For a World without War and Violence

Processes of democratic transformation, conflicts over natural resources, the struggle for social justice and political change can also enhance conflict. Our aim is not to avoid conflicts, but to prevent them from escalating into violence.

Furthermore we wish to support activities that help to overcome existing violent conflicts and to enhance conflict transformation. We also support our partner organisations to reconstruct communities that have been destroyed by war.

The small-scale farmer opposed to being forced off her land because it is being confiscated for large-scale soya plantations; the herdsman in dispute with farmers over the same piece of land; the lawyer campaigning for the rights of minorities and who is therefore being placed under pressure; the indigenous village community resisting a mining company because it is destroying the environment, livelihoods and sacred sites; the pastor promoting reconciliation and peace after a civil war: All of these people are fighting for more justice, peace and the preservation of creation and thereby coming into conflict with their governments, with companies or other social groups.

The challenge, however, is to ensure that these inevitable conflicts are resolved without violence. Importantly, this can also lead to the development of new relationships and maintain existing ones and, as such, lay the foundations for the peaceful coexistence of all. However, we also see a need to address the root causes of conflict which result from local, national and international policies.
 

The policies of Germany – and other EU-member states as well – contribute to injustice, environmental damage and conflict situations in many countries of the Global South. Misguided trade and agriculture policies and arms exports lead to an increase of inequality and injustice and contribute to instability and violent conflict. The struggle over land and natural resources is fueled by resource -demanding policies, private investments and our own patterns of consumption. Germany is one of the biggest arms exporters worldwide and arms from German producers are involved in most of the conflicts. Therefore Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World) is addressing these issues in campaigns and talks to political decision makers.

In many of our partner countries, peace activists work under conditions of political tension, violence or oppression. We are convinced that they know best how to address these situations. However we can assist them in creating space for global and mutual learning. As an example, in 2015, Brot für die Welt held a workshop with partners from 20 countries who live and work in extremely violent contexts – such as Palestine, India, Nigeria, Sudan and Mexico – or in fragile states with long histories of civil war – such as Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The participants shared and assessed experience gained from peace work during and after violent conflict, and the workshop provided an opportunity to learn from one another. Although they were facing many different problems in daily life, they discovered numerous commonalities regarding the root causes of violence. The “lessons learned” shared in the discussions inspired them to test new approaches for conflict transformation. This knowledge and newly constructed networks empowered the activists in their work, and inspired them in maintaining hope for a peaceful and just society, even during protracted crises or periods of recurrent violence.