Somali Peace Line was established at a time when the
international community withdrew its peace-making efforts in Somalia,
following the failed United Nations Operations in 1995.
This was marked by the departure of UNISOM II from Somalia in February
1995. SPL was confronted by a rapidly deteriorating security situation, social
chaos, and a lack of sufficient funds. However, the organization voluntarily
continued its peace activities. Its only funding source that enabled its
functioning at that time was individual contributions by citizens supporting
internal peace efforts and donations by SPL members themselves.
SPL was established to identify and promote peace and conflict resolution
needs of Somalis. Its mandate includes; but not confined: arranging and
organizing peace initiatives; playing mediation role among the various
conflicting groups in Somalia; providing training workshops and seminars on
conflict resolution and peace-building; collecting, analyzing and
disseminating information relating to peace and conflict resolutions;
providing national forum for debates and discussions on peace and conflict
issues; and recommending sound able policy for the development of peace in
Somalia.
SPL was not immune from difficult conditions during it’s
operational period in Somalia. Similar to the other Aid Agencies working in
Somalia, Members of the Somali Peace Line Officers had encountered all forms
of human degrading including: kidnapping, imprisonment, harassments,
intimidation and continuous obstacles hampering to carry out it’s national
responsibly. However with all
that difficult conditions SPL has resisted these serious challenges from
within the Somali Communities.
SPL’S
Vision: We see a sustained peace in Somalia.
SPL
is a community-based peacebuilding organisation which is committed to the
empowerment of Somali Society through interventions that will facilitate the
development of the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills that will enable
us to solve our internal problems through peaceful dialogue. To build the capacities of the society for solving its internal problems,
through research, meetings/discussions on individual groups and general
gatherings to settle their differences in the natural historical systems
(under the shade of trees), providing proper trainings based on the modalities
to solve modern crisis by identifying the real causes of the Somali problems
and finally compiling publications. One of the SPL’s primary aims is to contribute to the building of an
improved and sustainable peace in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
On the other hand SPL
is well informed about the rapid development of the modem technology. We
believe that the world is one village to day. The world is more interconnected
than it was 10 years ago because of the information age. How ever, apart from
many different advantages and development to some countries of the world,
there are also many disadvantage and degeneration to many countries of the
world, especially the undeveloped countries, when it comes to issues of
economics and culture. After the end of cold war the
world is heading to wards globalization in respect to this two things are
imminent: The rich are getting richer,
while the poor are getting poorer. Wars and instabilities have
tremendously increased in the world, particularly in the third world. Hence SPL is very glad to
inform you that it had conducted 5 workshops for 25 schools in Mogadishu and
Afgoye in Match 15 – May 15, 2001. The
main objective of the workshops were: To make schools free from the
conflicts and. To add peace culture to the
school curriculum To reduce violence and
promote dialogue Finally, we have selected 2
participants from each workshop to consult with them how to prepare a booklet
on peace of culture to be thought in the schools Besides these workshops, SPL
conducted two workshops on Mogadishu disarmament; one workshop was held for 30
participants comprising 20 traditional community elders and 10 religious main
figures, from June 17 – 18, 2001 and the other one was held for 100
participants from Mogadishu civil societies, Transitional Parliament and
prominent public figures, from June 20 – 22, 2001. In addition, there was a
public opinion survey on Mogadishu disarmament, conducted by Somali Peace Line
from
June 11 – 21, 2001. Therefore, SPL is very much
pleased to share with you and with other world the peace culture campaign you
have mentioned in your letter. Yours Sincerely Abdullahi Mohamed Shirwa Deputy Chairman
Objectives:
To contribute to the building of sustainable peace and security in
Somalia
To raise public awareness on peace, good governance, transparency and
democracy.
To initiate mediation process between the conflicting factions
Advocacy for democratic
rule principles,
And avocacy of gender equality and minority rights.
Therefore, in order to avoid cultural domination, economical dependency, wars
and conflicts among fellow people of the world, is inevitable to develop
common goals of peace culture to the world