The Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation： A Powerful Process for the Healing of Nations and Supporting the Culture of Peace

One of the greatest documents ever written by the United Nations is the UN Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 September 1999. Elaborating the fundamental principles which support the actions advancing the Culture of Peace， this landmark document gives clear and comprehensive guidelines on a new mode of human existence which calls on the entire United Nations system， all governments and all peoples to work together to build a freer， fairer and more peaceful global neighborhood through “a positive， dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation”.

All of us as global citizens are responsible to support the culture of peace and as stated in the Declaration \"civil society should be involved at the local， regional and national levels to widen the scope of activities on culture of peace.\" The Declaration also speaks to the importance especially in post-conflict reconstruction of developing rehabilitation， reintegration and reconciliation processes involving all involved in conflicts. The Declaration addresses the importance of supporting initiatives， at all levels， “to address concrete problems arising from post-conflict situations， such as demobilization， and reintegration of former combatants into society”. To this end there is work being done to address these issues which involve civil society through what is called the \"Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation.\"

聯合國撰寫的最偉大的文件之一便是1999年9月13日由聯合國大會通過的《聯合國和平文化宣言與行動綱領》，該文件詳細闡釋了推進和平文化行動的基本原則。這份里程碑式的文件對一種全新的人類生存模式作了明確全面的介紹，呼吁整個聯合國體系、所有政府和所有人民共同努力建設一個更加自由、更加公平、更加和睦的全球社區，通過“創造一個積極、互動的參與體系，以互相理解和互相合作的精神鼓勵對話、解決沖突”。

作為全球公民，我們都有責任支持宣言中所提到的和平文化——“公民社會應在地方、區域和國家的各個層面進行建設，以擴大和平文化的活動范疇。”該宣言還特別提及在戰后重建過程中沖突的各方面參與修復、重建和和解的重要性——“要應對沖突后產生的具體問題，例如，復員和讓前戰斗人員重返社會”。為實現這一目標，我們需要做出許多努力，通過所謂“寬恕與和解學校”構建公民社會。

Conflict and violence do not only result from objective factors such as poverty， corruption， or the absence of the State in the true sense， but subjective factors as well especially anger， resentment and the desire for revenge especially found in situations where there has been genocide and war. These factors are frequently converted into dangerous detonators of further violence. There are increasing numbers of victims or survivors of violence who， despite their demands for truth and justice continue to cultivate anger and resentment.

Over the last decade， the social sciences have become increasingly interested in measuring the grave consequences of these subjective factors and to stress the importance of developing a political culture of forgiveness and reconciliation as essential components of sustainable peace at the political， community and interpersonal spheres.

The \"Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation\" help to create the culture of peace through methodology that seeks to heal the suffering of the victims/survivors of political and domestic violence by helping them transform their narratives of retaliation into stories of reconciliation through the work of forgiveness. In this way forgiveness and reconciliation are converted into socio-political understanding that is indispensible if victims are to recover the dignity that has been so affronted by multiple human rights abuses. In the future， if policies for peace and security are to be successful they will have to transit the paths of forgiveness and reconciliation. Otherwise， violence will continue to escalate. As the inspiring and long-term champion of the culture of peace Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury has repeatedly affirmed that “Forgiveness is a proven pathway to human transformation creating the much-needed culture of peace which is essential for sustainable peace in our world”.

沖突與暴力并非僅僅來自貧困、腐敗或政府實際意義上的不作為等客觀因素，也來自主觀因素，尤其是憤怒、怨恨和報復一類的情感，而這類情感在種族屠殺和戰爭的環境下非常常見。這些因素也經常被轉化為日后暴力事件的危險性導火線。盡管越來越多的受害者或是暴力的幸存者，渴望真相和正義，但是卻任由憤怒和怨恨在自己的內心滋長。

