Human rights & peace building
Reduced InequalitiesPeace, Justice and strong Institutions

Human rights & peace building

The key to achieving lasting peace, is to foster human values which unite us as a global community. Through dialogue, conferences, campaigns and trauma-relief programs, IAHV has initiated peace building programs to resolve long-standing conflicts across the globe, achieving lasting peace through dialogue, advocacy and service to humanity.

The ChallengeThe opportunityOur aim & approachOur impactHow you can contributeCase Studies
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The Challenge

Bringing world peace can only be achieved through the complex task of conflict resolution. Long-standing histories of violence, lack of trust as well as communication, and high levels of vested interests and stress in individuals, together makes eliminating conflicts difficult.

The Challenge
CHALLANGE
Opportunity

The Opportunity

The complex challenges to world peace can be overturned through patience and perseverance. By facilitating dialogue we bridge trust deficits, and by bringing inner peace we transform perpetrators of conflicts and heal victims. These actions together can make world peace a reality.

The Opportunity
approach

Our Aim & Approach

IAHV lays strong psycho-social foundations in which peace and development efforts can take place. We holistically cooperate with other organisations whilst following our multi-pronged approach which includes a combination of the following initiatives:

Supplying necessities

Supplying necessities:

We respond with immediate help based on needs in case of emergencies. For example: food, shelter, and medicines.

Bringing inner peace

Bringing inner peace:

We provide trauma-/stress-relief training to stakeholders involved in conflict.

Multi-group dialogue

Multi-group dialogue:

We facilitate dialogue between multiple stakeholders and factions.

Community building

Community building:

We inspire and develop local leaders and change agents to help people support each other in the process of healing.

Creation of platforms

Creation of platforms:

We create awareness of complex situations and conflict, through conferences, think-tanks, and garner external support.

Our Impact

Our work has fostered peace through dialogue and strategic interventions that engage multiple levels of government and other stakeholders. IAHV has brought inner peace to thousands of militants, armed insurgents, war survivors and veterans, refugees through stress-relief and trauma-relief programs. Our interventions have led to positive developments wherein militants and armed insurgents surrendered, ending long standing conflicts, and have enabled even survivors of war to begin new lives.

165,000

+

Number of trauma relief workshop organized*

5

.

6

Million

People benefited from Trauma relief workshops*

800,000

+

Lives of inmates transformed from Prison Programs*

7400

+

Insurgents laid down arms*

53

years

FARC war resolved in Colombia

500

years

Ayodhya conflict resolved in India

* Indicates global numbers

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How you can contribute

The vast reach of our work is only possible with the additional support of our partners. Find out how you can get involved.

How you can contribute
Casestudies

Case Studies

UPLA (United People’s Liberation Army), militant outfit in north-east declares a unilateral ceasefire, 2018
CASE STUDY

UPLA (United People’s Liberation Army), militant outfit in north-east declares a unilateral ceasefire, 2018

With the help of our stress-relief training workshops and facilitating dialogue between the government and the UPLA, the 150 member group declared a unilateral ceasefire in 2018.

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UPLA (United People’s Liberation Army), militant outfit in north-east declares a unilateral ceasefire, 2018
CASE STUDY

UPLA (United People’s Liberation Army), militant outfit in north-east declares a unilateral ceasefire, 2018

Founded in 2013, the UPLA group formed as a response to the underdevelopment of Karbi Anglong, widespread corruption of power and fund mismanagement. The UPLA demanded a separate state of Karbi Anglong, and trained in weapons camps in Myanmar in order to conduct extortion and violence against the state. 

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In 2015, the group’s chairman Sorjon Loeh experienced our programmes upon his release from prison. He found them to be life-transforming, which inspired and solidified a change in direction of the group’s activities to leave arms. He reflects that “had he done the program earlier, [he] would have never taken up arms and become an extremist.” The challenge however, was that most cadres were based in Myanmar and any talks of peace would pose risk to them and those training with them.

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To assist and arrange peace talks and initiatives on their behalf, we arranged for our own intermediaries to negotiate with the government and security agencies to enable a peaceful transition. Eventually, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar himself brought up the matter with the Prime Minister of India and with the Chief Minister of Assam, and this intervention led to the safe passage of members of the group from Myanmar to Karbi Anglong. 

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In order to support the rehabilitation of individuals, we continue to sensitise government and security agencies to the challenges the militants face to surrender. As well as conducting workshops for other cadres and their families to bring increased levels of self confidence and independence, we assist with providing means of employment to integrate them into the mainstream.  

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The declaration of a unilateral ceasefire by the UPLA inspired others that they too can return to mainstream activities with respect. Inspired by these successes, other groups now approach us to facilitate similar transitions into peace, for training of misguided youth, and for skill training. Using our workshops, we are able to tap into the resources of the region, and with the government and local youth working together, we can make a difference. 

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FARC, a 50-year-old guerilla group in Colombia sign peace treaty with the government, 2016
CASE STUDY

FARC, a 50-year-old guerilla group in Colombia sign peace treaty with the government, 2016

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar played a key role in boosting the peace process between FARC leaders and the Colombian government. Reconciliation processes have further helped many victims of conflict to forgive and move on.

