CHAPTER IV

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PEACEFUL
CONFLICT
TRANSFORMATION
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Defining Human Dignity and Human
Rights
 HUMAN DIGNITY– a core value that serves as the foundation for peace
and development.

“It is a principle which recognizes the humanness of a man; that man is

endowed with rights and has certain human faculties to perfect or maximize”

 HUMAN RIGHTS

- are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex,

nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status,

- human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery
and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and
education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without
discrimination.
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CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN
RIGHTS
1. Human rights are an inherent and essential part of our lives.

2. Human rights are also fundamental.

3. Human rights are inalienable.

4. Human rights are imprescriptible.

5. Human rights are also invincible.

6. Human rights are universal.

7. Human rights are interdependent.

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KINDS OF HUMAN RIGHT

1. ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

 the right to work in just and favorable conditions;

 the right to social protection, an adequate standard of living, and

to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental well-
being;

 the right to education and the enjoyment of benefits of cultural

freedom and scientific progress.
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2. CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
 rights as freedom movement;
 equality before the law;
 the right to a fair trial and presumption
of innocence;
 freedom of opinion and expression;
 peaceful assembly;
 Freedom of association;
 Participation in public affairs and
elections;
 Protection of minority rights;
 Prohibits arbitrary deprivation of life;
 prohibits torture, cruel or degrading
treatment, or punishment;
 Prohibits slavery and forced labor;
 Prohibits arbitrary arrest or
detention;
 Prohibits arbitrary interference with
privacy;
 Prohibits war propaganda;
 Prohibits discrimination
 Prohibits advocacy of racial or
religious hatred
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HUMAN RIGHTS AND SUSTAINABLE
PEACE and DEVELOPMENT
 Upholding human dignity is the center of the values system that we
associate with social peace.

 According to Betty Reardon (1995), “the achievement of positive

conditions human rights provide the foundation of non-violent social
order and greatly reduce the causes of armed conflict”

 UNITED NATIONS- are generally defined as those rights which

inherent in our nature and without which we cannot live as human
beings

 CHR- the supreme inherent and inalienable rights to life, to dignity and
to self development.
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HUMAN RIGHTS and SOCIAL JUSTICE

SOCIAL JUSTICE

 It is a complex issue

 It is based on the premise that all people are entitled to the

same basic rights and freedoms as everybody else.

 Is connected with issues of equality and equity

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SOCIAL JUSTICE and DEVELOPMENT

 The human development model of development emphasizes

that people are the means and end of development.

 Development cannot be considered to be true development

unless someone experiences good from it and not at the
expense of others.

 Social justice is a nonmaterial indicator of human development.

 Human development is predicated on equity and inclusiveness.

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Lesson 2: Challenging Prejudice and
Building Tolerance

1. Prejudice – the negative feeling or attitude towards a person or

a group even it lacks basis.

2. Stereotype – refers to the negative opinion about a person or a

group based on incomplete knowledge.

3. Discrimination- refers to the negative actions toward members

of a specific social group that be manifested in avoidance,
aversion or even violence.
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TYPES OF PREJUDICE

1. RACISM – the belief that one’s own cultural or
racial heritage is innately superior to that of
others, hence, the lack of respect or appreciation
for those who belong to a different race
2. SEXISM – a system of attitudes, actions, and
structures that subordinates others on the basis
of their sex where the usual victims are women.
3. HETEROSEXISM – negative attitudes towards
lesbian and gay men
4. CLASSISM – distancing from and perceiving the
poor as “the other”
5. LOOKISM – prejudice against those
who do not measure up to set standards of
beauty.
6. AGEISM – negative attitudes held
against young or elderly.
7. LINGUICISM – negative attitudes that
members of the dominant language groups
hold against non dominant language group.
8. RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE – prejudice
against those who are followers of religions
other that one’s own.
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PREJUDICE and STEREOTYPE
 A stereotype is an attitude towards a person or group on the basis of some physical
characteristics or physical fact.