在過去的十年中，社會科學越來越感興趣于度量這些主觀因素的嚴重后果并強調在政治、社會和人際交往方面，把寬恕與和解的政治文化作為可持續和平文化的主要部分的重要性。

“寬恕與和解學校”通過方法論幫助創建和平文化，這種方法論試圖為政治和國內暴力的受害者或幸存者提供安慰，通過寬恕的效果，幫助他們將自己報復的故事轉變為和解的故事。這樣一來，寬恕與和解就被轉化為了社會政治性的共識，如果受害者想要找回他們被多重人權濫用所侵犯的人權，那么這一點將是必不可少的。將來，如果和平和安全的政策能夠獲得成功的話，那么就需要走寬恕與和解的道路。否則的話，暴力只會升級。喬德哈瑞大使作為和平文化的長期擁護者，一再向我們指出“寬恕是通向人類改造行之有效的道路，寬恕創造了人類急需的和平文化，這對于當今世界的可持續性和平是必不可少的。”

Background of the \"Schools for Forgiveness and Reconciliation\"

“寬恕與和解學校”的背景

The \"Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation\" is a model which was developed in 2001 by Leonel Narvaez. It is based on the experimental design of pedagogies of forgiveness and reconciliation developed during the latter half of the 1990s with the assistance of an interdisciplinary team from Harvard University.

The experience of the \"Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation\" （SFR） started in 60 Barrios （neighborhoods） of Bogotá in 2001. By 2014， the \"Schools\" have expanded to 100 cities in Colombia， into Mexico and Cuba， and now Canada and the U.S. Initial work has also been in South Africa， Senegal， Rwanda and Nigeria.

\"Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation\" where developed to address issues of political and domestic violence and to help support the culture of peace. The Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation program is an 56 hour workshop divided into 11 modules （six for forgiveness and five for reconciliation） adapted to the needs of the beneficiaries. The \"Schools\" are based on a practical theory and methodology of forgiveness and reconciliation to help victims and offenders overcome their anger， guilt and need for revenge through the process of transforming their painful memories， and negative narratives and by generating new social capital that facilitates peace building in the midst of conflicts.

“寬恕與和解學校”這一模型由萊昂內爾·納爾瓦埃斯于2001年創建。這一模型是基于20世紀90年代下半期發展起來的寬恕與和解教育學的實驗設計，由哈佛大學一個跨學科團隊的合作完成。

“寬恕與和解學校”（SFR）的經驗始于2001年波哥大的60個區。截止到2014年，“學派”已經擴展到哥倫比亞、墨西哥、古巴以及加拿大和美國的100個城市。南非、塞內加爾、盧旺達和尼日利亞已經著手開展了初步工作。

“寬恕與和解學校”被用來應對政治和國內暴力問題以及幫助支持和平文化。寬恕與和解學派項目是一項56小時的項目，劃分為11個模塊（其中6個模塊是寬恕，5個是和解），這是根據受益人的需求進行改造。“學校”是基于寬恕與和解的實際理論和方法，幫助受害者和違法者克服他們的憤怒、內疚和報復的需要，改變他們痛苦的記憶和消極的敘述，在沖突中產生新的社會資本，促進和平文化建設。

The advancement in theory and proposal of a practical method of forgiveness and reconciliation that overcomes the subjective factors of violence is an important innovation and contribution to social sciences. Here， forgiveness is assumed to be a political virtue and a human right. Although forgiveness is an old paradigm common to most cultures （and religions）， it is considered to be an ESSENTIAL component to traditional conflict resolution methods and techniques. Forgiveness and reconciliation are no longer private （religious） or individual （psychological） exercises but rather social and political activities （virtues） necessary for the integral development of citizens and communities. Additionally， forgiveness and reconciliation have been introduced as crucial components for the concrete application of restorative justice.

