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Committee for Contact with the Government - Peacebuilding - Mobilize - Talking Points

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Peacebuilding in Afghanistan: TALKING POINTS

When meeting with or writing to your Member of Parliament, try using the following "Talking Points," prepared by CCG:

The Manley Panel has encouraged "an informed and constructive public deliberation" on the mission. This is good news! Clear information and frank debate can help to deepen Canadians' understanding of the mission and underline the need to work faithfully for peace along side the peoples of Afghanistan.
Debate in Canada has focused on the end date of the mission, and an over-simplified question: what comes first—security or development? But peace in Afghanistan demands a long-term international commitment to addressing the root-causes of the conflict.
The Manley Panel talks about the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach for the success of the mission. Canada's mission has been coloured by an idea that military security comes before development or good governance. Security is intertwined with governance and development—and there will be serious security challenges until there are basic provisions for justice and reconciliation.
Canada supports the Afghanistan Compact—an international agreement that includes the Action Plan for Peace, Reconciliation and Justice. This Action Plan, a beautiful and practical echo of God's call to peace, is a culturally relevant approach to accountability, forgiveness and reconciliation—all foundations to peace, security and development. Canada can deepen its support for reconciliation initiatives like this. A mission balanced in favour of reconciliation can help to overcome 30 years of conflict.
There IS hope for peace. In spite of the deepening challenges the path to peace is through genuine reconciliation. This hope must be realistic, persistent and built on the contributions of Afghan peoples.