WHO WE ARE – PAZSOS

ABOUT US

The Transnational Center for Sustainable Peace, or Sustainable Peace (PAZSOS, for its Spanish acronym), is a non-profit, non-governmental, independent, and multidisciplinary organisation based in Montreal, Canada, that works on issues related to peace and violence. We understand “Sustainable Peace” to be when individuals and sociopolitical actors willingly agree to renounce the use of force or the threat of the use of force, in order to reach particular goals or defend their interests. “Peace” is not only temporary decreases in insecurity rates but rather goes beyond implementing reforms to increase political inclusion. Cultural change that reaches everyone is fundamental. “Sustainable” is understood here in its simplest way: as the capacity to persist in time. PAZSOS aims to contribute to the establishment of a sustainable society where people are the first priority. This aspiration is in accordance with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development established by the United Nations (UN) in 2015.

PAZSOS is a Think Tank, an advocacy group, a professional association, and a specialized consultation group. We work for individual and collective empowerment regardless of one’s religion, ethnicity, gender identity, age, or place of residence, in order to reinforce each individual’s ability to act for a positive change in their immediate surroundings. We know that resistance to change is strong, but we believe that actions and transformations initiated at the micro level can be aggregated at a larger scale to increase the magnitude of social change. From a sociopolitical perspective, even if we accept that “from above” transformations are important, we argue that peacebuilding works better “from below”. In short, sustainable peace is rooted in microsocial change. Sociopolitical change is the result of collective action, which is shaped by social movements and social actors, which are ultimately composed by individuals. We believe we all can contribute to sustainable peace if we know how to use available resources. Therefore, PAZSOS works to achieve the following goals:

Objetives

To support the production and diffusion of scientific and applied research directed to different audiences (including government officials, civil society organisations, international development agencies, etc.). It is key to reinforce intersectoral junctures in order to make sure that theory is used to improve practice, which in turn should incite theoretical fine-tuning. Consequently, the use of available resources can be maximized;
To encourage brainstorming and the exchange of creative and/or heterodox ideas to establish a context of innovation that promotes building less violent contexts. To obtain different results, taking risks at the conceptual and practical level is necessary. In a world full of diagnostic tools but short on concrete solutions and successful implementation, we need to be bold and think beyond established canons;
To create inter-institutional spaces of cooperation and articulation of a multi-sectoral interests. In line with the Agenda for Sustainable Development’s 17^th objective which aims to establish inclusive partnerships based on common perspectives, PAZSOS knows that the key for sustainable peace lies in cooperation, not competition.
To design educational programs based on the development of citizens’ competences, aiming to make each member of the community an agent of change. Transformation begins at the micro level; each individual is responsible.
PAZSOS also works to improve policymaking and policy implementation.

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To support the production and diffusion of scientific and applied research directed to different audiences (including government officials, civil society organisations, international development agencies, etc.). It is key to reinforce intersectoral junctures in order to make sure that theory is used to improve practice, which in turn should incite theoretical fine-tuning. Consequently, the use of available resources can be maximized;

To encourage brainstorming and the exchange of creative and/or heterodox ideas to establish a context of innovation that promotes building less violent contexts. To obtain different results, taking risks at the conceptual and practical level is necessary. In a world full of diagnostic tools but short on concrete solutions and successful implementation, we need to be bold and think beyond established canons;

To create inter-institutional spaces of cooperation and articulation of a multi-sectoral interests. In line with the Agenda for Sustainable Development’s 17^th objective which aims to establish inclusive partnerships based on common perspectives, PAZSOS knows that the key for sustainable peace lies in cooperation, not competition.

To design educational programs based on the development of citizens’ competences, aiming to make each member of the community an agent of change. Transformation begins at the micro level; each individual is responsible.

PAZSOS also works to improve policymaking and policy implementation.

MISSION, VISION AND VALUES

Our mission

Today, the gap between science and practice is widening. Rather than working for significant improvements in their respective domains, most civil society organizations (CSOs) dedicate more and more time to respond to donor requirements. Institutional survival nowadays remains more important than thinking in concrete results of the CSO’s interventions. At the same time, academic research has become an industry where publishing is an end in itself rather than focusing on democratizing access to knowledge. Last, but not least, after decades of policymaking and policy implementation, the state is still unable to find comprehensive answers to social problems such as poverty and inequality, incapable of reinforcing social justice, gender equality or fairness between countries, and inefficient when it comes to strengthen inclusive well-being (including access to good quality health and education).

In this context, PAZSOS aims to produce innovative and alternative knowledge through rigorous scientific and applied research from consultancy contracts that will be used to influence change and build public policy focused on peacebuilding. As an ultimate result, PAZSOS contributes to improve local, national, and international governance, helping to establish and consolidate sustainable peace. PAZSOS is successful when:

Our projects are conceptually and theoretically solid, and linked to real-life concrete situations;
New ideas, methods, and strategies are used to reduce violence and increase sustainable peace;
Government, the private sector, and CSOs collaborate on specific projects to achieve sustainable peace;
Citizens develop and use competences and to improve of collective life in their community.
States (municipal, provincial, and federal levels), in collaboration with other socio-political actors, create public participation policies aimed to enable citizens to become game-changers in favor of sustainable peace.