DPI
Dialogue for Peace Initiatives (DPI) is a politically neutral and independent effort to create awareness amongst people, especially the student communities in different colleges, about conflicts across the world. DPI seeks to provide an open forum for discussion on ways to alleviate conflicts and equip people with the necessary tools to affect positive change.
DPI began as an effort of few first-year students at Swarthmore College in September 2002 and currently includes many members of the faculty and administration at Swarthmore. During the past three years, DPI has received support from many prominent people and organizations, such as Noam Chomsky, Conflict Management Group , Youth Initiative for Peace , and Initiative for Peace .
Dialogue for Peace Initiatives intends to institute a permanent conflict-management programme at Swarthmore College and encourage similar programmes at other educational institutions. Through its peace-building programmes, DPI strives to (a) provide a better understanding of conflicts and other relevant issues, (b) equip people with skills that would be useful for peace, social justice, and humanitarian work, and (c) connect different organizations and people having an interest in humanitarian issues.
In autumn 2003, DPI organised its first conference, focused on the Jammu and Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan : the conference was the largest symposium ever held on the Indo-Pakistani conflict, and set up a high standard of excellence in conflict-management programmes.
This year, DPI will organise its second conference, focused on the Colombian armed conflict.
Overview of DPI: Colombia
DPI: Colombia is an international conference focused on Colombia 's armed conflict at Swarthmore College the days 18 and 19 March 2005 . Key protagonists, analysts and policy-makers from the entire political spectrum of the country will be invited to participate in the following panels:
- Panel I: "1948 - 2004: Armed Conflict and Negotiation": here panellists will discuss the different aspects of the armed confrontation from La Violencia to current days: social, economic, and political causes; role of illegal drug trade and the situation of indigenous communities in the complex panorama of Colombia 's armed conflict.
- Panel II: "Negotiation, Reconciliation and Perspectives for Peace": here participants will analyse current peace initiatives being implemented, identify future viable peace scenarios, and discuss possible solutions to the conflict.
Through panel discussions, analysis, workshops, and other events, the programme is designed to facilitate a better understanding of the Colombian conflict and contribute for a peaceful resolution of the worst and most enduring human rights crisis in the Americas.
DPI: Colombia - Programme Schedule (downloadable PDF here)
Friday 18 March
Opening 6:00pm- Opening remarks; Location: SCI 101
Cultural Venue 7:30pm- Colombian Monterian-Cordobese Dinner; Location: Upper Tarble
Saturday 19 March
Panel I: 1948 - 2004, Armed Conflict and Negotiation 10:30am - Presentation by Prof Raymond Hopkins; Location: SCI 101 11:30am - Plenary Session; Location: SCI 101 2:30pm - Lunch break
Panel II: Negotiation, Reconciliation and Perspectives for Peace 3:30pm - Presentation by Prof Kenneth Sharpe; Location: SCI 101 4:15pm - Plenary session; Location: SCI 101
Closing 7:30pm - Closing reception; Location: Eldridge Commons
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