflict analysis and transformation, mediation, negotiation, operational planning, peace building, human security, strategic thinking, teamwork.
Even if drawn from the wide variety of related strategic peace paths shown in the Lederach Peace Wheel below (e.g. mediation, alternative dispute resolution, etc., CpeaceCS professionals must additionally have met a professional peace profile embracing competencies and values set by CpeaceSC.
l. What is the difference between a Peace Professional and a professional mediator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, etc.? And between a Peace Professional and professionals active in strategic areas identified in Lederach’s broadly interpreted Peacewheel.
Communities@Peace will channel social and technological energy towards serving the highest aspiration of an Intelligent Community: to live our lives in harmony. It will make use of i-CANADA’s extensive social and technical networks in communities across the country, to establish programs aimed at curtailing conflict that strains the fabric of the community — conflict between domestic partners, commercial organizations, social groups, economic interests, and employee-employer relations.
A parallel initiative, Youth@Peace, will bring technology together with social networks to guide youth through a path of peace training, experiential learning and ultimately assessment and formal accreditation. It will work with existing best in the world training organizations and with communities throughout Canada to:
- train youth in the competencies of nonviolent conflict management;
- support existing training and learning institutions and organizations in the development of a curriculum of peace and conflict studies, drawing on world-best examples of “what works”, and make it accessible through online hubs;
- provide career opportunities for employment in community development, peacemaking and civil security.
Communities@Peace is based on the i-CANADA framework for collaboration, in which Open access ultra broadband infrastructures facilitate new support systems that will dramatically expand networking and understanding for all groups within the community. New forms of telepresence collaboration stimulate collaborative research, innovation, the creation of new young collaborations.
Through Communities@Peace, a focus program is being created called the Domestic Violence Eradication (DOVE) Program. DOVE’s objective is to mobilize Canada’s advanced technology sector and the networks of Intelligent Communities such that Canadian communities establish the knowledge-based intelligent solutions and parallel social supports, to ameliorate the single most pervasive human rights violation in Canada today.
Other Communities@Peace programs focus on educators, using advanced technology through social stakeholders to provide a more engaging and interactive learning experience that make the lessons of peace-making more accessible than ever. Learning truly takes place beyond the classroom, tailored to each individual’s own unique style, pace, place and time. Virtual collaboration between potential partners is assured of success.
Advanced forms of entertainment and information services are also harnessed to Communities@Peace, using new media productions and community home entertainment centres to present new ways to provide peace-making skills. New frontiers in digital media produce new collaboration-centric products, services, investments, international trade and employment opportunities for all Canadians, thanks to a competitive blend of creativity and technology.
Creating a peace profession, in conjunction with intelligent communities, has the potential to prevent and stop major conflicts, including wars. In addition, this will have a number of other long and short-term positive outcomes, among them:
- Prosperity through consumer and investor confidence;
- Reduction in unintended harm caused by well-meaning, unaccredited peace workers;
- A strengthened society by reinforcing values and expertise in conflict resolution through the spread of Peace Professionals and their knowledge, in traditional and digital outreach formats, as well as participation in national and international decision making;
- Career opportunities for employment in societal development, civil security and dispute resolution, using online databases and search engines to augment expert guidance;
- Multiplying and enhancing Canada’s reputation across the globe and create an “overhang” of goodwill.
CpeaceSC will work with youth and community leaders, local and regional officials, federal and provincial leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), educational and private sector partners to:
- provide the assessment, training, and accreditation of Peace Professionals, Youth Peace Apprentices and Peace Volunteers;
facilitate the deployment of peace professionals, apprentices and volunteers to areas in need;
- conduct comprehensive research in threat assessment and early warning indicators;
- carry out evaluation, follow-up, and continuous improvement of its programs; and
- effectively engage with the Canadian Government and general public on matters pertaining to preventive peacebuilding and how it contributes to economic prosperity and social cohesion.
j. Why pragmatic peace?
The phrase pragmatic peace was coined by the Institute on Environmental Diplomacy and Security.
The Collins English dictionary describes “pragmatic” as: Advocating behaviour that is dictated more by practical consequences than by theory or dogma. In a single word, which is easily understood and applied, “pragmatic” also sums up three key supporting criteria: the “3 Ps of peace” — positive, practical, and productive (“positive” in the sense that it’s not “anti-” anything: not anti-government, anti-Harper, anti-war [at least explicitly], etc. Instead, it’s pro-communication, pro-empathy, pro-conflict resolution, etc.) The “practical” and “productive” aspects are self-explanatory, and sometimes are simply referred to as “practical” or “concrete” initiatives or approaches. [Courtesy of The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation].
