PATRIR

PATRIR

Peace Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania

Str. Eremia Grigorescu 86, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Tel. & Fax: (40) (64) 185 088

The Peace Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR), is both an institute, organisation, training centre and network, linking together scholars, practitioners and grassroots activists throughout Romania. Its aim is to address the core challenges facing Romania and the countries of south and eastern Europe, to strengthen and empower grassroots organisations and citizens’ action, to mobilise people for active peace work, peaceful conflict transformation and social and community development, and to address the structural causes of poverty, human rights violations and economic and social injustice. PATRIR is an institute and an organisation for research and active peace work. The four methods of PATRIR work are based upon Action, Research, Training/Education and Dissemination.

PATRIR is a force for creative and constructive research and analysis – including diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy– for the empowerment of civil society and promotion of active democracy, self-determination, sustainable development, and peaceful conflict transformation.

PATRIR: AN INSTITUTE, TRAINING CENTRE, AND NETWORK

PATRIR is built upon three complementary pillars: (i) the PATRIR Network made up of scholars and critical thinkers throughout Romania dealing with issues related to peace and conflict, development, globalisation, poverty, structural violence, gender, human rights, and ecology; (ii) cooperation with Babes-Bolyai University (Cluj), with courses in peace and development studies and development of a Masters Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies, and; (iii) the PATRIR Centre in Cluj-Napoca, the coordinating nucleus for PATRIR as an organisation, and the main PATRIR Institute, Training and Peace Action Centre in Romania.

PATRIR AS AN ORGANISATION

The core method of all PATRIR work is praxis, combining research and constructive therapy with active peace work and peaceful conflict transformation. PATRIR as an organisation works together with citizens’ groups and peoples movements in Romania, Eastern Europe, and internationally to strengthen grassroots democracy, citizen’s participation and the empowerment of local communities. PATRIR cooperates with researchers, students, individuals, governments, and civil society groups to address the structural transformations and challenges facing the countries of Eastern Europe, promoting policies designed to meet the needs of local communities, including continuing democratisation, strengthening regional cooperation and human security and well-being.

PATRIR as an organisation, institute and network is dedicated to strengthening human rights and the rights of the people of Romania and eastern Europe and to promoting global solidarity, democracy, and the meeting of human needs. PATRIR is committed to promoting democratic structures and citizens participation both within Romania and internationally. To this end, PATRIR works to strengthen cooperation between groups and organisations within Romania, and to strengthen cooperation with similar peace and development organisations throughout Eastern Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Western Europe and North America.

PATRIR AS A RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND NETWORK OF SCHOLARS

The PATRIR model combines a network of researchers and scholars throughout Romania with the PATRIR Institute in Cluj-Napoca. PATRIR researchers are individuals, scholars, professors and students working to address core issues of peace and conflict, development, globalisation, poverty, structural violence, gender, human rights, and ecology.

PATRIR research is based upon the method of Diagnosis-Prognosis-Therapy, combining clear analysis with creative therapy and suggestions for what can be done. The PATRIR Institute in Cluj-Napoca has developed a programme for the training of Junior Peace Researchers and provides Research Positions for MA and PhD students.

The seven core programmes of PATRIR research are:

- Peacebuiding and Conflict Transformation

- Nonviolence and Peace Strategies

- Politics and Governance

- Globalisation, Human Rights, and Social and Economic Development

- Alternative Defence and Security

- Ecological Sustainability

- Gender, Equality, Empowerment

Social, economic and political transformations resulting from the events following the collapse of the Berlin Wall and continuing transformations in Romania and throughout Eastern Europe are amongst the core research foci of the Institute and Network. People’s movements, nonviolent action, democratic participation, and peaceful conflict transformation are at the heart of the search for alternatives, influencing both PATRIR’s research and action.

PATRIR AS A TRAINING CENTRE

The PATRIR Training Centre is one of the main pillars of PATRIR work. Though the Centre itself is based in Cluj-Napoca, PATRIR training can be carried out in any location throughout Romania, or in cooperation with PATRIR’s partners and cooperating organisations internationally.

PATRIR training is made up of 1 and 2 day(s) modules, 1 and 2 week(s) courses, and the three weeks TRANSCEND Summer Peace Institute for advanced scholars and practitioners. Like the research programmes, PATRIR training focuses upon peacebuilding and conflict transformation, development, globalisation, poverty, structural violence, gender, human rights, organisational development, strengthening civil society, and ecology. Training programmes have also been developed in: Peace Journalism; Peace Culture; Peace Education; Peace and Human Rights; Nonviolent Action and People’s Movements; Mobilisation, Democratisation, Empowerment.

