The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), Center for Peace Education-Miriam College (CPE-MC), Pax Christi Pilipinas (PCP) and the Girl+Ambassadors for Peace conducted PEACE FORA in different Catholic schools in Negros island.

They were: Jasmin Nario Galace, Bai Kohaniza Sumndad-Usman, Sophia Dianne Garcia, Mary Ann Cruz and Fr. Enrique Eking Balungag, superintendent of Catholic schools all over Negros Oriental.

The event aimed to help the youth understand that addressing these challenges to peace and social justice and building a culture of dialogue and nonviolence is a shared mission.

The world and our country today are confronted with various threats to peace including war, terrorism, extremism, prejudice, discrimination, and human rights abuses. With incidents of hazing and higher rates of bullying, schools are no longer the safe zones that they used to be. These threats to peace run counter to Catholic social teachings and the values taught and lived by Jesus Christ.

Organizers of the forum also encouraged the youth to take action by participating in a media and social media campaign to promote peace, nonviolence, respect for diversity and human rights, including posting of Facebook and Instagram messages and tweets during key occasions such as but not limited to the International Peace Day, anniversary of UNSCR 1325, International Women’s Day, and anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (Youth, Peace and Security).

To fulfill these objectives, CEAP group conducted three half-day forums titled “Building a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence and the Catholic Social Teachings: What the Youth Can Do Using Mainstream and Social Media” in the following CEAP regions.

SOURCE: negroschronicle.com/christian-muslim-hold-peace-forum