Our branch campus in Quito presented the book “Dialogos entre gobierno, movimiento indigena y organizaciones sociales. Memoria documental (junio – octubre 2022)” coordinated by Father Juan Cardenas, President of Universidad Politecnica Salesiana (UPS); Father Fernando Ponce, President of Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE); and Fernando Sempertegui, president of Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE).

The book was edited by Jose Juncosa and Milagros Aguirre, and published by the Abya Yala Publishing House. The book includes the preliminary documents that led the parties to establish round tables, the peace act with the transcription of each one of the leaders of the social and indigenous organizations, the plan with the commitments to guarantee the conditions for a dialogue with results, the development of the demands that were presented by indigenous organizations and the final act of closure of the process that outlines all the agreements and disagreements of each of the ten tables.
 
During the event, the agreement was signed between the three universities and the German Technical Cooperation in Ecuador GIZ for the implementation of the project "Dialogue as an instrument of peace", which aims to promote participatory democracy and peaceful and lasting dialogue on public policies regarding human rights of indigenous people and nationalities and other priority attention groups in Ecuador. It also seeks to strengthen the capacities of Ecuadorian universities for academic training on issues of dialogue, negotiation and promotion of favorable conditions. The financing of the agreement comes from the European Union and the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) from Germany and it will be carried out by GIZ
 
The event was attended by Charles-Michel Geurts, ambassador of the EU; Philipp Schauer, ambassador of Germany; Christiane Danne, director of GIZ; Zenaida Yasacama, CONAIE; Hatari Sarango and Gary Espinoza, FENOCIN; Father Francisco Sánchez, director of Posnoviciado Salesiano; Miguel Chimborazo, representative of Defensoría del Pueblo; Luis Vargas, representative of Achuar; university representatives.

“This book is a political record of a transcendental moment in the history of Ecuador in which we have witnessed a valuable dialogue to listen to the voices of marginalized people and the government in the search for equitable solutions towards the construction of a more united society”, said Juan Cardenas, who also recognized the work of those who collaborated in carrying out the agreements and talked about the creation of the “Center for Reflection and Research” as well as the UNESCO Chair for Indigenous People in the City that was created by UPS with the aim of consolidating a society with peaceful coexistence and meeting the needs of historically marginalized people.
 
Danne from GIZ thanked everyone for their significant role during the dialogue process between the government and indigenous and social organizations. As GIZ, we recognize the effort of the three universities in the face of the enormous task of supporting the construction of a participatory democracy, inclusive with a plurinational and intercultural approach".

For his part, the ambassador of the European Union highlighted the value of peace, not only as the solution to a conflict, but as a way of living in a democracy with social justice; while the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany referred to the importance of building constant dialogue platforms between the government, the peoples and nationalities and other national actors and emphasized the support of his government in these processes.

The ambassador of the European Union highlighted the value of peace, not only as the solution to a conflict, but as a way of living in democracy with social justice; while the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany spoke about the importance of having constant dialogue between the government and the peoples, and stressed the support of his government in these processes.

Download the book:  https://dspace.ups.edu.ec/handle/123456789/24181