주요 콘텐츠로 건너뛰기

[Publication][GPPAC] Reflections on Peace and Security in Northeast Asia

지역

[Publication][GPPAC] Reflections on Peace and Security in Northeast Asia

익명 (미확인) | 금, 2017/09/01- 13:33

Launch of GPPAC Publication

Reflections on Peace and Security in Northeast Asia

– Perspectives on the Ulaanbaatar Process

 

The publication Reflections on Peace and Security in Northeast Asia - Perspectives on the Ulaanbaatar Process was launched in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on August 29, on the occasion of the third meeting of the Ulaanbaatar Process, a civil society-led dialogue for peace and stability in Northeast Asia. The publication is a collection of essays which capture the diverse and uncompromised opinions, concerns, tensions and contradictions of a region in turmoil at the time of the 3rd Ulaanbaatar Process Meeting held on August 29–30, 2017.

 

Articles of the printed publication are made available online at https://medium.com/reflections-on-peace-and-security-in-northeast. Please visit this site. 

 

Reflections on Peace and Security in Northeast Asia - Perspectives on the Ulaanbaatar Process explores the contentious issue of nuclear weapons in the region, the current security climate on the Korean Peninsula which is frozen in a fragile armistice, as well the successes and challenges faced by non-governmental organizations in the context of peacebuilding in Northeast Asia. It features articles by the participants of the Ulaanbaatar Process; representatives of civil society from China, Japan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, the United States of America, the Russian Federation as well as Mongolia.

 

The Ulaanbaatar Process, launched by the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) in June, 2015, aims to support the creation of conditions of peace and stability in Northeast Asia through the promotion of greater civil society dialogue and interaction. It is hosted by Mongolian NGO Blue Banner in cooperation with GPPAC Northeast Asia, and with the support of the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

The third Ulaanbaatar Process meeting provided an opportunity for sincere and open civil society dialogue on the current peace and security situation in Northeast Asia, and particularly the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. The previous two meetings, similarly held in Ulaanbaatar, also saw the participation of civil society representatives of all the Six Party Talks countries and Mongolia. 

 

For more information about the Ulaanbaatar Process, please visit the GPPAC Northeast Asia as well as Facebook page  https://www.peaceportal.org/web/ulaanbaatar-process/home

For more information on GPPAC, please visit http://www.gppac.net/.

 

 

