International Exchange
N. Ireland is not unique with regard to having experienced violent conflict. Many countries around the globe have at some point in their recent history had men and/or women combatants and civilian casualties as a result of violent conflict.
We at EPIC decided that our experiences could be useful to others while recognising that others experience could be useful to us as we struggled towards peace and reconciliation. On this premise we proceeded to develop contacts with other combat veterans, former political prisoners, and other survivors of violent conflict situations.
Up to now these people have represented communities from:
Both sides in the Nicaraguan revolutionary war;
Four sides of the S. African political conflict, ANC, IFP, NP, and civilian citizens of S.A.
Former Combatants from Guatemala, El Salvador, Columbia, Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe.
An American Vietnam Veteran, and a former Philippine political prisoner.
At an International Workshop in Hamburg a member of EPIC staff shared experiences on reconciliation with:
survivors of the Holocaust (both German and Jewish);
Palestinian and Israeli representatives from Israel and the Occupied territories;
Plus S. Africans from both sides of the conflict.
At our centre we have also hosted many delegations from around the world who have expressed interest in our conflict.
EPIC encourages exchange with representatives from any country, and we now believe we have accumulated knowledge and experience which would prove useful for though for other post conflict situations.