Peacebuilding from Local and Community Contributions

Although the importance of upholding human dignity is frequently invoked, both individual and collective human rights continue to be violated, generating systematic violence against the most vulnerable and marginalized communities across the globe.

This reality underscores the need to recognize and strengthen local initiatives—rooted in territories, cultures, and holistic worldviews—that work to build alternative forms of society. These initiatives emphasize respect not only for human rights but also for the interconnectedness of all living beings and the environment.

Participating in Geneva Peace Week 2025 and engaging with officials from the United Nations, international organizations, and various embassies based in Geneva provided an important opportunity to highlight the unique contexts of the countries represented in our delegation. It also allowed us to express our concerns about ongoing conflicts and wars around the world, particularly those affecting Iran and Palestine, as well as the situations unfolding in Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. These crises continue to produce severe consequences, yet urgent and effective actions to address them remain lacking.

Throughout the various meetings, we emphasized the importance of amplifying the work carried out at the local level—work grounded in community knowledge and informed by non-Eurocentric, non-homogenizing perspectives. Centering the experiences and leadership of women, youth, and Indigenous peoples helps affirm the relevance of their contributions to peacebuilding. These include supporting human rights defenders, caring for Mother Earth, defending territories, strengthening the political capacities of women and young leaders, and advocating for the implementation of international standards such as Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Committee General Recommendation No. 39.

Meeting Shirin Ebadi, the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was a profound honor. As the first Iranian and Muslim woman to receive this recognition, she represents a tireless struggle for equality and a democracy grounded in human rights, especially for women and children. At a time when faith in humanity can feel fragile, Mrs. Ebadi stands as an inspiring example of wisdom, perseverance, and courage. Learning from her during Geneva Peace Week has deeply impacted both my life and the work of my organization.

Each of us has the power to build peace within our own environments, to pursue a dignified life, and to reaffirm the importance of collective progress. As expressed in the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya peoples: “Let everyone rise, let no one be left behind. Let us not be just one or two, but all of us together.”

Click here to read the Spanish Version

Sara Mux is a Maya Kaqchikel woman from San Juan Comalapa in Guatemala and a member of the Ixpop Collective, formed by Tik Na'oj, ECAP, the Maya Uk'U'x B'e Association, the International Institute for Women's Human Rights, and JASS. She is also co-founder of Tik Na'oj, a collective of Indigenous youth that provides political training and develops tools to amplify youth voices