heks

HEKS has been working for human rights and peace in southern Mexico for many years. Unresolved land ownership issues, access to natural resources, militarisation, manipulation by political parties and other factors lie at the root of serious conflicts which plague everyday life in the largely Indian villages in the south of Mexico and make the situation even more difficult for the people - as if their lives weren’t hard enough already. Joint efforts are required to help the people who have been marginalised for decades, working with other organisations on the ground and networking effectively on various political levels. HEKS concentrates on the south of Mexico in its efforts in striving for peace and human rights.
 

Aims, points of focus, initiatives

As part of the programme entitled «Promoting peace through non-violent conflict management and advocacy» HEKS has teamed together with the Catholic Lenten Fund aid agency and Caritas Switzerland to support the work of three partner organisations:

 CORECO trains local leaders in non-violent conflict resolution.

SERAPAZ arbitrates between parties caught up in specific conflicts.

Peace Watch Switzerland sends volunteers from Switzerland to observe villages affected by the issues.

The programme seeks to raise awareness among the public in Switzerland and to draw attention to the difficult situation in Mexico. Indeed, the conflicts in Mexico are largely or completely disregarded by the public. Continual dialogue with the Swiss authorities aims to ensure that the human rights issues and the unresolved conflicts also attract attention in formal and official relations between Mexico and Switzerland.

The peace-promotion programme of the three aid organisations in Mexico runs under the auspices of both of the established Swiss national churches.

Given its many years of experience and good partnership relations, HEKS is in a position to make a key contribution to the peaceful resolution of difficult conflicts. The experience gained in Mexico is also shared with interested parties in other countries who see its relevance to their situation.