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 Peace Partnership International

At the UN: A Proposed General Assembly Resolution | Print |  E-mail
ga_wrkggrpunThe UN Resolution Project was inspired in June 2006 during the Second Global Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace in Victoria and the World Peace Forum in Vancouver. A Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace working group on the UN resolution formed at the Third Global Summit in Japan in September 2007. (Five members of that group in the photo, left to right: Gen Morita, Japan; Suman  Aggarwal, India; Anne Creter, United States; Tara Yip-Bannicq, Canada and China; and Jahangir Piara, Pakistan.) 

The project has moved forward within the UN NGO community, primarily through the Culture of Peace Working Group of the New York-based NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns. Maggi Koren and other U.S. Department of Peace Campaign activists complement our efforts at the grassroots level through their United Nations Association work. In addition, a New Zealand NGO, Operation Peace Through Unity, has provided an actual draft UN resolution calling for departments and ministries of peace, which has received acclaim within their country. As soon as our NGO groups reach consensus on wording of the Resolution, we plan to begin dialogues with selected ambassadors likely to be receptive to introducing or supporting it in the General Assembly.

chowdhuryA milestone in the UN Resolution Project was achieved January 29, 2008, when a delegation of us met at the United Nations with Ambassador A. K. Chowdhury to discuss it. Ambassador Chowdhury, former Permanent Representative to the UN from Bangladesh, also served as Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. He has been instrumental in establishing and carrying forward the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010. Recently retired from the UN system, he remains deeply committed to his goal of “revving up ways to advance the culture of peace as we near the end of the Decade.”

Meeting with him were Iris Spellings, UN NGO Representative for Operation Peace Through Unity; Monica Willard, Representative for United Religions Initiative; Dorothy Prunhuber, Representative for The Ribbons International, who has been instrumental in planning the Resolution project within the NGO community; Marjorie Mann, chairwoman of Peace Partnership International; and myself. As an outcome of that meeting and the valuable advice and encouragement we received from the Ambassador, we envision the following “next steps” for carrying forward our UN Resolution Project:

The Ambassador imparted much valuable advice and encouragement.  Following are the “next steps” we envision that will carry forward our UN Resolution Project for the culture of peace:

  • Get NGO consensus on wording of the Resolution.  A sub-group will craft it, incorporating the Ambassador’s suggestions.   
  • Arrange a meeting about ministries and departments of peace with Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. 
  • Organize a UN Briefing Session and/or Roundtable on the topic of ministries and departments of peace.
  • Connect with the UN Department of Political Affairs, Peacebuilding Commission and UNESCO.
  • Peace Partnership International and the Global Alliance to develop a process for facilitating Global Alliance members to make contact in their respective countries with their UN ambassadors about ministries and departments of peace to reinforce our work in New York. 
  • Advocate that culture of peace impact statements become official UN policy regarding UN program actions (along the lines of the currently required environmental and economic impact statements).
  • Advocate for the creation of a Division or Department of Peace at the UN itself.
  • Secure training and consultation, which may be available at the UN, on structure, drafting and adoption of UN Resolutions.

So, we have our work cut out for us on this momentous journey. Stay tuned!

Anne Creter, United Nations Liaison
Peace Partnership International