理論的進步以及克服暴力的主觀因素、對寬恕與和解的實際性方法提議，是對社會科學一項重要的創新和貢獻。在此，寬恕被看作是一種政治美德和一項人類權利。盡管寬恕是與大部分文化（和宗教）共通的一種古老典范，但它依然被看作是傳統沖突解決方法和技巧的必要部分。寬恕與和解不再是私人的（宗教的）或個人的（心理的）的操作，而是社會和政治活動（美德），對公民和社區的整體發展是必須的。除此之外，寬恕與和解被引入作為修復性正義具體實施的關鍵性組成部分。

The objective of the Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation （SFR） is to create communities of peace that heal the wounds of conflict and encourage reconciliation. The premise behind the training program is that if victims do not heal from their psychological wounds， they have a higher likelihood of becoming future perpetrators of crime. Therefore， the first part of the program supports people in their healing process by giving them the opportunity to tell their stories， transform their narratives， and begin a healing process. They will learn how to work with their difficult emotions and see their situation from a different perspective， which can give them additional insights on what has occurred. Participants will learn skills in how to counsel both victims and perpetrators in helping them face each other in order to deal with the painful issues of the past. They will learn conflict resolution tools which supports the process of forgiveness， gain a deeper understand of what forgiveness is about and how it helps the healing of trauma. All of the participants will learn the process of how to forgive and how to help others if they are called upon to do so.

寬恕與和解學校（SFR）的目標是創建和平社區，撫慰沖突中的傷痛，促進和解的達成。培訓項目背后的假設是如果受害者不能從他們的心理創傷中恢復過來，他們很有可能成為未來的犯罪者。因此，項目的第一部分就是支持人們的治愈過程，給他們機會講述自己的故事，轉變他們的敘述，從而開啟一項治療進程。他們會學著怎樣應對自己復雜的情緒，從不同的視角看待他們的處境，這會賦予他們不同的見解來看待過去發生的事情。參加者會學習技巧怎樣給受害者和犯罪者提供建議，幫助他們面對彼此來應對過去痛苦的記憶。他們會學習沖突解決工具，能夠支持寬恕的進程，對寬恕獲得更深的理解并幫助治愈創傷。所有參加者都會學習怎樣寬恕和怎樣幫助他人，如果要求他們這樣做的話。

Below is a description of the program of the 11 modules of forgiveness and reconciliation：

Module 1 which focuses on motivation explains the dynamics of social and political violence and asks \"How do you express violence and what is the effect of violent behavior on your life？\" Module 2 focuses on anger and the effects it has on one's emotions， thoughts and behavior. We look at our own anger and the kind of role models we had which informed us on how to deal with our anger. In Module 3 the decision to forgive is presented as the best alternative to overcome resentment and hatred provoked by aggression. Module 4 promotes in the participants compassion and empathy with the offender， facilitating the building of a new narrative of the offense to recognize the similarities and differences of each person with the others around them. Module 5 helps us understand the actions and the psychological landscape and of the aggressor resulting in the sensitization to the situations in their life. Module 6 teaches how to establish conditions that will allow the eventual encounter with the offender. This is the pivotal module between forgiveness and reconciliation and helps to prepare the participant for reconciliation. Module 7 begins the reconciliation module which shows that there are many versions of the same event depending on the viewpoint one has and introduces the concept of the need for new narratives to overcome the distances generated by the offense. Module 8 introduces the concept of restoration as a basic element of justice. Module 9 helps us to recognize that conflict is an opportunity to learn， to strengthen interpersonal relationships， to establish and renew pacts， to identify some possible form of pact between oneself and the “other person” and with family as well as with the residents of one's neighborhood. Module 10 helps us to restore memory of the individual and collective events as a way of re-establishing the meaning of identity and promoting restoration for the prevention of new harmful acts. Module 11 is one of celebration of what has been accomplished and learned as well as the healing which has taken place.

