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Founded in 1967, Development and Peace is the official international solidarity organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis. The organization was created by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Development and Peace’s actions are inspired by the values of the Gospel and in particular by the “preferential option for the poor”.

Development and Peace’s mission is to support partners in the South who are promoting alternatives to unjust social, political and economic structures. In the struggle for human dignity, the organization joins forces with social change groups in the North and South. It supports women in their quest for social and economic justice.

It also works to educate Canadians on issues related to the North-South imbalance.

Present in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East, Development and Peace conducts community development programs in the following areas

• equality between women and men;
• citizen participation and democratic development ;
• management and control of natural resources;
• ecological justice;
• peace building and reconciliation.

The organization also responds to humanitarian crises caused by natural disasters and conflicts.

Development and Peace is a democratic movement with 10,000 members that works in different networks to better fulfill its mission. Participation in these various networks, including Caritas Internationalis, Cooperation for International Development and Solidarity (CIDSE), Cooperation Canada, and KAIROS – Ecumenical Social Justice Initiatives, is helping to build a global movement of international solidarity.