Peace Brigades International visitor to Pax Christi Meeting

At our Pax Christi Australia NSW meeting on 5 March we were honoured by the presence of a member of Peace Brigades International (PBI) who spoke about her experiences while working in Colombia

What is Peace Brigades International (PBI)?
Peace Brigades International is a grassroots organisation that promotes non-violent alternatives in conflict situations and support for human rights.

When invited, international teams of volunteers are sent into areas of political repression and conflict. The volunteers accompany human rights defenders, their organisation, and others threatened by political violence. Those responsible for human rights abuses usually do not want the world to witness their actions. The presence of volunteers, backed by an international emergency response network, thus helps deter violence. In this way, we create space for local activists to work for social justice and human rights.

Where does PBI work?
PBI currently has long-term projects in Columbia, Indonesia/East Timor and Mexico, as well as joint projects with other organisations in the Balkans Chiapas, Mexico.
PBI has also supported human rights initiatives in Guatamala, El Salvador, Haiti, North America and Sri Lanka.

How is PBI funded?
Fourteen country groups in Europe, North America and Australiasia raise a substantial part of PBI's income, securing funds from institutional and individual donors, fundraising events and the sale of merchandise.
Institutional donors also provide grants direct to PBI. Important examples include Amnesty International, Christian Aid, Oxfam and a number of embassies.
Donations to PBI might be used to keep a volunteer in the field for a year or to train potential volunteers prior to departure. Alternatively, it could go towards development of the emergency network or production of our regular newsletter.
PBI is a non-political organisation and the diversity of funding sources helps ensure that our operations remain independent.

Peace Brigades International (PBI) International Office, 5 Caledonian Rd., London N1 9DX Britain (fax +44 20 7837 2290; email pbiio@gn.apc.org; http://www.igc.org/pbi/).