 2 CATEGORIES OF STEREOTYPES

1. Individual Stereotypes- are attitudes towards individual people

Example: Attribution based on people’s name

Physical appearance

2. Group Stereotypes- are attitudes based on wether the person is a member of an in/out
group.

 ATTITUDES

 A PREJUDICE IS AN EXTREME STEREOTYPE

 THE EXISTENCE OF PREJUDICE DOES NOT NEED MUCH DEMONSTRATION

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EFFECTS OF PREJUDICE

1. Victims are most likely to drop out of school

2. It negatively influences the psychological health of the victims

because of feelings of isolation and alienation.

3. Negative effects on physical health

4. Victims internalize the very negative views on their abilities that

others hold of them and do not live up to their potentials.

5. Victims are normally excluded, taunted or physically harmed.

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PROMOTING TOLERANCE AND
REJECTING PREJUDICE
 EDUCATION FOR TOLERANCE  WHY TEACH TOLERANCE?
AND RESPECT  UNESCO asserts that education is the
most effective means of preventing
AIMS to:
intolerance.
a. Counter influences that lead to  Discrediting hateful propaganda
fear, discrimination, and exclusion towards different others through
of others. education is imperative.

b. Tolerance recognizes that others  Article 1.2 of the the “Declaration on

have the right to be who they are. Race and Racial Prejudice” stipulates
that all individuals and groups have the
c. Educating for tolerances is right to be different
practical alternative.
 In addition, educating tolerance is a
practical alternative.
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LESSON 3: CULTIVATING INNER
PEACE
 INNER AND OUTER TRANSFORMATION

 Patricia Mische (2000) explains that the transformation that we should seek
should not only be the transformation of our society, but also the transformation
of our spirit, because the inner transformation inspires the outer work.

 WHAT INNER PEACE ENTAILS

 Having an inner peace is characterized by self-respect and a recognition of

one’s own dignity as a human being.

 Personal peace also suggest thar we respond to negative actions directed to

us in positive ways.

 Jing Lin (2006) says that forgiveness is a key to achieving inner peace.
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 IDEAS OF INNER PEACE
 Thich Nhat Hanh- holds that a key
to world peace is the practice of
“being peace”.
 “ what is most important is that we
first take care of the seeds of
negativity in ourselves. If we are
peaceful, if we are happy, we can
blossom like a flower, and
everyone in our family, our society
will benefit from our peace..
 Dalai Lama (2001), leader of the
Tibetan people, and Nobel Prize
Awardee in 1898.
 Explains that a calm and wholesome
state of mind has beneficial effects
on our heath and physical well being.
Conversely, feelings of fear and
anger can be destructive to our
health.
 World Religions- the essential
message is that we do to others what
we want them to do to us.
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HOW TO CULTIVATE INNER PEACE

1. FOCUS ON THE PRESENT MOMENT

2. CREATE DAILY PEACE PRACTICES

Example: Journaling, Write daily gratitude, Meditation, Prayer, Pay

to the beauty and magic in each day, Looking for heart shapes
around you, Walking in nature

3. LIVE SIMPLY

4. DONT MARINATE IN YOUR UPSETS

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LESSON 4: PROMOTING NON-
VIOLENCE
 NON-VIOLENCE – is the refusal to do harm to other humans as life is
sacred and is an absolute value.

 DIFFERENT BELIEFS ABOUT NON-VOILENCE

 Mohandas Gandhi

“Non-violence is the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest

weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man”

 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Non-violence is not sterile passivity, but a powerful moral force which

makes for social transformation”
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 WHY NONVIOLENCE?
2. Destruction is not the law of
1. It is both an ethical and humans
moral choice.
3. Nonviolence is a practical
 Jainism- it is taught that a choice.
wise person “does not kill,
4. Nonviolence works
nor cause others to kill, nor
consent to the killings by
others”.