“Positive Peace” (vs. “Negative Peace”) was ultimately considered to be too subtle (and therefore potentially confusing) a distinction for the purposes of the Communities@Peace initiative]. (Claske Dijkema, Saint Martin d’Hères, May 2007:
“Johan Galtung, the father of peace studies often refers to the distinction between ‘negative peace’ and ‘positive peace’ (e.g. Galtung 1996). Negative peace refers to the absence of violence. When, for example, a ceasefire is enacted, a negative peace will ensue. It is negative because something undesirable stopped happening (e.g. the violence stopped, the oppression ended). Positive peace is filled with positive content such as restoration of relationships, the creation of social systems that serve the needs of the whole population and the constructive resolution of conflict. Peace does not mean the total absence of any conflict. It means the absence of violence in all forms and the unfolding of conflict in a constructive way. Peace therefore exists where people are interacting non-violently and are managing their conflict positively – with respectful attention to the legitimate needs and interest of all concerned.”
k. What is the Difference between a UN Peacekeeper and a Peace Professional accredited by CpeaceSC?
The UN Peacekeeping and CpeaceSC Peace Professional requirements shown on the next few pages help to demonstrate the wide differentiation between a qualified UN Peacekeeping Professional and a qualified CpeaceSC Peace Professional. UN Peacekeepers are primarily military professionals providing a peacekeeping service (often for a specific duration), while Peace Professionals accredited by CpeaceSC have demonstrated and are professionally applying the required CpeaceSC competencies and values.
Civilians referred to in the UN peacekeeping web page provide more of a support function for the military peace keeping operation (logistical, engineering, election monitoring, etc.) than as peace specialists per se. What sets civilian peace professionals apart from the military (the boots) whose mandate ultimately is the defense of Canada, and from the diplomats (the suits) whose mandate ultimately is to represent Canada’s best interests abroad, is that civilian peace practitioners (the roots) have no vested national interests. Like doctors, for whom a patient is a patient is a patient, regardless their creed, colour, or country, peace professionals consider the conflict their patient. Their role is to bring the best professional advice on how to defuse, prevent, and ultimately cure the conflict. All three are needed. But the peace keeper, in this formulation, is definitely part of the uniformed defense equation, seconded by nations through the UN. The Peace Professional, is a professional, who, as in any other profession (including the military), has met the standards set for this vocation. (see the two sections below –first the UN Peacekeeper recruitment info and second, the CpeaceSC Canada Peace Professional accreditation criteria).
The UN Peacekeeper
(from www.un.org/en/peacekeeping, with our emphasis inserted in blue and our observations inserted in italics)
United Nations Peacekeeping helps countries torn by conflict create the conditions for lasting peace. We are comprised of civilian, police and military personnel.
As of 31 July 2011, our workforce consisted of:
- 84,898 serving troops and military observers
- 13,124 police personnel;
- 114 countries contributed military and police personnel;
- 5,707 international civilian personnel; (Note the ratio of military to civilian personnel, which include engineers, logisticians, etc. not necessarily mediators etc.)
- 13,870 local civilian staff;
- 2,210 UN Volunteers.
The UN does not have its own military force; it depends on contributions from Member States… Aside from the widely known “blue helmets”, which are military forces provided directly by the Member States of the United Nations, these operations also rely on civilian staff for a wide variety of functions ranging from monitoring the observance of human rights to managing human or material resources. These operations provide significant opportunities for a number of professionals with a variety of professional backgrounds.
At the professional level, candidates must:
- have proven track records in one of the following fields: political affairs, legal affairs, human rights, election monitoring, humanitarian assistance, public information, general administration, procurement, logistics, civil engineering, and electronic data processing (Again, please note that they do not need to have an overview of the basic “Peace Professional” values and competencies required for Peace Professional accreditation)
- have an advanced university degree or its equivalent in a relevant discipline;
- preferably have two to four years of prior relevant professional experience;
- be fluent in English and/or French. Fluency in additional languages, such as Arabic, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish, as well as working experience in developing countries, constitute a definite advantage;
- be in excellent health and prepared to work in hardship areas under difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions.
