On 21st April 2007, Peace and Cooperation received the prestigious award “Peace and Security 2006”: “Peace and Cooperation is a non-governmental organization centred on promoting a movement of non-violence and creativity to build a world of solidarity”. Founded in 1982 by Joaquín Antuña, a pioneer in development and education for peace, Peace and Cooperation focuses particularly on the key areas of disarmament, development, human rights, solidarity action and global education.
For 25 years, working under the motto of “Create and Survive”, Peace and Cooperation has tirelessly promoted universal education directed at the most vulnerable sectors, strengthened development of local and national agricultural economies, reinforced local production and local business networks and improved health and medical services (including efforts against malaria, AIDS and other diseases). It has similarly helped marginalized populations have access to decent housing, promoted gender equality and carried out food safety projects. Its renowned worldwide School Award initiative recognises students, teachers, and schools that work towards the ideals of peace, multicultural relations and diversity.
Peace and Cooperation has been particularly active in Africa, the Middle East, Central America and the indigenous communities in Mexico. In Africa, Peace and Cooperation has worked towards the development of the production sector and established infrastructures, leading to macroprojects for agricultural development. For example, in Mauritania, Peace and Cooperation has restored agricultural land for the production of rice and constructed a maternal and child hospital and electricity project. It has also worked on community projects for women in South Africa and pediatric services in Equatorial Guinea. In Colombia, South America, Peace and Cooperation has been training women in basic skills and in Mexico it is working on health and environmental sustainability. In Nicaragua, Peace and Cooperation is strengthening the capacity of the agricultural producers while fostering a balance between individuals and the environment. Its projects in the Middle East, where Peace and Cooperation has been working since the 1990’s, mainly in Jordan and Palestine, include efforts to provide medical supplies to children and adults with disabilities and special needs in Bethlehem.
In deciding to present Peace and Cooperation with the 2006 Peace and Security Award, were most impressed with Peace and Cooperation’s 25 years of innovative service to tackle fundamental issues related to peace. Peace and Cooperation’s work touches on all of the Millennium Development Goals, dealing with the causes of violence in an effort to build a peaceful planet.
GLOBAL DIMENSION
Peace and Cooperation works in three main areas: development, education and human rights on an international level, reflecting the objectives of the Charter of the United Nations signed in San Francisco.
Development Projects
Peace and Cooperation has carried out projects in Argentina, Benin, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Jordan, Mauritania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru and South Africa. Peace and Cooperation focuses particularly on Africa with project work in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan and Uganda.
Global Education
Peace and Cooperation has worked in the following countries: Angola, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, The Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela.
Human Rights
Peace and Cooperation is the founder member of the Federation of Associations for the Defence and Promotion of Human Rights in Spain (1993). It has participated in meetings of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with respect to human dimension issues. It actively collaborates with the Human Rights Office of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. It supports, in particular, the rights of religious minorities.
United Nations
1987 – “Peace Messenger Award”
1994 – Department of Public Information (DPI)
1999 – Granted Special Consultative Status of the United Nations (ECOSOC)
