Category Archives: DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

India: Peace fiesta underway at Wokha

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An article from Eastern Mirror Nagaland

Peace Counts Wokha launched the third peace programme (Peace fiesta) a two day event on promoting peace at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Wokha, ground under the theme Peace within, peace outside on Friday.


Peace Counts Wokha, as seen on their Facebook page
(click on photo to enlarge)

Ashanthung Humtsoe, General Secretary, Lotha Students’ Union exhorting and declaring the event open thanked the organisation for promoting peace through sports and encouraging the youths to come together, stating that the youths are the future of tomorrow in building the nation.

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Questions for this article:

Can festivals help create peace at the community level?

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Where he also informed that the world is today passing through an environment full of tension, violence, declining values, injustices, reduced tolerance and respect for human rights due to modernisation making smaller chance for peaceful coexistence with the gun culture taking a dominant position in most of the developing countries, threatening the future of the youths who deserve a peaceful and better quality of life.

He also highlighted the need to create a culture of peace and conflict free environment with youth’s involvement stating that the youths need to start thinking different and “be the change” where youth’s should learn to combine their enthusiasm with patience, realizing the importance of living together and should be responsible to defend the frontiers of peace and non-violence.

The two day event will feature painting, essay writing and poetry competition with poster expiation from peace builders around the world and hand prints of peace camping will also be organised for all the participants.

Sixteen (16) teams from various schools, colony and organisations from Wokha registered for participation in the event.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, South Asia

El Salvador: Project to promote a culture of peace

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An article from La Prensa Grafica (reprinted for non-commercial purposes)

Roberto Rubio, the executive director of the National Foundation for Development (FUNDE), launched the challenge: “We invite you to start changing the country. No more no less”. And that implies, he assured, to imagine “a country in peace.” That is the concept behind the citizen campaign “Préstale tu voz a SAL”, which FUNDE is carrying out with the support of the Seattle Foundation and in alliance with the Espacio Ciudadano network. They are joined by the embassies of the United States of America (USA) and Colombia.

“Small steps matter. The change on a large scale begins with individual commitment, “said the US diplomatic representative, Jean Manes, during the launch of the initiative, on Wednesday night.

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(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Questions for this article:

How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

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On behalf of Colombia, Ambassador Julio Anibal Riaño said that the great example is the city of Medellín, which went from being the face suffered by narcoterrorism to a model of coexistence. “The greatest strength of Medellín is its people,” said the diplomat, referring to the “social re-engineering” that Mayor Federico Gutiérrez executed in the city. “Security,” said the mayor through a video that was transmitted during the launch of the citizen campaign, “is neither left nor right,” but a responsibility of all.

According to Rubio, “Préstale tu voz a SAL” is part of the “Somos Paz” movement, which seeks to promote the culture of peace in El Salvador through all daily activities. He explained that its purpose is to change impunity at all levels of society.

Manes noted that the city of Chattanooga in the United States went from being, in a span of 20 years, “the dirtiest city in America” ​​to receiving recognition from the United Nations for having executed a total transformation. In addition, 10 years later, this model allowed the population of the American city to profit economically. It was only achieved, said Manes, when citizens, NGOs and businessmen got involved in a shared project.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Malta: Launching The Global Council For Tolerance And Peace (GCTP)

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An article from the GCTP News

The Global Council for Tolerance and Peace was launched today at a major official ceremony held at the Mediterranean Conference Center in Malta at the joint invitation of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Government of Malta and GCTP.

Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced his support for the council, calling for fighting poverty, injustice, ignorance and discrimination in order to build lasting peace. He affirmed that he believes in the goals of the GCTP, its mission and its ability to make the required change at the global level and that he will not only support it but will work with it, noting the importance of establishing the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace, stressing the neutrality of Malta and its commitment to human rights, tolerance and peace.

Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Jarwan,
president of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace

The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Malta, a number of ministers of foreign affairs, education, youth and culture from several countries, representatives of the United Nations and a host of ambassadors, heads of international organizations, universities and media. It began with a documentary film that included a speech by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, warning that “our world faces many great challenges, conflicts, inequality, deadly intolerance and security threats, including nuclear weapons. We have the tools and the will to overcome these challenges.