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FARC, a 50-year-old guerilla group in Colombia sign peace treaty with the government, 2016
CASE STUDY

FARC, a 50-year-old guerilla group in Colombia sign peace treaty with the government, 2016

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was established by landowners to combat inequality and unethical practices, waging a 51 year war against the Colombian government. Over the years, thousands of youths joined the group, however violence only generated more violence as 7 million Colombians lost their homes and over 200,000 families lost loved ones due to the guerilla conflict financed by drug trafficking. 

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The peace initiative was started by a former colombian president but only gained momentum as more international organisations gave their support to the combian government who did not have sufficient resources to defeat the guerillas alone. In 2015, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar intervened when the peace process was going through a frictional time and the Colombian delegation requested his expert guidance.  He was able to meet with the then President Juan Santos, as well as facilitate dialogue with FARC leaders, having met victims of the conflict at the UN office in Bogota. 

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FARC members shared their reasons for starting the war and their desire for Colombian social justice. In turn Gurudev proposed they fight for their cause by adopting Gandhian principles of nonviolence.  

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The group then meditated together and within 2 days they announced a unilateral ceasefire, which continued successfully for a year. The following year, the Colombian Government joined FARC to announce a bilateral ceasefire.  The ex-guerilla group then engaged our help to facilitate reconciliation with victims of conflict, leaders and government. Within a few months, the compmbian government and FARC signed a peace agreement which led to over 7000 ex-guerillas to surrender their arms and 10 ex-leaders to take seats in parliament.  

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We continue to work with those who are still affected by the former violence and long standing complex history, and who are unable to commit to peace in the region. Our workshops help individuals find forgiveness and repair the trust deficit between groups, with the perspective that FARC members have also been victims too.

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Paigam-e-Mohabbat, 2017
CASE STUDY

Paigam-e-Mohabbat, 2017

Over the years we have worked to reform militants and bring peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Many militants have surrendered arms in the past. Paigam-e-Mohabbat was a reconciliation program for the family members of martyred security personnel, victims of cross-firing, and slain militants.

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CASE STUDY

Paigam-e-Mohabbat, 2017

Since 2004, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been spreading his message of peace and unity to the various political and religious groups in Jammu and Kashmir, often meeting with leaders and youth from the region.  Many have been able to discuss their insurgent and military related issues with Gurudev. 

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Not only was our presence in the region helpful in relief efforts after the 2005 earthquake, our work in orphanages, schools, prisons and refugee camps over the years has been particularly notable, contributing to our position of trust. Many praise our efforts to revive and develop human values between all in the region. In 2017, we hosted the historic Paigam-e-Mohabbat reconciliation program for community members of martyred security personnel, victims of cross-firing, and slain militants, bringing together over 200 families to heal and make way for peace.

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Rehabilitating militant youth
CASE STUDY

Rehabilitating militant youth

700 ex-ULFA militants have been rehabilitated through stress relief training. In addition, militants from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh have participated in Art of Living programs and have surrendered arms.

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CASE STUDY

Rehabilitating militant youth

700 ex-ULFA militants have been rehabilitated through stress relief training. In addition, militants from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh have participated in Art of Living programs and have surrendered arms.

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In Assam, the community is divided on the bases of area, caste, class, ethnicity and affiliation and therefore building trust can be challenging. There is also a lot of mistrust, anger, physical, emotional and psychological pain and trauma which has been experienced for many years. Many militants joined the insurgency in their youth, moving into the jungles to train in weapons and combat, and fight against the system, however with our interventions, the people have begun to experience healing and transformation. With the support of the Assam Government, over 700 ex-guerillas have been transformed by our rehabilitation programmes in order to be part of the transition towards sustainable and peaceful social transformation. By undergoing our programmes, they have also been able to train in skills which give them economic independence. Many of the graduates of our programmes have gone on to impact their own community members, and create change- They contribute to the sustainable development of Assam, volunteer with our team in riot hit areas, and help to bring their comrades out of the violent jungles to work towards inner peace and collective, constructive action.  



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Facilitating dialogues
CASE STUDY

Facilitating dialogues

Gurudev has facilitated dialogues in various conflicts like the Assam riots (2012), Amarnath land dispute (2008), Gujjar protests (2008), and as far back as the Naxal uprisings of 2001. Every time, he has successfully brought the conflicting sides to the negotiating table.

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Our Founder

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is an international humanitarian leader who is the global rallying voice of the collective call for peace and social upliftment.

Founder of the Art of Living Foundation and International Association for Human Values, Sri Sri is leading the way toward peace and tolerance through meditation and humanitarian efforts. Over 40 years, his programs and initiatives have touched the lives of over 450 million people across 156 countries.

Spearheading an unprecedented worldwide movement for a stress-free, violence-free society, Sri Sri has been named one of the “Seven Most Powerful People in India,” by Forbes.  His world-renowned meditation techniques including the Sudarshan Kriya, are backed by research and implemented in schools, corporations, prisons, refugee camps and retreat centers around the world.

Sri Sri and his practices have proven effective globally and at all levels of society. They have helped to end the 60year conflict in Colombia, and have been credited in bringing opposing parties together to facilitate meditation and peace talks in Iraq, Cote d’Ivoire and India.

As a spiritual teacher, Sri Sri has rekindled traditions of yoga and meditation that have helped millions of people achieve personal and social transformation by relieving stress and discovering inner peace in daily life. His mission is to show the world that through achieving inner peace, we will be able to see our human interconnectedness and become a One World Family.

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