<Photo from GPPAC NEA, Aug 29-30, 2017>

시민들의 의견

댓글 달기

Plain text

  • 웹 페이지 주소 및 이메일 주소는 자동으로 링크로 전환됩니다.
  • 줄과 단락은 자동으로 분리됩니다.
  • 사용할 수 있는 HTML 태그: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd>
이미지
무제한 수의 파일을 이 필드에 업로드할 수 있습니다.
50 MB 한계입니다.
허용된 유형: png gif jpg jpeg.
Enter the YouTube URL. Valid URL formats include: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SqBdS0XkV4 and http://youtu.be/1SqBdS0XkV4.
CAPTCHA
스펨 사용자 차단 질문
<div class="xe_content"><h1>제10차 한미 방위비분담 특별협정 국회 공청회 진술자료</h1> <p> </p> <h2>제10차 SMA 협정안 이대로 비준동의해서는 안되는 이유</h2> <p> </p> <p style="text-align:right;">박정은 참여연대 사무처장</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>10차 방위비 분담금 특별협정과 이행약정에 대해 정부와 국회 일각에서는 미 측의 주요 요구사항이었던 전략자산 전개비용 등이 포함된 ‘작전지원’ 부문 신설 요청을 철회시킨 것, 박근혜 정부가 이면합의를 통해 군사건설 분야의 예외적 현금지원이 가능하게 한 규정을 폐기한 것, 군수비용으로 지원된 미집행 현물의 이월요건 강화 등을 성과로 내세우고 있음. </p> <p> </p> <p>이는 SMA 협정의 취지와 목적에 부합하지 않는 요구이거나 규정이었기 때문에 당연히 시정되어야 할 사항들이었음. 그러나 SMA 협정과 이행약정을 둘러싼 오랜 문제제기나 우려들이 여전히 해소되지 않은 부분들이 많음. 특히 이행약정에는 지난 9차 협정의 문제점이 제대로 제거되지 않았거나, 미 측이 요구한 작전지원 항목을 대체할 수 있는 조항도 추가되어 있음. 국회 비준동의 이전에 반드시 삭제를 요구하거나 시정해야 할 부분임. </p> <p> </p> <p>SMA의 문제점들은 한미간의 기울어진 협상력에 기인하는 바이기도 하지만, 국회 스스로 제대로 점검하거나 통제하려는 노력이 충분치 않았기 때문임. 한국의 과도한 부담에도 불구하고 미 측이 한국 방어에 한국이 ‘무임승차’하고 있다는 허구적인 주장을 방어하는 가장 좋은 방법은 국회가 민주적 법절차를 통해 통제하고 견인하는 것임. 한미동맹 유지와 지속이라는 명분을 앞세워 미흡하고 잘못된 협정안을 제대로 시정하지 않고 비준동의 하는 일이 더 이상 반복되어서는 안 됨.</p> <p> </p> <h2>연간 5조 원 이상 지원, 막대한 미집행금에도 불구 대폭 인상 </h2> <p>이번 협정안의 가장 큰 문제는 한국이 부담해야 하는 분담금이 또다시 근거 없이 대폭 증액되었다는 것임. 2019년 한 해에만 SMA를 통한 지원액이 1조 389억 원으로 작년 9,602억 원보다 787억 원(8.2%) 증가함. 그러나 비용 증액의 타당한 근거를 찾을 수가 없음.</p> <p> </p> <p>이미 한국은 한 해 1조 원에 달하는 방위비 분담금 외에도 직⋅간접 지원을 통해 매년 5조 원이 넘는 주한미군 주둔 경비를 부담해왔음. (2018. 국방연구원) 반면 미국은 막대한 미집행액을 쌓아두고 이자 수익까지 챙겨왔음. 지난해까지 쌓여 있는 미집행액은 1조 원이 넘음. 군사건설비 불법 전용 등으로 한국이 총사업비의 92%를 부담한 평택 미군기지도 매우 호화롭게 조성되어 기지확장사업은 종료되었음. </p> <p> </p> <p>2018년 말 기준, 군사건설 항목 미집행 현물 지원분은 9,302억원, 비집행 현금 2,884억원(2018년 6월 기준), 군수비용 항목 미집행 현물 지원분은 562억원임. 1조 원을 훨씬 넘는 미집행금이 남아 있는 상태임. 