(N.B. no overt values requirements)
The CpeaceSC
“Peace Professional”
A CpeaceSC “peace professional” is someone from any field who has additionally met the standards of professionalism set by CPeaceSC and has been accredited by a CpeaceSC Assessment Board, based on a rigorous assessment of CpeaceSC Core Values and Key Competencies.
CpeaceSC Core Values: empathy, humility, integrity, personal maturity, sincerity, sound judgment, strong desire for social justice, willingness to learn.
CpeaceSC Key competencies: advanced communication skills, conciliation, conflict analysis and transformation, mediation, negotiation, operational planning, peace building, human security, strategic thinking, teamwork.
Even if drawn from the wide variety of related strategic peace paths shown in the Lederach Peace Wheel below (e.g. mediation, alternative dispute resolution, etc., CpeaceCS professionals must additionally have met a professional peace profile embracing competencies and values set by CpeaceSC.
l. What is the difference between a Peace Professional and a professional mediator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, etc.? And between a Peace Professional and professionals active in strategic areas identified in Lederach’s broadly interpreted Peacewheel.
The phrase pragmatic peace was coined by the Institute on Environmental Diplomacy and Security.
The Collins English dictionary describes “pragmatic” as: Advocating behaviour that is dictated more by practical consequences than by theory or dogma. In a single word, which is easily understood and applied, “pragmatic” also sums up three key supporting criteria: the “3 Ps of peace” — positive, practical, and productive (“positive” in the sense that it’s not “anti-” anything: not anti-government, anti-Harper, anti-war [at least explicitly], etc. Instead, it’s pro-communication, pro-empathy, pro-conflict resolution, etc.) The “practical” and “productive” aspects are self-explanatory, and sometimes are simply referred to as “practical” or “concrete” initiatives or approaches. [Courtesy of The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation].
“Positive Peace” (vs. “Negative Peace”) was ultimately considered to be too subtle (and therefore potentially confusing) a distinction for the purposes of the Communities@Peace initiative]. (Claske Dijkema, Saint Martin d’Hères, May 2007:
“Johan Galtung, the father of peace studies often refers to the distinction between ‘negative peace’ and ‘positive peace’ (e.g. Galtung 1996). Negative peace refers to the absence of violence. When, for example, a ceasefire is enacted, a negative peace will ensue. It is negative because something undesirable stopped happening (e.g. the violence stopped, the oppression ended). Positive peace is filled with positive content such as restoration of relationships, the creation of social systems that serve the needs of the whole population and the constructive resolution of conflict. Peace does not mean the total absence of any conflict. It means the absence of violence in all forms and the unfolding of conflict in a constructive way. Peace therefore exists where people are interacting non-violently and are managing their conflict positively – with respectful attention to the legitimate needs and interest of all concerned.”
k. What is the Difference between a UN Peacekeeper and a Peace Professional accredited by CpeaceSC?
The UN Peacekeeping and CpeaceSC Peace Professional requirements shown on the next few pages help to demonstrate the wide differentiation between a qualified UN Peacekeeping Professional and a qualified CpeaceSC Peace Professional. UN Peacekeepers are primarily military professionals providing a peacekeeping service (often for a specific duration), while Peace Professionals accredited by CpeaceSC have demonstrated and are professionally applying the required CpeaceSC competencies and values.
Civilians referred to in the UN peacekeeping web page provide more of a support function for the military peace keeping operation (logistical, engineering, election monitoring, etc.) than as peace specialists per se. What sets civilian peace professionals apart from the military (the boots) whose mandate ultimately is the defense of Canada, and from the diplomats (the suits) whose mandate ultimately is to represent Canada’s best interests abroad, is that civilian peace practitioners (the roots) have no vested national interests. Like doctors, for whom a patient is a patient is a patient, regardless their creed, colour, or country, peace professionals consider the conflict their patient. Their role is to bring the best professional advice on how to defuse, prevent, and ultimately cure the conflict. All three are needed. But the peace keeper, in this formulation, is definitely part of the uniformed defense equation, seconded by nations through the UN. The Peace Professional, is a professional, who, as in any other profession (including the military), has met the standards set for this vocation. (see the two sections below –first the UN Peacekeeper recruitment info and second, the CpeaceSC Canada Peace Professional accreditation criteria).
The UN Peacekeeper (from www.un.org/en/peacekeeping, with our emphasis inserted in blue and our observations inserted in italics)
United Nations Peacekeeping helps countries torn by conflict create the conditions for lasting peace. We are comprised of civilian, police and military personnel.
