Rotary and Peace

Founded in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Rotary quickly grew from a small gathering of local businessmen into an international association of clubs dedicated to serving their local and world communities.  In 1921, Rotary International (RI) adopted "the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace" as a part of its official object.  Today, the1.2 million business and professional leaders who comprise the membership of the more than 30,000 Rotary clubs in more than 160 countries work through a number of Rotary programs for a more peaceful world.

 

Rotary Centers for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution

In 1999, The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International announced the establishment of seven international studies centers where scholars can learn diplomacy and skills to resolve conflict and promote international understanding.

The Rotary Centers for International Studies are located at prestigious universities around the world.  The seventy Rotary World Peace Scholars, 10 students at each center, they will participate in two-year master's degree or certificate programs related to peace and conflict resolution.

The universities selected to host the Rotary Centers for International Studies are:  Duke University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA (jointly-hosted center); University of California-Berkeley, California, USA; Sciences Po, Paris, France; University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England; University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan; and Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

 

Rotary Programs for Peace

Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International sponsor several programs that encourage international understanding and peaceful relations among the world's peoples.

Rotary clubs have initiated and sponsored a number of projects to foster more peaceful communities:

• Local Rotary programs such as Friends Forever and Towards a Better Understanding encourage trust and understanding between Protestant and Catholic youth in Northern Ireland.
• Rotarian in Ontario, Canada have supported the School for Peace in the joint Jewish-Arab settlement of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam in Israel.
• In the Philippines, Manila Rotarians conduct violence prevention efforts such as crime watch groups, police support and anti-drug abuse campaigns.  The Rotary club of Butuan North established the Lingap Livelihood center to provide for youth vocational training in stable environment.
• Through the Rotary Conflict Resolution Vocation Fellowship, Rotarians promote peace in their communities by serving as mediators in local disputes and sponsoring local peace projects.
• The Rotary Club of Los Angeles adopted a gang-infected area of East Los Angeles.  In partnership with the Sheriff's Department, an activity center was built and is the base for neighborhood community services offering education programs and after-school tutoring.
• Rotary clubs in Washington State and the U.S. Department of State co-sponser a two-day international de-mining conference in Seattle, Washington.  Ending the Tragedy of Landmines through Innovation and Cooperation focuses on humanitarian de-mining efforts worldwide.

 

The Rotary Award for World Understanding (RAWU)

Since it was established in 1980, The Rotary Award for World Understanding (RAWU) honors a person or organization whose actions promote international peace and understanding through selfless service to others.  The highest honor of RI, the annual award includes a $100,000 grant for a charitable cause of the recipient's choosing which parallels Rotary's mission of peach and understanding through humanitarian and educational projects.

Past recipients include Pope John Paul II, Dr Albert Sabin, the International Committee of the Red Cross, The Salvation Army, former United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, Czech President Václav Havel, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the late former executive director of UNICEF James P. Grant, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata and Nelson Mandela.

 

Rotary and the International Community

Through a formal network of representatives, Rotary International maintains official relations with many global organizations that promote world peace.  In 1945, 50 Rotary club members participated in the creation of the UN Charter.  Since then, Rotary International has expanded its global outreach to the UN and other international organizations.  Currently, Rotary International Representatives are formally involved in meetings, activities and events at the following organizations:

• The United Nations (New York, Geneva, Vienna)
• The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• Council of Europe
• African Union
• UNCHS/Habitat and UN Environmental Programme
• UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme
• The World Bank
• Organization of American States
• UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

 

Rotary representatives to the UN and other world organizations monitor international meetings to learn and share best practices for addressing causes of conflict such as hunger, homelessness, illiteracy and poverty.  Recently, Rotary participated in the following global forums on peace-related topics:

• In 1999, several hundred African Rotary club members gathered in Kampala, Uganda to discuss critical humanitarian issues facing the African continent.  Through special sessions, Rotary club members outlined strategies for Rotary clubs to address the most serious challenges.

• At the Centennial Hague Appeal for Peace Conference, Rotary International organized a high-level panel to explore cross-sector partnerships to further humanitarian aid.  Panelists included chief officers from UN headquarters, UNESCO, the Organization of African Unity, the Red Cross and Rotary International.