Make Violence a History

Make Violence History

The Jai Jagat 2021-30

Following the yearlong Jai Jagat 2020 campaign that engaged many people across the globe into nonviolent action with respect to the four pillars (ending poverty, discrimination, climate crisis and violence), there was enough interest generated to continue for the 2020 decade.  We undertook an evaluation and SWOT analysis in five different regions and concluded on January 30^th, 2021 that another campaign with short-term actions and longer-term planning would fortify the local-global concerns that had been raised in the 2020 campaign. (See www.jaijagatinternational.org.)

 

As people expressed the need for an international campaign that could bring people together across the world, it was proposed to re-label the by-line of the Jai Jagat 2021-30 to Make Violence History.  Whether the focus was climate (violence to the earth) or poverty & discrimination (violence towards people) or wars and conflicts (violence between people), Make Violence History would usher in an array of nonviolent actions. These nonviolent actions could be in the form of group formation, economic activities, or opposition to state policies or programs.

The Jai Jagat is planning 12 days of action between September 21st to October 2nd as the 2021 contribution to Make Violence History. Different civil society organizations are planning events in many countries, which includes nonviolent marches, economic activities, climate action, training on nonviolence and so forth. Make Violence History in India for example, among the groups that started the Jai Jagat 2020, will take up the campaign issue of nonviolent economy, as the work in the Covid period has focused on restoring labour and land rights to the most marginalized, which needs to be continued. For other Make Violence History campaigns, these will be supported by regional committees and various working groups that are currently in formation and a listing of the conveners will be provided on the Jai Jagat website.

The Jai Jagat International Advisory Committee (JJ-IAC), is also planning to link different Jai Jagat (CSO) actors into dialogue with a groups of policy makers in an international forum in December, 2021. The goal of the Summit will be to present the different civil society campaigns of Make Violence History to address some of the advocacy issues specifically related to nonviolent economy.

There have been many discussions among the Jai Jagat supporters in regard to the relevance of the UN organizations and the SDGs; and overall, it is affirmed that these international organizations (excluding the financial institutions) are seen as critical for the reset of policy processes that are salutary to Make Violence History. As is well-known, the United Nations was set up to rebuild peaceful coexistence among all nation states after the Second World War, and this remains its core commitment to the international community, which was displayed last year at its 75^th anniversary celebrations.

Civil society organizations can continue to push for big ideas of change such as Make Violence History in global for a especially when these are built from local actions and people’s engagement. There is a healthy skepticism that change is often re-appropriated by the powerful interests. This boosts energy and action to pre-empt violence while making change. At the same time, when people find common cause across borders, this empowers greater local-to-global action. Make Violence History is both local and cross-border and gives a trajectory of global action over this decade.