As of 31 July 2011, our workforce consisted of:
- 84,898 serving troops and military observers
- 13,124 police personnel;
- 114 countries contributed military and police personnel;
- 5,707 international civilian personnel; (Note the ratio of military to civilian personnel, which include engineers, logisticians, etc. not necessarily mediators etc.)
- 13,870 local civilian staff;
- 2,210 UN Volunteers.
The UN does not have its own military force; it depends on contributions from Member States… Aside from the widely known “blue helmets”, which are military forces provided directly by the Member States of the United Nations, these operations also rely on civilian staff for a wide variety of functions ranging from monitoring the observance of human rights to managing human or material resources. These operations provide significant opportunities for a number of professionals with a variety of professional backgrounds.
At the professional level, candidates must:
- have proven track records in one of the following fields: political affairs, legal affairs, human rights, election monitoring, humanitarian assistance, public information, general administration, procurement, logistics, civil engineering, and electronic data processing (Again, please note that they do not need to have an overview of the basic “Peace Professional” values and competencies required for Peace Professional accreditation)
- have an advanced university degree or its equivalent in a relevant discipline;
- preferably have two to four years of prior relevant professional experience;
- be fluent in English and/or French. Fluency in additional languages, such as Arabic, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish, as well as working experience in developing countries, constitute a definite advantage;
- be in excellent health and prepared to work in hardship areas under difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions.
(N.B. no overt values requirements)The CpeaceSC
“Peace Professional”A CpeaceSC “peace professional” is someone from any field who has additionally met the standards of professionalism set by CPeaceSC and has been accredited by a CpeaceSC Assessment Board, based on a rigorous assessment of CpeaceSC Core Values and Key Competencies.
CpeaceSC Core Values: empathy, humility, integrity, personal maturity, sincerity, sound judgment, strong desire for social justice, willingness to learn.
CpeaceSC Key competencies: advanced communication skills, conciliation, conflict analysis and transformation, mediation, negotiation, operational planning, peace building, human security, strategic thinking, teamwork.
Even if drawn from the wide variety of related strategic peace paths shown in the Lederach Peace Wheel below (e.g. mediation, alternative dispute resolution, etc., CpeaceCS professionals must additionally have met a professional peace profile embracing competencies and values set by CpeaceSC.
l. What is the difference between a Peace Professional and a professional mediator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, etc.? And between a Peace Professional and professionals active in strategic areas identified in Lederach’s broadly interpreted Peacewheel.
(e.g. law advocacy and solidarity, restorative justice, transitional justice, trauma healing, humanitarian action, government and multilateral efforts, non-violent social change, dialogue/conflict resolution strategies, education, development, dealing with transnational and global threats, law advocacy and solidarity)
A “peace professional” is someone from any field who has additionally met the standards of professionalism set by CPeaceSC and has been accredited by a CpeaceSC Assessment Board, based on a rigorous assessment of CpeaceSC Core Values and Key Competencies.
(CpeaceSC Core Values: empathy, humility, integrity, personal maturity, sincerity, sound judgment, strong desire for social justice, willingness to learn; CpeaceSC Key competencies: advanced communication skills, conciliation, conflict analysis and transformation, mediation, negotiation, operational planning, peace building, human security, strategic thinking, teamwork).
Lederach’s broadly interpreted peacewheel:
Lederach's Peace Wheel
Image Source:Peace Wheel
m. Can an employee of the Canadian Government (including the military) join the Canadian Peace Service?
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) provides a parallel in its dealings with civil society, multilateral and private sector organizations working in international development. Each brings to the table a necessary but distinct perspective and mandate. A mechanism exists, whereby CIDA officers can be seconded to an NGO for a few years. They are paid by CIDA, but they are employed by, and report to the host NGO or institution. Clearly, to be seconded they need to meet the requisite criteria of the host organization. A similar formula could apply to the Canadian Peace Service, whereby it remains a civilian Peace Service but builds in a mechanism for secondment, based on demonstration of requisite CpeaceSC values and competencies. [Conversely, individual CpeaceSC Peace Professionals can serve throughout society, including the military, just as their fellow professionals from other fields do (e.g. from medicine, law, communications, engineering, etc.)]
n. How do existing training programs offering peace studies differ from what the accredition of Peace Professionals by the Canadian Peace Service, through CpeaceSC, have in mind?
