Relato de una experiencia: I Congreso Internacional “Cultura de Paz: por un diálogo entre personas privadas de libertad y el Sistema Penitenciario Costarricense”, 22 y 23 de junio del 2017

Abstract

En este artículo se relata la experiencia del I Congreso Internacional “Cultura de Paz: por un diálogo entre personas privadas de libertad y el Sistema Penitenciario Costarricense”, realizado el 22 y 23 de junio del 2017 en la Sede Regional Chorotega de la Universidad Nacional. Se describe su diseño, fundamentación, ejecución y resultados. El congreso fue coordinado por el Centro de Estudios Generales de la Universidad Nacional y la Sede Regional Chorotega. Participaron académicos y estudiantes de la UNA, del Colegio Humanístico Costarricense y de la Universidad de Costa Rica, funcionarios del Ministerio de Justicia y Paz y el Poder Judicial, personas privadas de libertad, personas exprivadas de libertad y algunos familiares de las personas privadas de libertad. Se abordó el fenómeno penitenciario del país, mediante una serie de estrategias que ya había desarrollado la UNA y conforme a la Declaratoria 2017 del Consejo Nacional de Rectores (CONARE) para las universidades públicas de Costa Rica, para reflexionar y desarrollar acciones en torno a la vida, el diálogo y la paz. Se detalla la estrategia metodológica del evento, en la cual se propició el diálogo, el respeto, la apertura para la participación de todos los asistentes. Se presentan las conclusiones que emanan de las mesas de trabajo, en relación con la propuesta de una cultura de paz en los centros penales, retos del sistema penitenciario costarricense, condiciones sociales de exclusión, procesos post-penitenciarios más efectivos, política pública: todo en el marco del Nuevo Humanismo.

This article recounts the experience of the I International Congress "Culture of Peace: for a dialogue between persons deprived of liberty and the Costa Rican Penitentiary System", held on June 22 and 23, 2017 at the Chorotega Regional Headquarters of the National University. Its design, rationale, execution and results are described. The congress was coordinated by the General Studies Center of the Universidad Nacional and the Chorotega Regional Office. Participants included academics and students from the UNA, the Costa Rican Humanistic College and the University of Costa Rica, officials from the Ministry of Justice and Peace and the Judiciary, persons deprived of liberty, persons deprived of liberty and some relatives of persons deprived of liberty. The prison phenomenon in the country was addressed, through a series of strategies that had already been developed by UNA and in accordance with the 2017 Declaration of the National Council of Rectors (CONARE) for public universities in Costa Rica, to reflect and develop actions around life, dialogue and peace. The methodological strategy of the event is detailed, in which dialogue, respect, openness for the participation of all attendees was propitiated. The conclusions of the working groups are presented, in relation to the proposal of a culture of peace in prisons, challenges of the Costa Rican penitentiary system, social conditions of exclusion, more effective post-penitentiary processes, public policy: all within the framework of New Humanism.

This article recounts the experience of the I International Congress "Culture of Peace: for a dialogue between persons deprived of liberty and the Costa Rican Penitentiary System", held on June 22 and 23, 2017 at the Chorotega Regional Headquarters of the National University. Its design, rationale, execution and results are described. The congress was coordinated by the General Studies Center of the Universidad Nacional and the Chorotega Regional Office. Participants included academics and students from the UNA, the Costa Rican Humanistic College and the University of Costa Rica, officials from the Ministry of Justice and Peace and the Judiciary, persons deprived of liberty, persons deprived of liberty and some relatives of persons deprived of liberty. The prison phenomenon in the country was addressed, through a series of strategies that had already been developed by UNA and in accordance with the 2017 Declaration of the National Council of Rectors (CONARE) for public universities in Costa Rica, to reflect and develop actions around life, dialogue and peace. The methodological strategy of the event is detailed, in which dialogue, respect, openness for the participation of all attendees was propitiated. The conclusions of the working groups are presented, in relation to the proposal of a culture of peace in prisons, challenges of the Costa Rican penitentiary system, social conditions of exclusion, more effective post-penitentiary processes, public policy: all within the framework of New Humanism.