The search for a truly citizen-centered Europe can only be a joint efforts of many: the EU bodies, the EU member states, but also civil society organisations, local governments and local citizens’ initiatives can and must contribute.
From 2015 onwards, PAX decided to develop a specific program focusing on Dealing With the Past in the Western Balkan region (Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia), to better facilitate cooperation between local civil society initiatives on memorialization. We also carry out research on this topic, try to link up these initiatives to national and international lobby agendas.
Peace organization PAX supports the survivors of the Srebrenica massacre and the next of kin of those who perished. It supports their campaigns for truth and justice, and organizes commemorations and stimulates dialogue between Dutch battalion members and Srebrenica widows, to increase feelings of recognition, foster mutual understanding and to help to deal with traumas on all sides. The Potocari Memorial Center is an important partner in all this work.
PAX works to involve citizens from all of Kosovo’s communities in the local, national, and international policymaking processes that affect their lives. PAX strives to bring citizens together to address challenges of common interest, such as poor governance, weak rule of law, and the unresolved legacy of violent conflict.
In 2017, PAX’s Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) team established a Gender Pilot Fund to encourage PAX country programmes to implement actions that underpin, boost, and further develop PAX’s focus on gender. The aim was to generate lessons and insights to deepen conceptual and practical awareness of gender-related issues across the organisation and to increase the gender-sensitivity of the different programmes.
Women led local dialogue groups, known as peace tables, in Bentiu work together and facilitate dialogues to bring the Nuer community together and improve relations between those living in the Protection of Civilians site and those living in town.
PAX seeks to improve the security and stability in Ituri (northeastern DRC), by addressing the root causes of conflict and by restoring trust between the local population and the Provincial government. Consortium partners IOM, VNG International and Cordaid support different local authorities, while PAX strengthens local peace- and security committees.
This programme aims to contribute to structural change of gender norms, laws and institutions, promoting equal rights and justice and reconciliation processes in Iraq.
In Iraq, peace organisation PAX gives special attention to women in its effort to increase community security. Through this programma, we worked with local partners on several projects. Our objective is to enable women to help organize their own and others safety.