Conclusion: Drawing the threads together

What Would Peace look Like in Acapulco? The Views of Local Practitioners and Stakeholders

“…Similarly, Maschietto et al (2022) argue, there is a need to understand local subjectivities of peace and violence. By understanding the grassroots, local perceptions, perspectives and challenges with peace and violence, localised solutions can be facilitated and advocated for (Eversley et al, 2022). Whilst this article focusses specifically on what peace would look like, the importance of understanding local experiences and how they perceive both peace and violence is important in broader peacebuilding work.…”

“…For policy makers and practitioners this demonstrates the importance of connecting people in positive ways, as well as the importance of localised community building as an initial step in peacebuilding endeavours. Indeed, many local community-based practitioners who work in areas of conflict highlight the importance of building rapport and trust in establishing positive working relationships to address conflict at a local level (See for Example Eversley et al, 2022).…”

“…The need for community members to be engaged in decision making and active citizenship (Akar, 2016) is deemed crucial for sustainable peace (Eversley et al, 2022). The United Nations in their 2030 sustainable goals agenda argue that in order to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and to provide accountable and inclusive institutions, there is a need to 'Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels' (https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda).…”