Eight domains of action in Resolution A/53/243(UN Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace)*Culture of peace through education*Sustainable economic and social development*Respect for all human rights*Equality between women and men*Democratic participation*Understanding, tolerance and solidarity*Free flow of information and knowledge*International peace and security

Organization: The Japanese Society for Developing the Culture of Peace

The following information may be cited or quoted as long as the source is accurately mentioned and the words are not taken out of context.

Posted: Jan. 31 2010,10:48

If you wrote this report, you will find a button here that you may click in order to make changes in the report.

Postal address of organization/institution

Kawaguchi 2-15-1-1004, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Pre. 332-0015

E-mail address of organization/institution

takiguchi-masaru@r8.dion.ne.jp

Website address of organization/institution

http://homepage2.nifty.com/peacecom/cop/

Telephone of organization/institution

048-254-5074

PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity

EDUCATION FOR PEACE

TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity

EDUCATION FOR PEACE

PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?

The Japan Society for Developing the Culture of Peace was established in 2000. Since then we participated in many movements.

We have worked together with many peace movements and peace education groups in Japan, such as the Japan Peace Committee, peace museums, war exhibitions for peace, the Article 9 Association, and civic education research groups on peace and non-violence. In addition, we cooperate with the Organizing Committee of the Mothers’ Congress, the Defense for Children International, the Japan Teachers’ Association, and the All Japan Teachers and Staff Union.

ACTIONS: What activities have been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010 report.

The Japanese Report on the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World”

At the 2000 General Assembly the United Nations designated the years 2001 through 2010 as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence) and proposed to its member nations to promote activities of peace and non-violence. It also requested member nations to submit results of activities to the general assembly in 10 years. This report is based on the ten-year report request. In this report we will give a summary of our approach to issues of non-violence and a list of our activities. We would also like it to be known that it is our deepest wish that the United Nations continue the tasks and goals of the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence after it ends officially in 2011.

1. The formation of the Japanese Society for Developing the Culture of Peace We formed the “Japanese Society for Developing the Culture of Peace in 2000” in response to the U.N. proposal. This society has carried out various activities for the past decade in cooperation with UNESCO, and we are registered as one of the supporting organizations for UNESCO Japan, and registered as a council member organization this fiscal year. We have been publishing a newsletter to our members, with 60 issues published as of this year.

2. 10- year publicity activities through our website We launched a website in 2000, and have conducted PR activities related to the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence. The site has had numerous access records, and we believe that the site has become a medium to serve to establish the term “a culture of peace” within society. The site consists of explanations of the Declaration of Culture of Peace and our organization’s action programs and activities in order to make known the U.N.’s role in the international decade.

3. CPNN (Culture of Peace News Network) The U.N. selected UNESCO as a focal point of the International Decade campaign. UNESCO organized the Culture of Peace News Network (CPNN). We joined CPNN activities since its inception. We have published about 400 articles on the CPNN website to date, showing documents related to peace and non-violence (http://blog.goo.ne.jp/cpnn/). The website introduces interesting and moving events in our daily life, films, books, songs and poems concerning peace and non-violence.

4. GCPEJ (Global Campaign for Peace Education Japan) We launched the Global Campaign for Peace Education in Japan (GCPEJ) in 2000 with the objective of pushing ahead with a global peace campaign to embody the Hague Appeal adopted at the 1999 Peace Civil Society Conference. We have been carrying out a variety of activities through this group, and are pleased to not that the term Peace Education, which before had been regarded as an exceptional theme for study or education in Japan, has become a common phrase.

5. “My peace appeal (Manifesto 2000) ” We have carried on the “My peace appeal” movement begun by UNESCO in concert with the 2000 U.N. “International decade for peace & culture” resolution. The National Federation of UNESCO Association in Japan has entrusted our organization with this movement. The number people making their personal peace appeals has exceeded one million in this country. “My declaration against violence campaign” in which individuals declare ‘non-violence,’ although fewer in number than those making the peace declaration, are helping to consolidate the foundation of a peace culture in this country.

6. Publications In addition to publications on the World Wide Web, At the outset of the 2000 campaign we published a book entitled Toward a culture of peace from a culture of violence. in 2000. In 2001 we published Declarations for Freeing Ourselves from Violence; in 2001 Surviving in Non-Violence; Gandhi, in 2006 Eight Keywords for a Culture of Peace , and in 2007 Build a culture of peace and non-violence. We also published a translation of Peace Education to End War by Betty Reardon.

7. Lectures by guests We prepared venues and invited lecturers from many countries to talk about peace, non-violence and related issues. We invited Arya Bhushan Bharadwaj (India) in 2001, Johan Galtung (Norway) in 2002, Di Bretherton (Australia) in 2003, Betty Reardon (U.S.) in 2004 and 2009, David Adams (the U.S.) in 2006, Alicia Cabezudo (Argentine) in 2007, and Tod Thorn (U.S.) in 2008.

8. Survey on local governments’ approaches to issues related to a culture of peace With the aim of confirming results of our campaign, we conducted a “survey on local governments’ approaches related to culture of peace” last summer. Nearly 40 % of all the local governments replied to our questionnaire. The results of the survey show that more than 40 % of those that responded have been taking various approaches of their own from the standpoint of a culture of peace. These include peace education, and multi-cultural co-existence, and others.

9.2005 interim report on our activities to the U.N. At the request of the National Federation of UNESCO Association in Japan, we submitted a report to the United Nations on our activities at the five year mark. In that report we reported on our activities in Japan related to peace and non-violence, and related these activities to the overall goal of helping to create an innovative peace-oriented movement in the world.

We have worked together with many peace movements and peace education groups in Japan, such as the Japan Peace Committee, peace museums, war exhibitions for peace, the Article 9 Association, and civic education research groups on peace and non-violence. In addition, we cooperate with the Organizing Committee of the Mothers’ Congress, the Defense for Children International, the Japan Teachers’ Association, and the All Japan Teachers and Staff Union.

Fujita Hideo Representative of the Japanese Society for Developing the Culture of Peace in Japan,Professor emeritus of Rissho University

PROGRESS: Has your organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of action and in your constituency during the second half of the Decade?

As written above, through many activities and reports, not a few Japanese realized the importance of culture of peace and non-violence. For example, many workers' unions used the words 'Culture of peace and Non-violence' in their movements. The greatest progress is that there are more than 7000 Article 9 Groups. More than tens of millions of people now live in peaceful place.

OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?

We have been trying to do many things for peace, however the progress seems rather slow and it is difficult to get many people for our side. The greatest obstacles are indifference of people to the culture of peace. Also the greatest problem is that the Japanese Government escaped such peaceful movement from the start. Media has no ears for the culture of peace and non-violence. They never want to participate in peace activities.

PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?

We are now generalizing our 10 years' actions one by one. After that we will decide our plan for the next decade. Firstly we will continue our culture of peace activities. 2010 is not the end but the new start for the culture of peace. Secondly we also continue our activity for CPNN. This activity is very useful for building friendship among young people.

GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??

The idea of the culture of peace and non-violence is very humanistic. All the people will seek to have it. So we must continue and progress the movement. The US President declared to abolish the nuclear wepons from this earth. This means that any other arms will be thown away some day. The way to strengthen and support the culture of peace and nonviolence is connecting the people among countries.