Guterres said: How can we help millions of people suffering from large-scale wars and prospects, almost never-ending? There is no winner in these wars, everyone loses especially that the new global terrorist threat affects us all and destabilizes the stability. Let us put peace first, let peace always be our goal and guide.

The master of ceremony Joseph Deeb started the day. In addition to the Maltese Prime Minister’s speech, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo Behgjet Pacolli and Foreign Affairs Minister of Malta, Carmelo Abela, who both stressed the importance of launching the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace at this particular time in the face of terrorism, extremism, hatred, racism etc. and the urgent need for joint global action based on the right education of the youth and the empowerment of women to build a better tomorrow for future generations.

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Question related to this article:

How can we develop the institutional framework for a culture of peace?

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Address by the President of the Council

“The danger of terrorism, fanaticism, hatred, racism, ethnic cleansing, sectarian and racial extremism is increasing and growing like cancer … These phenomena go beyond the limits of reason and the borders of nations and threaten the lives of people, citizens of different countries and civilizations, threaten development and security and jeopardize world peace.” Said Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Jarwan, president of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace. “Convictions are no longer sufficient. It is no longer possible for armies and police alone to combat these terrible phenomena. No country or institution can rely solely on its own capacities to address the problem of terrorism, racism, extremism, violence, and discrimination.

We are here today for this reason, we are here to launch this global endeavor, the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace.”

“This newly created Council is an international organization based on democratic principles and derives from international law and agreements its own system of work.” Added H.E. al-Jarwan. “The Council signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for cooperation and the building of international partnerships. The Council is composed of eminent international figures who maintain a sound reputation and experience in areas related to peace and tolerance.”

“Among the roadmap in the strategic planning of the Council are the following:

• Establish an international parliament for tolerance and peace, raise tolerance values, promote preventive diplomacy, support regional and global youth initiatives, launch a global prize for those who contribute to the protection of world peace, and develop and implement joint programs, events, and conferences to promote tolerance and peace.”

Al-Jarwan added: “I am honored at the launch of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace to invite parliaments and think tanks of young people, intellectuals, economists, sociologists and scholars to join this Council in order to spread a culture of tolerance and peace and to be the force of change on the world stage.”

He concluded by saying: “Together, we can build a more tolerant and secure world.

Together we can build a future in which love triumphs over hatred, tolerance over revenge, openness over intolerance, and knowledge over ignorance.”

Dr. Louay Shabaneh, UNFPA Director for the Arab Region, confirmed the commitment of the international community to the initiative of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, and the partnership with the Council to achieve the goals of development, tolerance and human rights.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

Nigeria: Kaduna Conflicts: El-Rufai Inaugurates Peace Commission

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An article by Chimezie Enyiocha for Channels TV of Nigeria

The Kaduna State government has set up a peace commission saddled with the responsibility of addressing the various ethnic and religious conflicts in the state. The commission is headed by the General Secretary of Anglican Church Worldwide, Bishop Idowu Fearon.

At the inauguration of the commission on Saturday, November 4, at the Council Chambers, Government House Kaduna, the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai said the people should reject the legacy of violent conflict that has engulfed the state for almost four decades, and embrace the culture of peace and tolerance for the socioeconomic development of the state.


Click on photo to enlarge

Since 1981, Kaduna State has witnessed several conflicts that led to the loss of lives and property worth millions of naira. The farmers/ herdsmen conflict in the southern part of the state is the most recent incident where many families were displaced as a result of the destruction of their houses.

The state governor said the peace commission was inaugurated based on the recommendations of past commissions of inquiry and committees established to study each instance of conflict.

Members of the commission are assigned to reduce violence and advocate ideas and programmes that affirm diversity, promote peaceful coexistence even in the face of religious or ethnic diversities in the state.

The Chairman of the commission, Bishop Idowu Fearon during the inauguration assured the governor that the members will live up to expectations.

Governor El-Rufai said the ultimate goal of the people and communities is to live in harmony, hence the need to set up the Kaduna State Peace Commission.

Questions for this article:
Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

UNIFA, the University of the Aristide Foundation in Haiti

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An article by Haiti Action Committee member Marilyn Langlois for Transcend Media Service

“Right now, in the moment that Haiti is living, the university is essential. Haiti vitally needs a safe space where young people can come together, think country, and contract a future under very difficult circumstances. A place where they can learn from and interact with national and international professionals. An institution that will address national issues and seek viable solutions to national problems. Dreams of working, prospering, and changing Haiti….”
— Mildred Aristide, Former First Lady of Haiti.


