Who We Are

Our History

Mission & Vision

Goals and Objectives

Composition and Structure

Past Events

Links

Pax Christi International is a global peace movement that works to help establish peace, respect for human rights, justice and reconciliation in areas of the world that are torn by violent conflict. It is grounded in the belief that peace is possible and that vicious cycles of violence and injustice can be broken.

The Pax Christi International movement as well as Pax Christi Netherlands and Pax Christi USA have over the years collaborated with partners in Sudan, Uganda and Kenya. Pax Christi Netherlands has particularly had a long history in Sudan dating back to 1993 and has developed a broad spectrum of activities in the country.

Pax Christi partners from Sudan and Ethiopia met in Narus and Kuron, southern Sudan, in March 2005 to explore possibilities of forming a Pax Christi network for the Greater Horn of Africa. Participants acknowledged at this gathering that whatever was happening in their respective countries had a direct impact on the neighbouring countries and vice versa. Cross border initiatives like information sharing, joint advocacy, research and civic education were considered necessary for sustainable peace to be achieved in the region.

At an All Africa Consultation later that year in Pretoria, South Africa, the idea of establishing a Pax Christi Greater Horn of Africa Network was revisited. Representatives of peace organizations from the region expressed concern over the many challenges facing the Horn, including insecurity, bad governance, poverty, human rights violations, conflict, war trauma, religious segregation and intolerance. To effectively address these issues, the organizations present agreed to join together to establish a network.

A Regional Consultation is organized annually to promote increased collaboration, build capacities of local organizations and strategize for common action. It is attended by members and partners from all the constituent countries and is the network’s principal decision making body. To date there have been three such Regional Consultations in Kenya (2006), Ethiopia (2007) and Uganda (2008).  A Regional Coordinating Committee, comprised of one representative from each constituent country, gives overall direction to the network and sits for a three year period. The Network’s Regional Secretariat is based in Nairobi and is run by a Regional Coordinator.