下面即是對項目“寬恕與和解”11個模塊的介紹：

模塊1重點介紹激勵作用，解釋了社會暴力和政治暴力的動因，并且就以下問題進行詢問“你怎樣表達暴力，暴力行為對你生活的影響是什么？”模塊2著重介紹憤怒以及憤怒對人類情感、想法和行為的影響。我們看待自己的憤怒和我們所有的楷模類型，這告訴我們如何處理我們的憤怒。在模塊3中，決定寬恕是克服由被侵犯所引起的不滿和仇恨的最好選擇。模塊4促進參與者對犯罪者進行同情和換位思考，促進形成對犯罪的一種新型敘述角度，以此來認清他們周圍每個人的異同。模塊5幫助我們理解侵犯者的行為和心理狀況，使 我們其生活狀況有直觀感受。模塊6教給我們如何創造條件，能夠與犯罪者最終相遇。這個模塊是處于寬恕與和解中至關重要的一個模塊，能夠幫助參加者達成和解。模塊7開啟了和解模塊的序幕，這顯示了即便對于同一事件，不同的視角就會有不同版本的故事，因此引進了一個概念，需要全新的敘述視角來克服由犯罪所引起的距離。模塊8引入了修復作為正義的基本元素的概念。模塊9幫助我們認識到沖突是學習的機會，是增強人際關系的機會，是建立和重新建立協議的機會，也是讓我們認清自己、“其他人”、家庭以及社區內居民達成協議的某些可能形式。模塊10幫助我們恢復個人和集體性事件的記憶，把這些作為重建身份的意義和促進修復以預防新傷害行為的發生。模塊11是對之前已經完成并學習的部分以及所進行的康復部分的贊美。

The \"Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation\" are part of a program under the auspices of the Foundation for Reconciliation in Bogota， Colombia and Forgiveness International in Phoenix， Arizona which is the sister organization of the Foundation for Reconciliation. The work of both organizations is through the \"Schools” which proposes that forgiveness and reconciliation are indispensable for the construction of sustainable peace. The program has received numerous awards， including the UNESCO prize for peace education in 2006 for the Foundation for Reconciliation， and addresses the problems of conflict and violence including political violence， particularly in geographies where patterns of violence have become entrenched.

“寬恕與和解學校”是一個項目的一部分，該項目以波哥大和哥倫比亞的和解基金會為主題以及亞利桑那州菲尼克斯的寬恕國際中心，這是和解基金會的姐妹組織。兩個組織的工作都是通過“學校”進行，提議寬恕與和解對構建可持續和平是必不可少的。該項目獲得了眾多獎項，其中包括聯合國教科文組織在2006年對和解基金會頒發的和平教育獎。該項目強調了沖突和暴力問題，包括政治暴力，尤其是在已經被暴力模式滲透的地區。

Training Program for Forgiveness and Reconciliation

寬恕與和解培訓項目

Through the Training of Trainers multiplication strategy， in Colombia， within an 8-year time period， 93，000 people have been trained as SFR Facilitators. They have transferred the methodology to 1，500 teachers in 62 schools， 40，000 secondary school students， 21，000 illiterate displaced people， 1，100 ex-combatants from rebel groups， and 10，200 community people in 5 Centers of Reconciliation. There is a growing Red de Jóvenespor la Reconciliación （Network of Youth for Reconciliation） of 320 members. In the 13 other countries of Latin America， 2，500 SFR Facilitators have been trained and have delivered the process to approximately 24，300 beneficiaries. All this data refers to the first generation of participants who normally replicate the SFR-course to a second generation of beneficiaries and therefore， the wave-impact keeps constantly growing and moving， For example， we have the case of a facilitator in Bogota who has replicated the SFR course over 50 times in the last 6 years.

The Foundation for Reconciliation in Bogota has been able to register tangible results such as： the multiplication of the \"Schools\" in a growing number of cities and countries. Newspaper reports， TV and Radio Programs have witnessed the oral testimonies and the enthusiasm of participants and the impact in their lives. Parents and teachers have certified the behavioral and academic improvement of their children at school， couples in conflict， victims of many kinds of violence， inmates， members of religious orders， ex-combatants， divorced people， victims of violence and drug-addicts， all have enthusiastically expressed appreciation and gratitude. A growing number of religious institutions of different Christian denominations are incorporating the \"Schools\" methodology into their programs. The \"Schools\" have been included in University programs as in Rio de Janeiro and in Lima. Police in Sao Paulo and Judges in Rio de Janeiro are discovering the importance of the \"Schools\" approach offering to minor offenders the possibility of participation in the SFR for reduction of time in prison. In Colombia， a Network of Youth for Reconciliation is in rapid growth. There is also a well established legal organization of Peace Leaders consisting of ex-combatants from several subversive groups. School teachers are discovering the power of this proposal and gradually implement it in their curricula. The Centers for Reconciliation are gradually being appreciated and financially supported by local governments.