Based in Tabarre, Haiti, the University of the Aristide Foundation (UNIFA) is a high quality, multidiscipline, accredited university taught by Haitian and international professors prominent in their fields. UNIFA is a member of the Institute of International Education.

As of academic year 2016-2017, UNIFA has seven disciplines: Schools of Medicine, Law, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Dentistry, Engineering, and Continuing Education.

UNIFA’s Physical Therapy degree program is the first of its kind in Haiti. This school answers the acute need for physical therapists in Haiti, a need that became particularly clear after the 2010 earthquake when many people suffered devastating injuries that require intensive rehabilitative treatment.

UNIFA is building its own teaching hospital/medical center to enable its numerous health-related students to gain necessary practical experience as well as to provide meaningful health care to the surrounding communities who are unable to access medical care. Planning and fundraising for construction are now underway. The teaching hospital will provide dozens of much needed slots for clinical training for UNIFA’s students.

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Question related to this article:

 
Are the people of Haiti making progress toward a culture of peace?

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What makes UNIFA unique and important to the future of Haiti, setting it apart from other universities in Haiti, is its determination to teach with an emphasis on the value of human rights and dignity, in order to build a new and just Haiti.

UNIFA’s core issues and focuses include quality education, global health, human rights and citizen engagement, gender and income equality, women and girls empowerment, youth development, and disaster response and recovery.

UNIFA’s Mission and Guiding Principles

– Emphasize human rights and dignity through use of human rights-based education and practices to build a new and just Haiti.

– Break down long tradition in Haiti of exclusion of the poor majority from access to higher education.

– Increase number of doctors practicing in rural areas. Recruit students from all ten departments of Haiti.

– Commit to equal gender representation.

– Open medical and legal professions to all. Prepare doctors and lawyers to serve the poorest of the poor.

– Provide a university for critical thinking about Haiti.

– Provide space for students to return as teachers, giving back to same system that nurtured and trained them.

– Please consider donating to UNIFA

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The Haiti Action Committee is a Bay-Area based network of activists who have supported the Haitian struggle for democracy since 1991.Our members travel frequently to Haiti and are in close touch with Haitian grassroots activists, legal and human rights workers, and victims of repression. Through demonstrations and civil disobedience, Congressional lobbying and educational events, publications and community organizing, we are working to build a strong Haiti solidarity movement.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Gainesville, Florida, USA: Nancy Hardt: Reducing abuse, improving health go hand in hand

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An article by Nancy Hardt for the Gainesville Sun (reprinted according to terms of Creative Commons)

Our local peace-building efforts were highlighted at the United Nations in September. After using data and maps to identify neighborhoods with health inequities, we brought services that within four years resulted in a reduction in unintended pregnancies, a reduction in premature births, and a stunning 45 percent reduction in cases of child abuse and neglect.


caption: A patient gets looked over by a physician assistant and University of Florida medical student in the UF Mobile Outreach Clinic in 2016. [Alan Youngblood/Staff photographer)

We did this by reducing stress. Stressed people have bad, sad or scary things happening in their lives.

Three interventions included health care; provision of concrete family supports such as food, clothing and shelter; and links to services for victims of domestic violence.

Health professionals staffed a free clinic on wheels that visited identified neighborhoods on a regular schedule. Many women requested pregnancy testing. If their tests were negative, our nurse asked each woman whether she was happy or sad with that result.

We learned that vulnerable women did not always have the luxury of choosing the day or time for sex, or even the partner for sex, so they were relieved to hear they were not pregnant. We offered them long-acting reversible contraception free of charge.

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Question related to this article:

 
How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

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When the sheriff looked at our map for health, she noticed that her hot spot for service requests overlapped with ours. Review of call data showed that the most common call was for domestic violence.

New training for sheriff’s deputies included asking questions such as, “Has your partner ever threatened to kill you? Do you think your partner is capable of killing you? Does your partner have a gun? Has your partner ever threatened to commit suicide? Has your partner ever choked you? Has your partner ever harmed your pet?”

