CPS's vision is an open and non-violent society based on solidarity, whose institutions enable peace, social security, political and economic equality and freedom for all people. Taking into account the balance between their existence and the environment, members of society actively participate in decision-making, management of public goods and development of their communities.
CPS grew out of various forms of direct peace-building in western Slavonia (Volunteers’ Project Pakrac, 1993-1997). It was founded in 1996 in Pakrac and was formally registered in Zagreb the following year. CPS operates through four compatible programs: Educating and Empowering for Social Change, Protecting and Promoting the Right to Asylum and Migration, Supporting Inclusive Society, and Affirmation of Economic and Social Rights. In our work in all programs, we combine several approaches - research, education, public actions, and work on public policies, advocacy and public campaigns.
Programs:
The Educating and Empowering for Social Change program unit works towards empowering individuals and groups for progressive social change.
The basic principle of our work is designing and implementing different non-formal education and learning programs, providing support to different groups and individuals and advocating quality policies in education.
Within the Protecting and Promoting the Right to Asylum and Migration program unit, we want to protect the asylum system and ensure safe and regular pathways for migrating and obtaining status.
Through direct, research, legal and public advocacy work, we strive to stop illegal and violent practices towards refugees and other migrants, encourage the improvement of the legislative framework and practice concerning asylum and safe and regular migration routes, fight against the criminalisation of solidarity, and inform refugees and other migrants on rights in accessing asylum and regulating status.
Within the Supporting Inclusive Society program unit, we want to ensure that integration is approached in a multi-departmental and multi-sectoral manner and that refugees and foreigners are well accepted in our society and enjoy human rights just like other members of society.
In addition, we want to encourage society to be more open to differences, and in this context, we undertake efforts to make discrimination and violence motivated by hatred and prejudice unacceptable. Through our work, we make institutions aware of the necessity of introducing institutional practices for the prevention and sanctioning of structural violence and discrimination. We develop networks of activist resistance for progressive social change in combating racism.
Through the Affirmation of Economic and Social Rights program unit, we want to encourage citizens, the public and institutions to recognize economic and social rights as human rights and to enhance access to economic and social rights, particularly for marginalised groups in our society.
Five strategic guidelines cover the key principles of the work of the Centre for Peace Studies:
1. Educating and empowering for social change
2. Protecting and promoting the right to asylum and migration
3. Supporting inclusive society
4. Affirmation of economic and social rights
5. Strengthening the status of civil society organisations
CPS is a member of the following networks, initiatives and coalitions:
• Human Rights House Zagreb
• Platform 112
• GOOD Initiative
• Croatian Youth Network
• CROSOL – Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity
• SOLIDAR
• Coordination for Integration
• Coordination for Asylum
• Anna Lindh Foundation
• ECRE - European Council on Refugees and Exiles
• ENAR - European Network Against Racism
• Antifascist League
• Welcome! Initiative
• Liberties
• FC Zagreb 041