|
|
Briefing at UN: Determined to Save Succeeding Generations from the Scourge of War
an article by September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
DPI/NGO Relations with the kind sponsorship of the
Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United
Nations invite you to the Briefing “Determined to
Save Succeeding Generations from the Scourge of War”
click on photo to enlarge
The Preamble of the Charter of the United Nations
begins with the words “We the peoples of the
United Nations determined to save succeeding
generations from the scourge of war, which twice
in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to
mankind.” These opening words continue to serve as
a reminder that the UN itself was created to help
prevent war, and of the ruin that war can bring
upon the world.
Since the UN’s creation, the international
community has not seen a conflict with the same
level of globally widespread catastrophe as the
Second World War, which motivated governments
toward its creation. Unfortunately, the “scourge
of war” has not disappeared. Now, nearly 70 years
after the Charter’s signing, ongoing violent
conflicts continue to inflict unimaginable
suffering around the world. Some, like the current
crisis in Syria, resulting in over 70,000 deaths
so far, have no end in sight.
Although not every part of the world directly
experiences widespread violent conflict, the
implications of militarization touch every corner
of the global village. Over $1.7 trillion is spent
globally on armaments, making up about 2.5 percent
of the world’s GDP. Figures like these have
prompted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to
stress several times that “the world is over-armed
and peace is underfunded.”
This Briefing will bring together a diverse and
high-level panel to discuss the role of war in
recent human history and how far humanity has
advanced in limiting the scourge of war,
particularly since the signing of the UN Charter.
The Briefing will highlight various aspects of
this topic, including the idea that peace comes
through strength, the questioning of increasing
militarism in society, and the view that the
institution of war should be abolished, just as
institutions of slavery, colonialism; apartheid
and the prohibition of women from voting have been
eliminated.
OPENING REMARKS: H.E. Mr. Paul Seger, Ambassador of
Switzerland to the United Nations
PANEL: Ms. Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate and Chair, Nobel Women’s Initiative
Mr. Ralph Zacklin, Former United Nations
Assistant-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs,
1998-2005
Ms. Nounou Booto Meeti, Programme Manager, Centre
for Peace, Security and Armed Violence Prevention
Date: Thursday, 6 June 2013 - Time: 10:15 a.m. –
12:15 p.m. - Location: ECOSOC Chamber, Conference
Building, United Nations Headquarters
NOTE: This Briefing will be webcast live at
webtv.un.org. You can post questions and comments
during the session on our Facebook
(facebook.com/UNDPINGOsPartners4Change) or Twitter
hashtag (#DPINGO).
|
|
DISCUSSION
Question(s) related to this article:
Can the UN help move the world toward a culture of peace?,
* * * * *
Latest reader comment:
The following comes from my blog of October 2012
The United Nations and the Culture of Peace
My ten years working in the United Nations system left me with a sweet and sour taste: the sweet side was the universality of the UN, both its staff and mandate, and its great significance for raising the consciousness of the peoples of the world; the sour side was the jealousy of the Member States who make sure that the UN does not encroach on their freedom to rule over their own citizens, as well as people in other countries that they may dominate through neo-colonial relations. This became crystal-clear to me when the United States delegate, during the informal meetings of the UN General Assembly in 1999, opposed the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, saying that it would make it more difficult for them to start a war. In fact, throughout history, war (call it “defense” if you prefer) has always been the most fundamental “right” of the state
With this in mind, I have been pleasantly surprised by the extent to which the UN system has once again taken up the culture of peace as a priority, as shown in this month's CPNN bulletin, just as it was a priority in the Year 2000 when I was the director of the UN International Year for the Culture of Peace
Of course, this does not happen by chance, and great credit belongs to two men who played key roles for the Year 2000, Federico Mayor Zaragoza, who made the culture of peace a priority of UNESCO, and Anwarul Chowdhury, who played the role of midwife at the UN General Assembly, guiding the culture of peace resolution through nine months of opposition by the powerful states. Once again, this last month, these two men motivated and spoke eloquently at the High Level Forum on a Culture of Peace at the UN
As always it was the countries of the South who supported the initiative (see the CPNN article of September 24 and its discussion), but at least this month it was not blocked by the powerful states
In fact, it is my impression that the powerful states pay less and less attention to the United Nations. When there was a financial crisis a few years ago, the powerful states did not turn to the UN agencies , the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, but set up their own temporary system of finance ministers, and when it came time for the review of nuclear non-proliferation, President Obama held his own meeting with heads of state in Washington and ignored the UN conference where the only head of state to speak was that of Iran. And the US has pulled out of UNESCO entirely, forcing drastic cuts in its budget
In fact, the lack of attention by the powerful states may provide the UN system with an opportunity to push the agenda of the culture of peace without their opposition - let us hope that the UN can take advantage of this
Of course, in the long run, the UN, or any other institution, cannot mandate a culture of peace; instead, the culture of peace can only grow from the consciousness, both understanding and action, of the peoples of the world (see last month’s blog below). That’s why the role of the UN for consciousnes-raising is ultimately its greatest contribution!
|
|
by program area
Become a CPNN Reporter