군사건설 분야가 현물지원 체제로 전환됨에 따라 미집행 현금 규모가 2008년 약 1조 1,193억원에서 점차 감소함. 이는 미 측의 천문학적인 증액 요구나, 8.2% 증액해준 이번 협상 결과가 얼마나 불합리한지를 보여줌. 미집행 현금으로 여전히 이자소득이 발생하고 있으며, 이에 대해 한국 정부가 회수 방안을 마련하지 않는 등 아무런 조치를 취하지 않고 있는 것도 문제임. </p> <p> </p> <p>또한 한국의 국방비가 대폭 인상된 만큼 주한미군에 대한 의존도를 줄이고, 그에 따른 분담 비용도 축소되는 것이 마땅함에도 전체 비용이 한국 국방비 인상률을 반영하여 인상된 것은 납득하기 어려움. </p> <p> </p> <p>앞서 국방부는 SMA 협상을 앞두고 주한미군에 대한 직간접지원 규모를 조사, 연구하여 협상에 활용하겠다고 했고, 5조 원 이상 한국이 매년 직간접적으로 지원하고 있음을 확인한 바 있음. 또한 한국이 일본에 비해 병력대비 높은 수준으로 주한미군을 지원하고 있으며, 이는 SMA 협정상 뿐만 아니라 직간접 비용과 지속적/한시적 비용 등 모든 항목에서 높은 지원 규모라는 것이 드러남. 주둔병력 대비 한국인 노동자의 비율도, 건물면적 등 모든 면에서 일본을 추월하고 있음. 한국은 전 세계 유일하게 주한미군의 통신선과 연합C4I 체계 사용비와 KATUSA를 지원하고 있음.</p> <p> </p> <p>이번 협정안이 결코 성과라고 볼 수 없는 이유임. 애초 미국이 부담하게 되어있는 주둔경비를 한국이 지원하도록 한 특별조치로서 SMA 협정이 체결되어 왔음. 미 측의 정보 미공개로 주한미군 경비 전체를 제대로 파악할 수 없는 가운데, 동맹이라는 이름으로 지원금 규모가 이 정도로 계속 증액되는 것을 문제의식 없이 수용해서는 안 됨. </p> <p> </p> <h2>작전지원 항목 신설 대신 이행약정으로 군수 지원 항목에 반영</h2> <p>정부가 미 측의 작전지원 항목 신설 요구를 명시적으로 수용하지 않았지만, 대신 이행약정을 통해 미군의 작전상 일시적 주둔의 경우에도 추가적인 현물 군수지원을 하기로 합의함. 이는 비용 증액의 한 요소가 되고 있음. 협상 내내 분담금 대폭 증액을 요구한 미 측의 의사가 반영된 부분임. </p> <p> </p> <p>미 측이 요구했던 작전지원 항목 신설은 주한미군의 안정적인 주둔을 위한 비용 분담이라는 특별협정의 취지와 목적에 부합하지 않지만, 정부는 미 측의 입장을 고려하여, 이행약정 제5절 제2호에 “주한미군의 상시적 또는 일시적 주둔 지원을 위해”, “기지운영지원의 일부(공공요금 중 전기·천연가스·상수도·하수도 요금, 저장, 위생·세탁·목욕·폐기물 처리 용역)”를 제공하기로 함. 이는 미 측이 애초 요구한 전략자산 전개 비용, 연합훈련 비용, 순환배치 비용 등에 쓰인다는 것을 의미함. 이는 시설과 부지를 공여받아 주둔하는 주한미군만이 아니라 작전상 한국에 들어오는 해외미군의 활동도 지원하겠다는 것으로 해석될 수 있음. </p> <p> </p> <p>이는 SMA 취지에 맞지 않을 뿐만 아니라 향후 해외미군 활동지원 비용 부담으로 이어지고 확대되는 계기가 될 것임. 또한 성주에 배치된 사드도 “한국이 부지만 제공하고 운영유지 비용은 미 측이 부담한다”던 정부의 공언과는 달리 운영유지 비용도 한국이 부담하는 조항으로 이용될 가능성을 배제할 수 없음. 이행약정에서 해당 조항은 반드시 삭제되어야 함. </p> <p> </p> <h2>미 측 군사적 필요에 따른 ‘특정시설’ 건설 지원의 문제점</h2> <p>협정안은 박근혜 정부가 이면합의해 준 바 있는 특정 군사건설 사업에 대한 예외적인 현금 지원 가능 조항을 삭제, 설계·감리비 외에는 모두 현물로 지원하도록 한 점을 강조하고 있음. 