What are the aims of ministry for peace
What are the aims of ministry for peace
Description
ministry for peace (mfp) is an organisation of ordinary citizens that works to create and support structures – in the UK and internationally – that promote dialogue and other peaceful means to prevent, transform and resolve violent conflict within Britain and internationally. This work includes efforts towards the creation of government departments and ministries for peace in all countries of the world.
History
mfp was founded in 2003 by Diana Basterfield and Labour MP John McDonnell, and in October of that year succeeded in getting passed in Parliament a Ten-Minute Rule Bill calling for the establishment in the UK of a Ministry for Peace. Two years later, it was a founding member – and hosted the first Summit – of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace, which currently supports members and their campaigns in 35 countries. Subsequent Summits have been held in Canada and Japan and in 2009 will be in Costa Rica. In 2006 mfp established the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues in the UK Parliament as a forum for dialogue across the political spectrum on issues relating to conflict, especially on the practical means to prevent, transform and resolve violent conflict. An advisory group to the APPGCI was formed soon after and comprises senior officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence, and the Department for International Development, as well as senior politicians and representatives from a number of leading peace and conflict NGOs. mfp provides the secretariat to the APPGCI.
Current and future projects
More recently, in October 2008, mfp and the APPGCI supported the launch in Brussels of the international Parliamentarians Network on Conflict Prevention and Human Security, an initiative of the EastWest Institute. To further its development, mfp organised the launch of the Network in Westminster on 25-26 March 2009. mfp and the APPGCI will continue to support and promote the Network in both Houses of Parliament thereafter. Future plans include the establishment of a 'Peace and Conflict Forum' as a physical base and point of contact for those working in the broad field of peace and conflict, be they from government, NGOs, academia or community groups. From this base we plan in time to establish an Institute of Peace and Conflict that will work to mainstream the skills, tools and methods of non-violent conflict transformation through training, research and promotion in the media. mfp will also seek to introduce a new Bill calling for a Ministry for Peace, or similar, when the time is appropriate.
Funding
mfp is funded by the subscriptions of its members and private donations. The APPGCI was established with a grant from UnLtd (the Millennium Awards Commission) and is currently supported by the Atkin Foundation.
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