Peace Studies
The
Culture of Peace : what is it
?
As defined by the United Nations,
the Culture of Peace is a set
of values, attitudes, modes of
behaviour and ways of life that
reject violence and prevent conflicts
by tackling their root causes
to solve problems through dialogue
and negotiation among individuals,
groups and nations
(UN
Resolutions A/RES/52/13 : Culture
of Peace and A/RES/53/243, Declaration
and Programme of Action on a Culture
of Peace).
For peace and non-violence to
prevail, we need to:
foster a culture of peace through
education by revising the educational
curricula to promote qualitative
values, attitudes and behaviours
of a culture of peace, including
peaceful conflict-resolution,
dialogue, consensus-building and
active non-violence.
What this means is that the United
Nations has told the world that
Peace Education has to happen
for peace and non-violence to
be possible.
This kind of approach to education
requires a focus on:
by
and by
Human rights and a culture of
peace are complementary:
whenever war and violence dominate,
there is no possibility to ensure
human rights; at the same time,
without human rights, in all their
dimensions, there can be no culture
of peace...
There is more that the UN discusses
when looking for a way to make
the Culture of Peace the possible.
To ensure equality between women
and men through full participation
of women in economic, social and
political decision-making, elimination
of all forms of discrimination
and violence against women, support
and assistance to women in need.
We must foster democratic participation.
Indispensable foundations for
the achievement and maintenance
of peace and security are democratic
principles, practices and participation
in all sectors of society, a transparent
and accountable governance and
administration, the combat against
terrorism, organized crime, corruption,
illicit drugs and money laundering…all
this is necessary for a true culture
of peace to exist.
To abolish war and violent conflicts
we need to transcend and overcome
enemy images with understanding,
tolerance and solidarity among
all peoples and cultures.
Learning from our differences,
through dialogue and the exchange
of information, is an enriching
process…
It is important to support participatory
communication and the free flow
of information and knowledge.
Global Community resources such
as the Internet make communication
possible in a new way.
Freedom of information and communication
and the sharing of information
and knowledge are indispensable
for a culture of peace.
However, measures need to be taken
to address the issue of violence
in the media, including new information
and communication technologies…
We can, each of us, promote neighborhood,
community and international peace
and security . As individuals
we can make a difference if we
know that living in a "Culture
of Peace" is our goal.
Since wars begin in the minds
of men,
it is in the minds of men than
defences of peace must be constructed
"
Constitution of UNESCO, 1945