이행약정 제4절 제4호에 “특정 시설이 미국의 군사적 소요로 인해 필요하며, 동 목적을 위해 가용한 현금 보유액이 부족하다고 한국 국방부와 주한미군사가 협의를 통해 합의하는 예외적인 경우에만 특정 시설 건설을 위해 비한국 업체 이용이 가능하다”는 조항을 두었음.</p> <p> </p> <p>미 측의 군사적 필요에 따라 미군기지에 건설하는 특정 시설의 성격이 무엇인지 반드시 검토해야 할 사안임. 또한 현금 지원 조항을 삭제했다고 하나, 한국이 설계, 시공감리에 현금을 지원하고, 이를 제외하고 현물을 지원한다는 점에서 크게 달라지지 않았음. 검토보고서가 지적한대로, 가용현금 보유액 부족 여부에 대한 판단은 한국 측이 판단하기 어렵고 미 측의 자체적인 현금 사용계획 등에 따를 수밖에 없음. </p> <p> </p> <p>김경협 의원실이 밝힌대로, 외교부 자체 조사 결과 지난 9차 협정에서 국내 중요시설을 도·감청할 수 있는 정보시설 건설에 현금지원을 할 수 있도록 하는 합의가 국회 비준동의 과정에 보고되지 않은 채 이루어졌음. 10차 협정의 이행약정은 국가 중요시설까지 도·감청할 수 있는 '민감특수정보시설(Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, SCIF)'을 미군 단독으로 건설하는데, 한국 정부가 공식적으로 설계, 시공감리에는 현금 지원을, 나머지는 현물 지원을 한다는 것임.  </p> <p> </p> <p>한국 국민의 세금으로 여전히 SCIF 사업을 지원할 가능성을 배제할 수 없는 상황에서, 이면합의로 한 현금 지원이 아니기 때문에 방위비 분담금 집행의 투명성을 제고한 것이라고 주장할 수는 없음. 한국이 개입할 수 없고, 경우에 따라 감시를 당할 수 있는 장치를 위한 시설을 미군이 단독으로 건설하는 것이 과연 타당한지, 이에 대한 한국 측의 지원이 타당한지 반드시 점검되어야 함. </p> <p> </p> <p>군사건설 지원에 있어 한국 정부가 사업 선정 단계에서부터 협의할 장치를 두었다고는 하나. 주한미군사령관이 최종 사업들을 선정하는 등 군사건설 계획 수립과 집행에 있어 한국 정부의 개입 없이 전적으로 주한미군 측이 결정하게 되어 있는 점도 짚어야 할 부분임.</p> <p> </p> <h2>협정과 이행약정 연장조항, 국회 비준동의권 배제 가능</h2> <p>협정안 7조는 “이 협정은 당사자의 상호 서면 합의에 의해 연장되지 않는 한, 2019년 12월 31일까지 유효”하다고 밝히고 있음. 이는 2019년 협정이 종료되지 않으면 국회 비준동의와 관계없이 정부의 서면 합의로 연장 가능하다는 것으로, 방위비 분담금 액수 등을 변경할 수 있는 것처럼 해석될 수 있음. 경우에 따라 위헌 소지가 발생할 수 있음. 자동연장에 합의하는 마감 시한 규정도 없어 미국의 일방적인 요구에 끌려다닐 가능성을 배제할 수 없음. </p> <p> </p> <p>또한 이행약정 또한 국회의 동의 여부와 관계없이 “외교경로를 통하여 상호합의에 의해 수정 및 개정” 될 수 있도록 했음. 정부는 특별협정과 이행약정을 함께 국회에 제출하여 투명성을 증진하였다고 주장하고 있는데, 이 말대로라면, 협정안에 담지 못한 미 측의 요구가 반영된 이행약정에 대한 국회의 심사와 동의가 필수적임. 국회 통제 밖에서 한미 당국이 언제든지 이행약정의 수정이나 개정을 가능하게 해서는 안 됨.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>* 참고자료 : 제10차 한미 방위비분담 특별협정 국회 공청회 자료집 [<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pAtO9u6b6zrpUVBWsCkP51QdC3gdT0Jn/view?…; rel="nofollow">원문보기 / 다운로드</a>]</strong></p></div>
목, 2019/04/04- 21:36
2
0