通過哥倫比亞的培訓師多元化戰略培訓，在8年的時間內，93，000人都被培訓為寬恕與和解學校的培訓員。他們將這種方法論傳授給62所學校的1500名教師、4萬名中學生、21，000名流離失所的文盲群眾、1100名叛亂團體的前戰士和5所和解中心的10，200名社區群眾。青年和解網絡現已有320名成員，正日益壯大。在拉丁美洲的13個其他國家中，2，500名寬恕與和解學校的培訓員參加訓練，并向大約24，300名受益人傳授了這一過程。所有這些數據都指的是第一代參加者，他們通常都把寬恕與和解學校的課程再講一遍給第二代受益人，因此沖擊波似的影響不斷增強并擴大。我們在波哥大的一位培訓員就在過去的六年時間里將寬恕與和解學校的課程講述了超過50次。

波哥大的和解基金會已經記錄了有形的結果，例如越來越多的城市和國家建立了“學校”。報紙上、電視上和廣播上都見證了參加者的證言和熱情，以及參加后對他們生活的影響。家長和老師們都證實了他們的孩子在學校里的表現和成績都獲得了進步，爭吵的夫妻、暴力的受害者、同入獄者、宗教團體成員、前戰員、離婚者和吸毒者都踴躍地表達了贊賞和感謝之情。不同基督教派的大批宗教機構正在將“學校”的方法論納入他們的項目之中。“學校”也被納入里約熱內盧和利馬的大學。圣保羅的警方和里約熱內盧的法官都發現了“學校”的重要性，為情節較輕的犯罪者在監獄的時間中提供機會接受寬恕與和解學校的教育。在哥倫比亞，青年和解網絡獲得迅速發展。還有一個完善的和平領導人的合法組織，由幾個顛覆性組織的前戰員構成。學校老師們都發現了這項提議的力量，并逐漸應用到他們的課程之中。和解中心正逐漸獲得當地政府的賞識并最終獲得了當地政府的財政支持。

The \"Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation\" do bring people through a very transformative process. The \"Schools\" help people change the way they think moving people away from the need for revenge to recognizing the importance and power of forgiveness. There can be a profound shift in consciousness which enables the participant to see their world differently. Just imagin e for a moment： What would our world look like if our tears were washed away on rays of hope and our eyes saw a world without violence and war. What if the flames of anger wilted into the embers and a way of life emerged filled with compassion and understanding. What if misery and human tragedy could end because our hearts had become filled with unconditional love and forgiveness？ And what if we could promote increased understanding， tolerance and cooperation among all peoples by fostering forgiveness？

“寬恕與和解學校”的確令人們經歷了一個轉變性的過程。“學校 ”幫助人們改變了思考方式，讓人們擺脫復仇的欲望，認清寬恕的力量和重要性。這對人們來說是意識上的一個深刻性轉變，能夠讓參加者從不同的角度看待這個世界。想象一下：如果我們的眼淚被希望之光擦干，我們看到的世界沒有暴力和戰爭，那么我們的世界將會是什么樣呢？如果憤怒的火焰燃燒殆盡，我們的生活充滿了同情和理解。如果我們的內心充斥著無條件的愛和寬恕，是否痛苦和人間悲劇就會終止？如果我們能夠通過培養寬恕感來越來越多地促進理解、包容和合作呢？

We are empowered to bring this vision to life. Today， We have the ability to move our world closer to the vision of spiritual wisdom and wholeness because each of us carries within one’s heart the power to forgive. And as forgiveness becomes stronger in our lives so does the building of the culture of peace.

我們有權讓這一設想變為現實。今天，我們有能力令我們的世界更加靠近精神的睿智和完整，因為我們每個人的內心中都有寬恕的力量。隨著寬恕的力量在我們的生活中日益強大，建設和平文化指日可待。