 Lao Tzu- founder of Taoism

taught that “ weapons are
instrument of evil and not of a
good rule”.
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 NON VIOLENT STRUGGLES
1. Non-violent Protest and
Persuasion- seeks to produce
awareness of the dissent.
2. Non-violent Non-
cooperation- presents the
opponent with difficulties in
maintaining the normal
operation of a system.
3. Non-violent intervention-
challenges the opponent more
directly.
 GOALS OF NON-VIOLENT ACTIONS
According to Martin Luther King Jr.:
 Nonviolent actions seek to dramatize
the issue and to put pressure on the
adversary to confront the issue.
 Seeks to create tension/crisis that
would force the adversary to open
door to negotiation
 Seeks to create a situation that would
liberate victims from silence and
hopelessness.
 Also seeks to gain attention, and
consequently, support form the larger
community.
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LESSON 5: RESOLVING AND
TRANSFORMING CONFLICTS
 Human beings come from different walks of life. Their upbringing
or backgrounds, their cultures and beliefs may differ even if they
live in the same country. Because of this, we could say that
conflicts are inescapable. If improperly handled, they can have
undesirable results.

 What is conflict?

 Arise when one’s own actions or beliefs are unacceptable to and

are hence resisted by other (Forsyth, 1990)
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Why do conflicts arise?

 NATIONAL AND GLOBAL LEVELS  IMMEDIATE SETTINGS

1. Misunderstanding, misperception,
1. Territorial disputes
miscommunication
2. Ethnic and religious animosities 2. Different behaviors, unmeet expectations

3. Ideological and power struggles 3. Incompatibility of ideas, opinions and

beliefs, values, goals and interest
4. Social injustice
4. Distrust
5. Search for statehood 5. Need for attention and appreciation

6. Trade and market competition 6. Intolerance

7. Contest over economic resources 7. Power struggles in group situations

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What prevent us from resolving our
conflict?

 The experience of strong emotions such as fear, pride, anger and desire or revenge.

 Indifference or apathy is another obstacle to conflict resolution

 Other feel helpless or hopeless

 The lack of communication between the disputants

 There are also situations when conflicts are not resolved because of provocations
from sympathizers who, with or without meaning to, “fan the fire” and aggravate the
situation.

 People perceive the problem solving process tedious and stressful and hence shun it

 Lacking in audacity to face the enemy

  HOW DO WE MANAGE OUR
 WHAT IS ANGER AND ITS EFFECT
z ANGER
 Anger- is one of the more commonly
1. Recognize that you are angry
experienced emotions when parties
are in conflict. 2. Distance yourself from the situation
 It is not merely irritation or
3. Release anger physically in indirect
disappointment but a combined feeling forms
of disappointment, anxiety and
indignation that signal our body to 4. Relaxation techniques
prepare for a fight.
5. Calm your mind
 May take in a form of verbal, or
6. Therapeutic techniques
physical attack, rage or animosity.

 Anger may cause adverse effects on 7. Spiritual aids

our health. 8. Social support
 Anger can make us sick when it is
9. Redirect energy
repressed. Unexpressed anger drives
our blood pressure up. 10. Cry it out
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What are the main options in dealing
with conflicts?
1. Move away. Avoid the situation or withdraw

2. Move against. Win the battle.

3. Give up or Give in.

4. Give half. Meet in the middle.

5. Move towards. Dialogue or collaborate with your adversary.

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What are some tips to a Good
Dialogue?
1. Dialoguing Tips  Do not give in to the temptation of
 Speak in a gentle, non threatening manner. returning hurt for hurt.

 Think carefully of what you are going to  Be tough on the problem, not on the

say. person.

 Use the “I” message.  Don’t take anything personally.

 Admit your own responsibility to the 2. Listening Tips

conflict.  Actively listen

 Avoid using hazy statements  Listen with empathy

 Be willing to tell the other person his/her  Accept criticism of your ideas and
positive attributes behavior
 Show positive regard and respect  Paraphrase and clarify if needed
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3. Collaborating Tips  WHAT IS MEDIATION?

 State your needs or interest,

not your demands.

 Deal with issues one at a

time.

 State repeatedly your positive

intentions

 Be solution oriented.