Journey for Peace in 2022

Shining moments of the Korea Peace Appeal Campaign in 2022

“There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.”

Now, the moments that we’ve worked to make peace here.
We gathered the main activities of the Korea Peace Appeal Campaign in 2022.
Thank you for being with us this year.

2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.
It’s time to cheer up to ease military tension and open the road to peace.

The world doesn’t get better on its own.
If we don’t say peace,
Peace is not coming.

Let’s make hope of peace together!


Korea Peace Appeal 2

? Signature Campaign to End the Korean War
Sign the Korean Peace Appeal Now ?
endthekoreanwar.net

The post Journey for Peace in 2022 : Korea Peace Appeal Campaign appeared first on 참여연대.

금, 2023/01/06- 18:48
1
0

20230110_정전70년 평화행동 제안 기자회견

On 10 Jan, the Korea Peace Appeal Campaign and the South Korean Committee on June 15th Joint Declaration had a press conference <Let’s work together to resolve war crsis and realize peace on the Korean Peninsula>.

Thourogh the press conference, they expressed concerns about the current crisis and strongly urged “to stop all military threats aggravating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, stop provocative actions and start crisis management together.”


Let’s Work Together to Resolve the War Crisis and Realize Peace on the Korean Peninsula

January 10th, 2023

The new year has begun full of anxiety over war. The military crisis on the Korean Peninsula gets worse without an exit. The peninsula has reached a dangerous situation where tensions have simmered as all communication channels between South and North have been cut off. And a realistic solution to prevent armed conflict and rebuild the condition for dialogue is nowhere in sight. President Yoon Suk-yeol is creating more anxiety by continuing remarks such as ‘prepared for entering the war,’ ‘superior war preparation,’ ‘review of the suspension of the September 19 military agreement’ and so on. The Ministry of Unification is also raising tensions by mentioning measures like installing loudspeakers or allowing leaflets to be sent which might lead to clashes in the border area.

We gathered here today with a desperate heart of ‘No more war on the Korean Peninsula under any circumstance.’ It is difficult to predict what catastrophe will happen if any unexpected armed conflict should occur in a strained atmosphere. Amid a vicious circle in the form of a chicken game on the Korean Peninsula and deepening confrontation between the ROK-the US-Japan and the DPRK-China-Russia, Northeast Asia is increasingly becoming a powder keg of the world.

All military threats aggravating tensions on the Korean Peninsula must be stopped. We strongly urge that the parties concerned stop provocative actions and start crisis management together. Hostile policies and force projection operations can never be a solution but only worsen the vicious circle. The current crisis is the result of the collapse of mutual trust as negotiations have failed after the agreements were not kept and hostile policies continued. The hard-won inter-Korean and DPRK-US agreements in 2018 must be implemented. What we need are realistic measures and preemptive actions to ease military tensions and shift to a dialogue phase. In particular, the suspension of large-scale ROK-US joint military exercises will play a key role in improving relationships and setting conditions for dialogues.

We can’t just stand idly by and let this crisis happen with anxiety. The more difficult it is to speak about peace, the louder our voice for peace should be. Moreover, this year 2023 is the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement. However, even the 70-year-old unstable armistice cannot be guaranteed to remain the same in the future. It is a moment when the voices calling for no war and the realization of peace, as well as the efforts of civil society from all spheres, are more desperate than ever.

At this potential flashpoint a way out seems hard found, the South Korean Committee on June 15th Joint Declaration and the Korea Peace Appeal Campaign propose ‘2023 Korea Peace Action for the 70th Anniversary of the Armistice (tentative)’ and earnestly urge everyone who wants peace to join us.

To resolve the war crisis and realize peace on the Korean Peninsula this year, we are carrying forward

☮ an intensive signature campaign to oppose the war and realize peace on the Korean Peninsula
☮ demand to stop the ROK-US joint military exercises and ROK-US-Japan military cooperation
☮ simultaneous peace actions in 300 places around the world including 200 Korean cities and towns
☮ a massive peace rally and a march on 22 July, Saturday
☮ a large-scale peace action around 15 August

Through this, we would like to resolve the war crisis and create a new turning point for peace as we meet people from all over the nation to firmly organize the voice of peace and stand in solidarity with people across the globe who want peace on the Korean Peninsula and East Asia.

Starting with today’s press conference proposal, we will meet civil society organizations across the nation to bring together wisdom and hearts, and launch ‘2023 Korea Peace Action for the 70th Anniversary of the Armistice (tentative)’ on 14 February, Tuesday to get into our stride with actions. We request all sorts of religious and civil society organizations to participate in ‘2023 Korea Peace Action for the 70th Anniversary of the Armistice’ to discuss and seek actions that we can take together here and now, and to show the strong power of the peace-wanting people. Let’s overcome this unprecedented war crisis with remarkably wide and robust solidarity and joint action so that we can open the way for peace again.