What CpeaceSC is doing differs in a few respects:
- CpeaceSC is doing assessment for accreditation, not training based upon a set curriculum.
[The exception will be in the context of its broader collaboration as part of the Canadian Peace Service in providing a "path to peace professionalism for youth", which will necessitate a training component, as well as opportunities for employment (paid or unpaid) to gain related experience. The training component of the Canadian Peace Service will "knit together" courses / trainings / learning opportunities of all kinds that support the Values and Competencies in the CpeaceSC peace professional framework. However, like CpeaceSC in its accreditation work, the Canadian Peace Service will not do this in competition with the excellent courses / trainings, etc. that are out there now. Instead, the Canadian Peace Service will tap into these resources, and, where pieces of the puzzle are missing, will ask whoever the Canadian Peace Service deems can best deliver, to create the missing piece. Ultimately, this interactive tapestry will form the required curriculum, created from the best of the best in Canada and, as possible, around the world.]- The CpeaceSC assessment for accreditation is based on CpeaceSC values and competencies. They are key. Formal training is necessary (as a general rule) but not sufficient to ensure accreditation.
- Cpeace Core Values: empathy, humility, integrity, personal maturity, sincerity, sound judgment, strong desire for social justice, willingness to learn.
- Cpeace Key Competencies: advanced communication skills, conciliation, conflict analysis and transformation, mediation, negotiation, operational planning, peace building, human security, strategic thinking, teamwork.)
- The methodology used for accreditation is more rigorous than anything CpeaceSC has found elsewhere (as confirmed by highly experienced, past candidates, who found the process of assessment very valuable, on a personal and professional level, whether or not they were ultimately deemed to have met the requirements for CpeaceSC accreditation).
The Accreditation and Standardization Gap in the Peace Field:
There are many sets of courses (or curriculae) in Canada and throughout the world that might look like they would produce an individual who could function or perform well in the “conflict resolution field”. What is missing, is a competent, thorough methodology to assess whether in fact the wide range of graduates have the required values and competencies to apply what they have learned, supplemented by their experience. Many people are making a living in this field internationally, but are they all “professional”? Would they meet a set of standards for a profession? As in medicine and other professional fields, there is an equivalent need for standards to professionalize and accredit the excellent achievements in this field.
CpeaceSC’s Response to the Accreditation and Standardization Gap in the Peace Field:
Having determined through detailed research that there is currently no agreed set of standards worldwide, CpeaceSC is addressing this gap by setting standards for the practice of peace worker skills and the application of their expertise, to:
- apply appropriate values and principles critical to this field of practice;
- build credibility for peace practitioners with the wider public and decision makers in order to effectively influence national and international policy and action; and
- distinguish between those who have taken a few weeks of peace related training and those who have years of related training, experience and evidence of results in the field.
There are of course countless requirements set by a wide variety of courses, including those offering under-graduate and post-graduate degrees, but – again – does that mean that the graduates are necessarily “professional”? Would we feel comfortable having them represent Canada at the cabinet table or in the Sudan (to take just a couple of examples)? Even someone with a PhD in Peace Studies might not meet the CpeaceSC standards for peace professionalism.
Royal Roads provides an early example of CpeaceSC Core Values and Key Competencies being integrated into an existing Peace Studies program, without necessarily graduating fully fledged peace professionals. One of CpeaceSC’s Assessment Board members teaches at Royal Roads. He has included CpeaceSC Core Values and Key Competencies in his courses. The students find it extremely valuable as a basic framework for understanding what it takes to be a “professional” in this field – no other course materials appear to provide as clear a framework. However, exposure to the principles does not qualify them as peace professionals. For that they would have to meet the CpeaceSC accreditation requirements.
o. Is CpeaceSC setting the bar too high?
CpeaceSC is deliberately setting the “bar” high, and necessarily so. Its accreditation aims to serve for the peace field, what the Bar Exam provides aspiring lawyers.
p. Does this demean those who do not qualify as CpeaceSC professionals?
No. Many people study law, but do not necessarily end up practicing as lawyers. Many study medicine and do not end up as doctors. Instead, they serve brilliantly in other capacities.
q. How can young people become involved in the face of such high CpeaceSC standards?
CpeaceSC , in concert with the Canadian Peace Service (more particularly Youth@Peace) have made youth involvement a high priority. Without youth participation they do not consider their work to be viable or sustainable.