Victims who answered yes to three or more of the questions learned they were at risk of being murdered by their partner. Victims were offered a phone to speak to Peaceful Paths, our domestic violence service provider. Further, a team of law enforcement, victim’s advocates and child advocates reviewed the high risk cases, providing well-being checks and looking out for victims should they wind up in court.

The third intervention was Partnership for Strong Families’ neighborhood resource centers, providing concrete family supports. The bad, sad or scary things that stress families may include not having enough food, having the electricity turned off, being evicted by a landlord, or needing clothing for a job interview or cold weather.

Peace4Gainesville and the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding are collaborating. Brain research tells us that resilience to stress can be developed at any stage of life, and these efforts pay big dividends when children and their young parents benefit. No expensive equipment is needed to learn breathing techniques, mindfulness skills and other ways to control our internal emotional state — which, when uncontrolled, leads to violent behavior.

In order to make peace, we must start here, at home. We all have a part to play in sowing seeds of peace.

Dr. Nancy Hardt is a professor emerita in the University of Florida College of Medicine who lives in Gainesville. She was invited to address the United Nations High Level Forum on the Culture of Peace on Sept. 7 to describe practical steps taken to reduce inter-generational violence in Alachua County.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, North America

Mexico: The government of Zacatecas installs a fifth room for peace and juvenile restorative justice in the Sain Alto school of Cobaez

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An article from the state of Zacatecas

The Bachilleres Schools of Cobaez in the State of Zacatecas already have rooms of Peace and Juvenile Restorative Justice in five establishments; The last of these spaces has now been established for the teaching and student community of the Sain Alto school.

According to Cobaez’s General Director, Juan Antonio Ruiz García, these spaces have been created by the State Government to meet the needs of young people so they can resolve conflicts through dialogue and consensus between the parties concerned.

It is not a question of punishing an aggressor,” he added, “but of deterining the causes that have motivated the behavior and solving the conflict through the culture of peace. The victim, the teachers and the mothers and fathers are all part of the resolution of the problem.

The four other Peace and Juvenile Restoration Justice Rooms are located in the schools of Roberto Cabral del Hoyo, Víctor Rosales, Zacatecas and Luis Moya. Likewise, it is planned to install more spaces like these in Ermita de Guadalupe, Enrique Estrada and Valparaiso.

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(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Discussion question

Restorative justice, What does it look like in practice?

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Ruiz Garcia urged students to be promoters of what they learn in the Peace and Justice Room, to be transmitted in their homes and community; also invited them to practice tolerance and dialogue, because that means seeing beyond our differences.

For her part, Flor Morales Duke, Director of Citizen Orientation of the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP), said that these actions are part of a general peace initiative, and this room, intended to benefit young people, will be a place of training for peace and social skills.

Ricardo Isaac García Valerio, director of the Sain Alto campus, addressed the students to point out that in that space they can resolve disputes, eradicate discrimination, bullying and violent acts through the culture of peace.

As complementary actions to the program, the director of training of the Human Rights Commission of the State of Zacatecas, Luis Rincón Gallardo, gave a conference to 550 students on the Culture of Peace: Prevention of violence and promotion of values ​​for harmonious coexistence.

Within the framework of the Peace Circles and the Implementation Strategy of the Prevention and Attention to School Violence Program, the teachers of the School also participated in the workshop called Paradigms of Restorative Justice, taught by Myrna Ordaz Alarcón.

Finally, the Chief of the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education, Victor Octavio Espinoza Lozano, assisted the members of the Unit of Peace and Restorative Justice; to unveil a plaque in the fifth room of Peace and Juvenile Restorative Justice of the Cobaez.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Madrid will again host the World Forum for Peace in 2018

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An article from La Vanguardia (reproduction strictly for non-commercial purpose)

The Spanish capital will host again in November 2018 the second edition of the World Forum for Education for Peace which it held in April this year, with the participation of over 400 international representatives who sought solutions to the different types of urban violence.


Manuela Carmena

Mayor Manuela Carmena, has announced that Madrid will once again host the event in remarks to journalists at the end of an event commemorating United Nations Day. She said that the Spanish capital has “identified with peace as a possible instrument of governance and development. ”

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(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Questions for this article:

How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

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The forum, promoted by the mayor of Madrid and her Parisian counterpart, Anne Hidalgo, will stay for the second consecutive year in Madrid because “it is necessary to fix well” the forum, according to the mayor, who wants “Madrid to remain the capital of peace”.