? Korean Version


Korea Peace Appeal 2

? Signature Campaign to End the Korean War
Sign the Korea Peace Appeal Now ?
endthekoreanwar.net

The post Let’s resolve the war crisis in Korea appeared first on 참여연대.

월, 2023/01/16- 13:00
1
0

On December 8 2022, in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations, the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) organised a roundtable discussion titled Building and Sustaining Peace at the Regional Level: The Network Approach to Regional Coordination in Northeast Asia during an advocacy visit of Ulaanbaatar Process participants to New York City.

This discussion was an informal dialogue to share the learning from the Ulaanbaatar Process with global peacebuilding policy experts within the United Nations, Member States and regional organisations. The conversation outlined critical avenues to support regional peacebuilding coordination in policy and shared practical experiences for practical action. The discussion also outlined persistent challenges of regional peacebuilding coordination, and discussed recommendations to develop solutions to strengthen peacebuilding work in Northeast Asia.

During the roundtable, remarks were shared by Ulziibayar Vangansuren, Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations; Ambassador Enkhsaikhan Jargalsaikhan, Chair of NGO Blue Banner and former Mongolian Permanent Representative to the UN; Sonja Bachmann, Teamleader Northeast Asia and Pacific, UN Department of Peacebuilding Political Affairs (DPPA); Kajita Natsuha, learning designer and facilitator; Kim Jeongsoo, Standing Representative, Women Making Peace and Hwang Sooyoung, Manager, Centers for Peace and Disarmament and for International Solidarity, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD).

Based on the experiences from Northeast Asia, the following key elements build an effective regional peacebuilding architecture:

  • Multi-stakeholder coordination is required and must be based on complementarity among partners.
  • The network approach to peacebuilding must be at the core of regional coordination.
  • Inclusivity is key for effective regional peacebuilding networks.

The following recommendations have thus been identified for the strengthening of the regional peacebuilding mechanisms:  

  • The UN should take a more active convening role to bring together regional actors, the UN, national governments, and civil society, among others, to coordinate actions better and ensure a stronger impact of peacebuilding activities.  Where regional peacebuilding networks play an essential role in building the foundation for regional dialogue, the UN should provide technical and political accompaniment to ensure the commitment to action. 

  • Improved funding mechanisms are needed to support the civil society organizations’ network approach. A network approach creates empowering and equitable spaces for exchanging expertise for more impactful and informed action, sharing resources and access points at various levels, and enabling and supporting communities committed to peace. Donors should reflect on how to improve funding mechanisms to support better civil society organizations engaged in regional peacebuilding networks, allowing them, through effective funding, to fill the gaps in the regional peacebuilding infrastructure. It is crucial to ensure that all regions are fairly represented in the international discussion on peacebuilding and are given international attention, as this also impacts funding availability. 

  • The inclusion of women and youth is key in regional peacebuilding networks and should be supported. Although women are strongly affected by conflicts, they are often excluded from negotiations and peace processes, especially in highly patriarchal contexts. The inclusion of local women within peacebuilding initiatives is essential to ensure that their unique perspectives can have a real impact at the decision-making level. Likewise, the meaningful participation of young people in dialogue on equal terms is essential to achieve and sustain peace. Young people in all their diversities should be considered as drivers for change, and their contributions should be held as relevant and valuable. Donors should prioritise supporting regional peacebuilding dialogues that ensure the meaningful participation of women and youth at all stages of the process.  The UN and its Member States should use their influence and international platforms to  ensure that the unique perspectives of local women and youth peacebuilders are heard and taken into account in the decision-making processes.

This is an article for Global Partnership for the prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) Northeast Asia News, Jan 2023

Summary Document [See/Download]

The post Building and Sustaining Peace at the Regional Level appeared first on 참여연대.

월, 2023/01/30- 15:02
1
0

GPPAC calls for an inclusive, people-centered peacebuilding response to the COVID-19 pandemic

 

6 April 2020

 

As peacebuilders from around the world, united as the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), we stand in solidarity with all those affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

 

The pandemic is causing physical and psychological suffering, as people and communities experience illness, loss and economic hardship, as well as isolation, fear, and despair. It is not just a challenge to human health, but to human dignity, and the values that we hold dearest as peacebuilders. 

