More peaceful and inclusive communities through empowerment and training of indigenous leaders on conflict and gender

This is a brief description of a course organized by the Regional Government of San Martín in Peru and ProTierras Comunales and implemented in coordination with the regional and local indigenous organisations in 2018.  ProTierras Comunales is part of the Global Project “Responsible Land Policy”, implemented since late 2015 by German development cooperation in six countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to promote the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT, 2012). 

The course aimed to empower and train indigenous leaders on conflict and gender issues to foster more peaceful and inclusive communities. Some success factors contributing to conflict prevention are highlighted, namely, working on real conflicts and based on indigenous experience, role-plays as a useful tool in training: learning to put oneself in an adversary´s shoes, focus on attitudes and communication skills, starting from the ability to listen, and integration of elements of indigenous justice