In the first edition held between 19 and 21 April, experts from more than 70 countries, a hundred of them mayors, addressed solutions to various forms of interpersonal violence, which has generated between 2000 and 2014 the death of six million people, more than those killed in wars.

The King inaugurated the meeting in which local governments and civil society organizations signed the “Madrid Commitment of Cities of Peace” to promote “a culture of peace”, to create actions against violence that go beyond “punishment” and fight against corruption.

The meeting addressed different types of violence: youth gangs, racism, homophobia, gender violence, school bullying and urban inequality.

On this occasion, according to EFE municipal sources, the team of Manuela Carmena will work to include personalities of the highest level, and the Forum will be attended by the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

The first edition was held in the impoverished district of Villaverde (in the south of the Spanish capital), which welcomes large numbers of emigrants and unemployed citizens.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

USA: Ashland Culture of Peace Commission – A small town can play a big role

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An article by David Wick for the Ashland Daily Tidings

From its inception, the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission (ACPC) has been a local–global initiative. Some people refer to this as, “think globally and act locally,” or vise versa. In the case of ACPC and the city of Ashland, the Culture of Peace model we are developing is of interest far beyond Southern Oregon and does have an impact on national and international levels.

For many months Bob Morse of ACPC has written articles which were developed through conducting interviews with people representing various sectors of our local community. Each article provided a different view of a Culture of Peace and hinted at a new emerging model. This has been informative and generated dynamic conversations and new thinking with article titles ranging from, “Nourishing our children and ourselves” and “Peace through feeding the hungry” to “Bringing peace to healing”.

Over the next several months ACPC will begin a new series of articles which focus on the national and international evolution of a Culture of Peace and the important role Ashland and ACPC play in this vital global initiative. The variety of authors have made important contributions toward shifting mindsets and behaviors in their spheres of influence. These leaders are also very aware of the developing peacebuilding activities taking place in Ashland and will reflect upon the importance of what we are doing from their perspective.

The authors currently include: Bangladeshi Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, the United Nations; David Adams, Culture of Peace News Network; Dot Maver, National Peace Academy; Avon Mattison and Tezikiah Gabriel, Pathways To Peace; Fred Arment, International Cities of Peace; and David Hazen, Eugene Peace Team.
 
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Question related to this article:

 
How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

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On May 16, 2017 the Ashland City Council joined the International Cities of Peace and proclaimed Ashland a City of Peace. This created a focus to work toward that goal. In part the proclamation states, “Official recognition of

Ashland as an International City of Peace will provide inspiration for all citizens to create an emerging, evolving, living model for thriving together as fellow humans. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council and Mayor, on behalf of the citizens of Ashland, do proclaim that the City of Ashland, Oregon, is a City of Peace in perpetuity and encourage city and community leaders to work with concerned citizens to develop policies and procedures that promote a culture of peace in our region.”

What does this matter, one may ask; we have real problems at home, why look outside of Ashland? In the April 10, 2016 Daily Tidings article titled “Ashland Culture of Peace Commission: Does Ashland matter globally?” Fred Arment, executive director of the international Cities of Peace answered this question directly.

“I want to emphasize that Ashland is ahead of the curve. I have a lot of communication with cities around the world, and you guys are definitely ahead of the curve on all of this!” declared Arment. “You have basically made a very sophisticated approach involving political with grassroots organizations and done it in a way that has integrity and promise, unity and purpose. You guys are leading the pack, and I’m really interested in doing a case study of your city and your approach for the rest of the world to see.”

Arment continued, “Just the idea of your being in the United States — and for peace — gives encouragement and support to other cities around the world. So it’s not just Ashland that you are dealing with. When Ashland proclaims that it is a City of Peace, other cities in war-torn areas see that as a way forward. So it’s very powerful!”

Dedicated people, time, energy and money will be required to walk the pathway to co-creating a Culture of Peace in Ashland and elsewhere. We are not talking about a few changes here and there. We are talking about new models. In large part Buckminster Fuller identified our pathway when he said, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

Ashland does matter globally. ACPC is planning to install the World Peace Flame in Ashland in 2018, and convene a global peace conference here in 2019. Let us be clear: There are positive leadership and economic implications for Ashland as our reputation grows as an innovative International City of Peace. Most important, a Culture of Peace is a living legacy which our children, grandchildren and future generations can build upon. Please join us!

