Peace Policies & Policy Initiatives

Climate Change and Peace

Dr. Saul Arbess is an anthropologist, National Co-chair, Canadian Department of Peace Initiative www.departmentofpeace.ca and Chair, Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace(2006-7) He can be reached at saul.arbess@departmentofpeace.ca.

Basque Education Plan for Peace and Human Rights (2008 – 2011)

This document contains the first Basque Education Plan for Peace and Human Rights. The justification for such a plan lies, firstly, in the Basque Parliament’s mandate which is inserted in February 2005 (and June 2003) Parliamentary Resolutions on Victims of Terrorism. Said Resolutions insists, in point 3.c.:
“For the Basque Government to present, before the end of the current legislature, and interdepartmental plan aimed at education in peace and democratic values.”

The Seville Statement on Violence

From the Statement: “Biology does not condemn humanity to violence and war. Instead, it is possible to end war and the suffering it causes. To do this will require everyone working together, but it must begin in the mind of each person with the belief that it is possible. The same human being who has made war, is capable of constructing peace. Each of us has a task to do.”

Do More Transparent Governments Govern Better?

This 41-page World Bank Policy Research Working Paper – a product of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Division, World Bank Institute – explores the link between information flows and governance, worldwide. In this paper, Roumeen Islam explores the following questions: * Is the timely availability of economic data associated with better economic and political outcomes? How and why? * How do restrictions on the use of information – namely, the presence of a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) – affect information flows (e.g., the mass media) and therefore the quality of governance?

Enhancing UK Capacities for Handling Conflict: The Rationale for a UK Civilian Peace Service

This report examines the ways in which other European countries are attempting to meet needs of inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations working in areas of violent conflict through the establishment of ’civilian peace services’ and explores the relevance of setting up such a service in the UK.

Bridging the Gap – Improving UK support for Peace processes

The paper contains a set of policy recommendations setting out how the UK can increase and improve support for peace processes, which CR will continue to promote during 2007.

National Peace Council in Benin

Benin’s National Peace Council was launched on July 7, 2007, with more than 120 participants. The ceremony had the support of Benin’s government, through the presence of the Vice-Minister Juste Guedou, representing the Minister in Charge of Relationship with Institutions, Porte-parole of Benin’s government.

Australia: Peace and Non-Violence Commission Bill 2007

A Bill for an Act to establish a Commission for peace and non-violence, and for related purposes.

UN Peacekeeping Operations – selected documents

Selected policy statements, directives and guidelines

UN SG Progress report on the prevention of armed conflict

Dating from 18 July 2006 the UN SG’s Progress report on the prevention of armed conflict.

Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery in UNDP

Crisis Prevention and Recovery website of UNDP. The goal is to become a global centre of excellence on crisis prevention and recovery, through attracting the best professionals, providing knowledge and quality services, responding quickly and appropriately to country demands, and building effective partnerships.

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.

UNICEF and Convention on the Rights of the Child

UNICEF’s mission is to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided in doing this by the provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

UN Peacebuilding Commission

The UN Peacebuilding Commission will marshal resources at the disposal of the international community to advise and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict recovery, focusing attention on reconstruction, institution-building and sustainable development, in countries emerging from conflict.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees.

Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.

UN Democracy Fund

UNDEF was established in July 2005 as a United Nations General Trust Fund. Its primary purpose is to support democratization throughout the world. UNDEF will finance projects that build and strengthen democratic institutions, promote human rights, and ensure the participation of all groups in democratic processes.

UN Central Emergency Response Fund

The Central Emergency Response Fund provides timely, reliable and accountable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural and man-made disasters.

UN Security Council Resolution 1325

Resolution (S/RES/1325) is the first resolution ever passed by the Security Council that specifically addresses the impact of war on women, and women’s contributions to conflict resolution and sustainable peace.

Engaging CSOs in Conflict Affected and Fragile States

World Bank Sector Report on Engaging CSOs in Conflict Affected and Fragile States. NOTE: Search by Documents!

German Civil Peace Service

German Civil Peace Services – standards, content and organization framework and seven year evaluation report.

UN DESA Conflict prevention, peace-building and development

The United Nations has undertaken measures to promote a comprehensive approach on conflict prevention, peace-building and development. In these efforts there has been increasing recognition of the socio-economic causes of violent conflict and the urgent need for addressing them. In addition, the importance of long-term development in post conflict countries and their re-integration into the global economy has been increasingly given importance within and outside the United Nations. Along with other actors, DESA has been focusing on these issues. In particular, DESA has worked to integrate conflict prevention and peace-building by: servicing the ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Groups on African Countries Emerging from Conflicts, participating in mechanisms as the Framework Team; mainstreaming gender and bringing gender perspectives to the center of peace processes, strengthening technical cooperation activities for capacity building at the country level in conflict prevention and peace-building, addressing the inter-relationship between social integration and peace-building; and analyzing the impact of conflict on natural resource management and the relationship between natural resource endowments and causes of conflicts.

UN Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination

Website of the UN Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination ongoing activities in the area of conflict prevention and resolution

High Commission for Peace, Colombia

Juridical instruments of the High Commission for Peace in Colombia (in Spanish).

Preventing Violent Conflict

ministry for peace UK is delighted to inform you all that the British Government published a new policy entitled ‘Preventing Violent Conflict’.

WORLD REPORT ON THE CULTURE OF PEACE and YOUTH FOR CULTURE OF PEACE

The World Civil Society Report on the Culture of Peace (2005) has now been joined by a new report, Youth for Culture of Peace (2006). Youth from 475 organizations in 125 countries responded to the question of what they would do for a culture of peace if they had funding.

A United Nations Emergency Peace Service to Prevent Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

This essay was written by Robert C. Johansen on behalf of the Working Group for a United Nations Emergency Peace Service. It is based in part on an early draft by H. Peter Langille and comments from other members of the Working Group. This proposal grew out of a symposium on “Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity: The Challenge of Prevention and Enforcement,” co-sponsored by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; the Simons Centre for Peace and Disarmament Studies, Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia; Global Action to Prevent War; and the Law and Society Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, December 4-6, 2003. For an excellent, detailed discussion of proposals for improving the rapid-response capabilities of the United Nations, including a UN emergency service, see H. Peter Langille, Bridging the Commitment-Capacity Gap: A Review of Existing Arrangements and Options for Enhancing UN Rapid Deployment (Wayne, NJ: Center for UN Reform Education, 2002).