Youth@Peace is a priority sub-initiative. It aims to establish the world’s first “Peace Professional” career path for young people who are interested in opportunities for employment and making a contribution to societal development, civil security, and dispute resolution. The initiative will bring technology together with social networks to guide youth through a path of peace training, experiential learning and ultimately assessment and formal accreditation. It will work with existing “best in the world” training organizations and with communities throughout Canada to: a) train youth in the competencies of nonviolent conflict management; b) support existing training and learning institutions and organizations in the development of a curriculum of peace and conflict studies, drawing on world-best examples of “what works”, and make it accessible through online hubs; c) provide career opportunities for employment in community development, peacemaking and civil security.
Working with youth and community leaders, local and regional officials, federal and provincial leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), educational and private sector partners Youth@Peace aims to:
- provide the assessment, training, and accreditation of Peace Professionals, Youth Peace Apprentices and Peace Volunteers;
- facilitate the deployment of peace professionals, apprentices and volunteers to areas in need.
Our goal is to ensure that by the year 2020 Canada’s communities, in large part through the vision, knowledge and expertise of its community leaders and youth, will clearly be world leaders in both being at peace, and in being capable of making professional contributions to national and global peace making.
CpeaceSC is deliberately setting the “bar” high, and necessarily so. Its accreditation aims to serve for the peace field, what the Bar Exam provides aspiring lawyers.
No. Many people study law, but do not necessarily end up practicing as lawyers. Many study medicine and do not end up as doctors. Instead, they serve brilliantly in other capacities.
q. How can young people become involved in the face of such high CpeaceSC standards?
CpeaceSC , in concert with the Canadian Peace Service (more particularly Youth@Peace) have made youth involvement a high priority. Without youth participation they do not consider their work to be viable or sustainable.
Youth@Peace is a priority sub-initiative. It aims to establish the world’s first “Peace Professional” career path for young people who are interested in opportunities for employment and making a contribution to societal development, civil security, and dispute resolution. The initiative will bring technology together with social networks to guide youth through a path of peace training, experiential learning and ultimately assessment and formal accreditation. It will work with existing “best in the world” training organizations and with communities throughout Canada to: a) train youth in the competencies of nonviolent conflict management; b) support existing training and learning institutions and organizations in the development of a curriculum of peace and conflict studies, drawing on world-best examples of “what works”, and make it accessible through online hubs; c) provide career opportunities for employment in community development, peacemaking and civil security.
Working with youth and community leaders, local and regional officials, federal and provincial leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), educational and private sector partners Youth@Peace aims to:
- provide the assessment, training, and accreditation of Peace Professionals, Youth Peace Apprentices and Peace Volunteers;
- facilitate the deployment of peace professionals, apprentices and volunteers to areas in need.
Our goal is to ensure that by the year 2020 Canada’s communities, in large part through the vision, knowledge and expertise of its community leaders and youth, will clearly be world leaders in both being at peace, and in being capable of making professional contributions to national and global peace making.
CpeaceSC , in concert with the Canadian Peace Service (more particularly Youth@Peace) have made youth involvement a high priority. Without youth participation they do not consider their work to be viable or sustainable.
Youth@Peace is a priority sub-initiative. It aims to establish the world’s first “Peace Professional” career path for young people who are interested in opportunities for employment and making a contribution to societal development, civil security, and dispute resolution. The initiative will bring technology together with social networks to guide youth through a path of peace training, experiential learning and ultimately assessment and formal accreditation. It will work with existing “best in the world” training organizations and with communities throughout Canada to: a) train youth in the competencies of nonviolent conflict management; b) support existing training and learning institutions and organizations in the development of a curriculum of peace and conflict studies, drawing on world-best examples of “what works”, and make it accessible through online hubs; c) provide career opportunities for employment in community development, peacemaking and civil security.
Working with youth and community leaders, local and regional officials, federal and provincial leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), educational and private sector partners Youth@Peace aims to:
- provide the assessment, training, and accreditation of Peace Professionals, Youth Peace Apprentices and Peace Volunteers;
- facilitate the deployment of peace professionals, apprentices and volunteers to areas in need.
Our goal is to ensure that by the year 2020 Canada’s communities, in large part through the vision, knowledge and expertise of its community leaders and youth, will clearly be world leaders in both being at peace, and in being capable of making professional contributions to national and global peace making.