Participants in PATRIR training are primarily: individuals active in citizen’s groups, social movements and civil society organisations in Romania and internationally, students, teachers, human rights activists, social workers, politicians, diplomats, journalists, lawyers, community leaders, business people, and committed individuals. PATRIR training programmes are both creative and challenging, skills and knowledge intensive, and highly participatory.

PATRIR trainers are drawn from within Romania and internationally. Internationally, PATRIR trainers are drawn primarily from the ICL/Praxis for Peace, TRANSCEND, the Transnational Foundation for Future and Peace Research (TFF), the Transnational Institute, the Centre for Partnership in Development, Diakonhjemmet International Centure (DIS), Focus on the Global South, and the International South Group Network (ISGN). PATRIR trainers are leading trainers, practitioners, researchers, and political activists with experience globally and/or within Romania.

In June, 2001, PATRIR held the first “Peacebuilding, Conflict Transformation, and Regional Cooperation in South Eastern Europe” training programme. 25 participants, primarily national and local level politicians, social workers, NGO staff, grassroots activists, journalists, graduate-level students, and professors, took part from 16 countries.

In 2002, PATRIR will be offering several high-quality and intensive training programmes open to participants from within Romania and internationally, including:

February 9 - 10 Peacebuilding, Democracy and a Culture of Peace

April 15 - 16 Social Movements for Peace and Democracy

April 18 - 20 Peace Journalism

June 24 - 28 Peacebuilding, Conflict Transformation and Global Development PCTGD 2002

July 8 - 26 TRANSCEND Summer Peace Institute

PATRIR AS A CENTRE FOR PEACE ACTION

In addition to Research and Training, PATRIR is actively involved in peaceful conflict transformation at the local, national, regional, and international levels. The majority of PATRIR’s involvement in this area, however, is focussed upon conflicts within Romania and South and Eastern Europe.

PATRIR works closely with Romanian, Hungarian, and Romani organisations to address the Romanian, Hungarian and Romani conflicts within Romania, and to promote human rights and peaceful conflict transformation. PATRIR also works closely with organisations and institutions in neighbouring countries working to address these issues.

PATRIR focuses upon strengthening and cooperating together with citizens groups and civil society organisations in Romania and throughout the region working to address issues of social, economic and political injustice and for the promotion of democratisation and human rights.

Given the very dramatic state of environmental destruction in several parts of Romania and throughout South and Eastern Europe, PATRIR is involved in promoting ecological awareness and environmental sustainability, while working to promote a more holistic and healthy relationship between individuals, communities, and the environment.

PATRIR Action involves work-shops, direct action, dialogues with citizens groups, politicians, community and business leaders, and cooperation with schools and civil society organisations for awareness raising and mobilising people for active involvement in finding solutions to the challenges facing them.

On April 15 - 20, 2002, PATRIR will be cooperating in the preparation and organisation of the first ever Peace Week: Building a Culture and Vision for Peace in Europe to be held in Romania, bringing together youth activists and community leaders from across Europe for five days of training programmes, workshops, skills exercises, and bridge-building, promoting cross-border people-to-people cooperation and alliances.

In August - September, 2002, 25 - 30 PATRIR volunteers will carry out the first Solidarity March for Peace and Democracy from Cluj-Napoca to Bucharest, organising Citizens’ Forums with local communities and civil society organisations along the 460 km march.

PATRIR is a solidarity based organisation, committed to strengthening cooperation and contacts between citizens groups and civil society organisations/movements within Romania and Southern and Eastern Europe. Building these ties around issues on which joint action and programmes can be built is one of the central fields of PATRIR’s work.

The Gandhi Peace Library and Resource Centre

Together with its training programmes, courses, workshops, and direct action for peace PATRIR has developed the Gandhi Peace Library and Resource Centre. The Gandhi Peace Library is open to the public, and all materials are freely available. With nearly 1400 books, the Gandhi Peace Library has the largest collection of books and materials in peacebuilding and conflict transformation in South Eastern Europe. Books are also available in several other fields, including: Politics and Political Theory, International Relations, Human Rights, Economics, Sociology and Social Theory, Civil Society, Development, Environment and Ecology, Gender Studies, the United Nations, Philosophy, and other related fields. Built entirely through donations and charitable contributions, the Gandhi Peace Library continues to grow, and is a vital resource for NGO activists and practitioners, students, professors, and the broader community.