The Åland Islands Peace Institute conducts projects and research into peace and conflict issues in a broadly defined sense from the vantage-point of Åland and the special status that Åland enjoys under international law. The institute focuses on security, autonomy and minorities.
Summer School on Human Rights, Minorities and Diversity Management
Institute for Minority Rights, EURAC, is going to organize a summer school on human rights, minorities and diversity between June 21 and July 2, 2010. The course is addressed to officials, journalists, teachers and students at Master's and Doctoral level. Tuition fee is 500 euro, but there are five scholarships available. Read more about the course on EURAC's website. Information in PDF can be downloaded here. The application form can be downloaded here.
International Women’s Day, 100 years old 8 March
Every year, 8 March is celebrated around the world as International Women's Day. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women. International Women's Day was first proposed at international conference in 1910 as an annual global day of celebration of women. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, which included the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament. In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day on 8 March. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. In adopting its resolution, the General Assembly recognized the role of women in peace efforts and development and urged an end to discrimination and an increase of support for women's full and equal participation. You can read resolution here.
Internships in Brussels and London
The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland is together with the Swedish Youth offering four grants for liberal internships at the international partnerorganisations of the Swedish Peoples' Party and Swedish Youth in London and Brussels. All the organisations build on a liberal value-system. One of the internships is at the office of the Finnish-Swedish European Parlamentarian Carl Haglund. More information (in Swedish) can be found here.
Round table seminar on equality in youth work
On the 8th of March 2010 the Åland Islands Peace Institute will arrange a round table seminar on gender equality and youth work, calledDo boys also need gender equality? Challenging gender roles in youth work. the seminar is arranged within the interreg-project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking and deals with such questions as gender aspect in youth work, do boys also need gender equality and why and how should we challenge gender roles? Date and time: 8th of March, 14.30-16.30 Venue: Alandica, conference room No 203 The seminar is held in Swedish.
Evaluation of courses in peace education
The Åland Islands Peace Institute has evaluated its educational activities for teachers within the projects “Fredsfostran” (foster peace) and “Skolfred” (peace in schools) which took place between 2005 and 2008. The results have been published in a report by Sanna Roos, PhD candidate in pedagogies at the University of Turku. The report also addresses the future need for further educational activities.The evaluation revealed that it is rather challenging for teachers to implement the methods learnt during the courses within the schools regular activities. To increase their effectiveness future courses should have a great practical value and very concrete points of departure, such as “expression of feelings”, “practical management of conflicts” and “cooperation with parents” . In addition to basic training in conflict-management methods, there is a great demand for training courses allowing teachers to develop their skill in this area. The need for an active network for peace education is needed on Åland in order to guarantee an effective implementation of conflict management methods in Ålandic schools. The evaluation was based on data that had been collected among course participants through an electronic survey in fall 2009. The recommendations made with regard to future courses are based on a paper survey which had been sent to all teachers in Ålandic elementary schools in fall 2009.
On the 8th of March 2010 the Åland Islands Peace Institute will arrange a round table seminar on gender equality and youth work, called Do boys also need gender equality? Challenging gender roles in youth work. the seminar is arranged within the interreg-project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking and deals with such questions as gender aspect in youth work, do boys also need gender equality and why and how should we challenge gender roles?