Advice concerning the international declaration on Flanders Fields

As an integral part of the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War, the Flemish authorities, in concert with like-minded foreign partners, intend to sign the International Declaration on Flanders Fields, which calls on all states to uphold the memory of ‘the Great War'. In this advisory note, the Flemish Peace Institute scrutinizes the current draft text of this declaration.

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Advice concerning the cross-curricular attainment targets: remembrance and peace education

On 22 April 2009, the Flemish Parliament adopted a Parliamentary Act introducing new attainment targets and development goals in primary and secondary education. Two of the new cross-curricular attainment targets in secondary education focus on avoiding intolerance and racism, and on insight into the role of conflicts. The Peace Institute draws attention to a number of important elements related to operationalizing the cross-curricular attainment targets in question.

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Advice on youth and violence, and the need for conflict management

(Advice in Dutch) Het Vredesinstituut kreeg een vraag om advies over geweld in de leefwereld van jongeren vanwege de Vlaamse Minister van Onderwijs, Jeugd, Gelijke Kansen en Brussel. Het advies ‘Geweld in de leefwereld van jongeren en aandacht voor conflicthantering' omvat een voorafgaande analyse van de plaats van geweld in de leefwereld van kinderen en jongeren, waarbij zowel de omvang en aard van het dader- en slachtofferschap van geweld bij jongeren, als de betekenis die jongeren zelf geven aan het geweld aan bod komt.

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Recommendations for the promotion of foreign news coverage in the Flemish media

Based on recent research on the quantity, quality and impact of foreign news coverage, in this Advice the Flemish Peace Institute discusses the scope for action to support better coverage of news about the international community. With a view to the verifiable social added value of high-quality foreign news, the Institute has formulated a number of specific recommendations for the structural promotion of foreign news coverage in the Flemish media.

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Advice concerning the commemoration of the Centenary of the First World War

These last few years, the Flemish authorities and the Flemish Parliament have been preparing the coming commemoration of the Centenary of the First World War in 2014-2018. From the plans it appears that both are wholeheartedly behind the idea that the commemoration should spread a message of peace. The Flemish Peace Institute has taken a critical look at how this objective can be achieved, and issued an advice concerning the commemoration of the Centenary of the First World War. The Institute advises 1) to develop a coherent vision on how the Flemish authorities intend to give shape and content to a peaceful commemoration of the First World War; 2) that historians are more closely involved in the commemoration project; and 3) that, together with efforts already made on the level of foreign policy and tourism, the Flemish authorities make more of an effort than they do now with regard to other policy areas such as education, culture, youth and media. (Advice in Dutch)

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Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Croatia and the Flemish Government

On 13 November 2006, the Flemish Government and the Government of the Croatian Republic signed a Cooperation Agreement in Zagreb. With a view to the approval in principle by the Flemish Government, Geert Bourgeois, Flemish Minister of Foreign Policy, has asked the Flemish Peace Institute to provide an advice about the Cooperation Agreement. The Peace Institute supports the Agreement and believes that the exchange of expertise and their collaboration in a number of diverse areas will result in valuable opportunities for both parties.

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Flemish Policy and UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security

Note in reply to the question of the Flemish Parliament (Parliamentary Act of the Flemish Parliament, 2004-05, no. 68/5) "asking to make up a general state of affairs on how Flemish policy implements and can implement Resolution 1325 of the UN Security Council and to examine the gaps and obstacles undermining its implementation and how they can be overcome."

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