Introduction

Currently there are 2452 Peace & Justice Organizations identified in this information system - these organizations represent 65 countries / cultures around the world.  This collection is estimated to be a small fraction of the actual number of organizations and individuals involved in some form of Peacemaking.  

Many, if not most, Peace & Justice organization use their own internally developed peacemaking practices and programs.   However there has been an increasing emphasis on using evidence-based methodology.  Best Practices and Model Programs are being identified based on observations that these practices are effective in reducing levels of violence amd managing conflict constructively - i.e. peacemaking. 

Best Practices

The organizations identified at this point represent a significant amount of human effort - all practicing some form of peacemaking endeavor.  The diversity of tools and techniques used by these organizations provides an excellent opportunity for researchers to observe, evaluate and identify intervention practices that appear to be most effective - hence the term "Best Practices."   more on Best Practices...

Model Programs

Many organizations offer their clients well structured and well documented intervention "Programs."   A number of these Programs have been evaluated for effectiveness in achieving their stated goals.  

For example, programs have been identified that were demonstrated to be the most effective in preventing or reducing levels of violence within the youth population of several Western cultures.  Although each evaluating organization has its own nomenclature, they generally classify the top rated programs as "Exemplary" or "Model" or "Proven" or "Blueprints Model" programs. more on Model Programs...

Other Resources




Thoughts - Noted Peacemakers

 



Best Practices - Additional Background/Reading  

Best Practices of Youth Violence Prevention: A Sourcebook for Community Action (Best Practices), June, 2002, published by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. [Copia en Espanol]
The Best Practices Sourcebook
  •  Chapter 1 reviews general principles for planning, implementing, and evaluating an "Intervention Program"
  •  Chapter 2 selects and describes the four most effective strategies for intervention programs (Best Practices) that are used to reduce youth violence:
1. Improve Parent and Family relations
For a detailed outline of these Best Practices, please see our Parent-Family Best Practices Map.
  
2. Provide Home Visitations;
  
3. Improve Social and Conflict Resolution Skills
For a detailed outline of these Best Practices, please see our Social-Cognitive Skills Best Practices Map.
  
4. Provide Mentoring for At-Risk Youth.
  
  •  The Best Practices Sourcebook provides detailed information about specific intervention "Programs" that have been evaluated and demonstrated to be effective.
 
  •  These programs are drawn from real-world experiences of professionals and advocates who have successfully worked to prevent violence among children and adolescents.
  
  •  The sourcebook also documents the science behind each best practice and offers a comprehensive directory of resources for more information about programs that have used these practices.
  


World Report on Violence and Health, published by the World Health Organization, October 2002 [En Espanol]
This report raises awareness about the problem of violence globally. It views violence as predictable and preventable.
World Report on Violence and Health
  •  Specific objectives are to:
    — describe the magnitude and impact of violence throughout the world;
    — describe the key risk factors for violence;
    — give an account of the types of intervention and policy responses that have been tried and summarize what is known about their effectiveness;
    — make recommendations for action at local, national and international levels.
  •  The report covers the following topics:
    1. Violence – a global public health problem
    2. Youth violence
    3. Child abuse and neglect by parents and other caregivers
    4. Violence by intimate partners
    5. Abuse of the elderly
    6. Sexual violence
    7. Self-directed violence
    8. Collective violence
    9. The way forward: recommendations for action
  

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Model / Exemplary Programs - Additional Background/Reading  

Several research organizations identify and evaluate the effectiveness of peacemaking / violence prevention programs. They include:

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
 
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Programs that have been demonstrated to be the most effective in preventing or reducing levels of violence are identified. Although each evaluating organization has its own nomenclature, they generally classify the top programs as "Exemplary" or "Model" or "Proven" or "Blueprints Model" programs. Several examples are illustrated below:

Youth Violence: A Report of the Surgeon General, published by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, January 2001 in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Youth Violence: A Report of the Surgeon General
  • reviewed the scientific literature,
  • analyzed key new data sources,
  • identified and quantified risk factors and protective factors, and
  • presented effective youth violence intervention and prevention strategies.

 

Blueprints for Violence Prevention, OJJDP Juvenile Justice Bulletin, July 2001 published by the U.S. Dept of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
This publication provides information to communities on a broad array of violence prevention and intervention programs that have been proven to be effective.
Blueprints for Violence Prevention
  • provides information to communities on a broad array of violence prevention and intervention programs that have been proven to be effective.
  • identifies 11 "Blueprints Model" programs out of the more than 500 that have been reviewed to date and found to meet those rigorous standards.
  • The Blueprints programs featured in this Bulletin have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing adolescent violent crime, aggressive delinquency, substance abuse, and pre delinquent aggression and conduct disorders.


For more details about program "Effectiveness"......