— David Wick is executive director of the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission. Email comments and questions to ashlandcpc@gmail.com. The ACPC website is www.ashlandcpc.org; like the commission on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AshlandCultureofPeaceCommission; follow twitter.com/AshlandPeace on Twitter. All are welcome to join the ACPC’s Talking Circle at 11 a.m. each Tuesday and Community Meeting at 4 p.m. each Wednesday, both at the ACPC oice, 33 First St., Suite 1, diagonally across Lithia Way from the Ashland Post Oice.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, North America

World body of parliaments discusses nuclear-risk-reduction and disarmament

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An article from Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament

Parliamentarians from around the world, who gathered in St Petersburg for the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union from Oct 14-18, held a special session on Monday organised by PNND to discuss the role of parliamentarians in reducing nuclear dangers and supporting nuclear disarmament.

Bruce Blair, co-founder of Global Zero and a former nuclear missile controller, outlined the growing risks of a nuclear catastrophe due to increasing tensions and conflicts between USA & North Korea, Russia & the West, and India & Pakistan, combined with the high operational readiness of many of these countries to use nuclear weapons. He noted that the potential of nuclear-weapons-related conflicts escalating into war – and the possibilities of nuclear weapons being used by accident, miscalculation or even intent – are even greater now than during the Cold War.

Ambassador Elayne Whyte Gómez, President of the UN negotiating conference for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, updated parliamentarians on the adoption of the treaty on July 7, the number of countries that have signed the treaty to date (53 countries) and the role that parliamentarians have in ratification of the treaty in national legislatures in order to ensure the treaty’s entry-into-force and implementation. She also called on parliamentarians from countries that have not yet signed the treaty, to call on their governments to sign in order to reach 100 signatories as soon as possible.

Alyn Ware, global coordinator of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, highlighted the opportunity to advance nuclear risk-reduction and disarmament measures at the United Nations High-Level Conference on Nuclear Disarmament (UNHLC), which will take place at the UN in New York in May 2018. Such UN high-level conferences have been very successful in other areas (sustainable development, climate change, oceans and refugees), and could make a significant contribution to nuclear disarmament. (See UNHLC food-for-thought paper).

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Questions for this article:

How can parliamentarians promote a culture of peace?

A UN High-Level Conference on Nuclear Disarmament: Distraction or progress?

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Goals proposed for UNHLC could include: achieve 100 signatories to the nuclear ban treaty (many governments could sign at the UNHLC); renew the UN process for a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction; agreements by nuclear armed States to take all nuclear weapons off alert, make further cuts in nuclear stockpiles, give assurances to non-nuclear States that nuclear weapons will not be used against them, commit never to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and outline a framework to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world.

A number of delegations took the opportunity to make comments and ask questions on various aspects of the issue, including: how to strengthen international criminal law against nuclear weapons regardless of whether its use or possession by terrorists or governments, how to engage youth and build a stronger civil society movement for nuclear abolition, how to maintain existing agreements (such as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran’s nuclear energy which is under threat from the new USA administration), how to reduce nuclear tensions and build confidence, and how to move the nuclear-armed States to phase out their reliance on nuclear weapons and negotiate a comprehensive agreement on the elimination of nuclear weapons.

The event also included the launch of a new publication – the Parliamentary Action Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. The Action Plan, which has been developed by Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament in consultation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), includes 14 key nuclear disarmament actions that can be taken by parliamentarians.

Some of these are actions that parliamentarians from States Parties to the nuclear prohibition treaty can take to implement the treaty in their parliaments. These are all non-nuclear States, as the nuclear-armed and allied States do not currently support the treaty.

Other actions in the Plan are those that parliamentarians from nuclear armed and allied States can take to reduce the risks of nuclear weapons being used, and move their governments to adopt incremental disarmament measures, phase out the reliance on nuclear deterrence and negotiate for nuclear disarmament.

And some actions in the Plan are those that parliamentarians from all States can take to build public awareness and political will for the achievement of a nuclear-weapon-free world.

The plan draws from reports and resolutions on nuclear disarmament adopted by the IPU in 2009 and 2014, as well as resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and a series of consultations undertaken by PNND in key capitals and UN centres during 2016-2017.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, global