 

At a time like this, strengthening peacebuilding, human security and global cooperation as well as creating innovative, responsive, inclusive and multilateral conflict prevention strategies is more essential than ever.

 

We call upon governments, civil society, businesses, communities and individuals to put inclusive peace and human rights at the centre of all responses to the outbreak.

 

We call for:

 

  • A global ceasefire, to prevent a multiplication of suffering as the pandemic and armed violence intersect.

  • A unified response, without discrimination, racism, xenophobia and political division; and with protection of vulnerable and marginalised groups, including those now at greater risk of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

  • Protection of civic space and human rights, this health crisis must not be used as an excuse to erode them.

  • International solidarity, including economic solidarity, in response to this crisis.  

  • A transformative vision of a post-COVID-19 world, which centres people, prevention, peace, cooperation and human security.

 

A global ceasefire

We add our voices to the call of UN Secretary-General António Guterres for a global ceasefire. We are dedicated to preventing and ending violent conflict, as its staggering human cost is always unacceptable, and will be further exacerbated by the virus. Its impact will be greatest on societies where healthcare systems have collapsed or are already overburdened by war; on those who are fleeing or living in refugee camps, where physical distancing is near impossible, and access to clean water, good sanitation and healthcare is limited.

 

As peacebuilders, we are here to help support dialogue and mediation, and to seek a peaceful way forward together. We call for a permanent lockdown on war!

 

Unity over division

Governments, political, religious and community leaders, media and civil society: Do not allow this pandemic to be used as an excuse for xenophobia, racism, discrimination, stigmatisation, toxic nationalism, or perpetuation of international political divisions. 

 

No-one is to blame. There is an urgent need for us to come together and work across divides to limit the spread and impact of the virus.

 

We call on governments to respond to the crisis in a non-discriminatory way, ensuring that support reaches all parts of society, in rural areas and cities, and includes marginalised and vulnerable groups. This includes the protection of those at increased risk of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; and the protection of health workers. Equally important is the need to ensure that communication surrounding the disease and measures to address it is accurate, equal and accessible, taking into account language, literacy and disabilities, as well as access to communications media.

 

We encourage regional inter-governmental organisations to convene virtual dialogues and to invite civil society leaders, including women peacebuilders, young people, traditional indigenous leaders and faith community leaders to provide recommendations on response and recovery. Now, more than ever, we need a multi-stakeholder approach.

 

Protect human rights and civic space

We support temporary measures to slow or halt the spread of COVID-19. However, we call on governments in the strongest possible terms to respect human rights and to not abuse this moment to restrict civil rights and civic space or further militarize communities.

 

  • Do not violate people’s rights to privacy.

  • Address the spread of hate speech and false health information, but do not broadly restrict freedom of expression and speech and access to information.

  • Do not limit freedom of peaceful assembly any longer than is strictly necessary to halt this virus.

  • Do not use a state of emergency to bypass democratically elected bodies in policy making and legislation unrelated to the disease.

  • If events where civil society ordinarily has a voice are cancelled or taken online, ensure that civil society voices can still be heard.

 

Any measures taken should be necessary, proportional, and time bound. Emergency powers must have clear limitations and oversight and grievance mechanisms in place.

 

The UN and regional organizations must work to ensure that the response to the pandemic is progressive, peace-oriented and inclusive rather than authoritarian and exclusive.

 

As civil society, we are here to help limit the spread of the disease and its consequences: We can help convey accurate information, prevent panic, support community cohesion and assist in humanitarian response. We can contribute to a recovery strategy. We can help assess the human rights and conflict impact of measures taken. Do not silence us.

 

Solidarity at every level - but don’t divert funding

We stand in solidarity with all those affected around the world. We have seen and applaud beautiful examples of solidarity in communities, in countries and between nations. We call on governments, especially those of wealthy countries, to extend that solidarity across the world.

 

This pandemic impacts us all. However, in poorer countries the effects will be more intense, multiplied by weaker healthcare systems, malnutrition, lack of access to water, sanitation and information as well as a lack of opportunity for many to stay home without going hungry. The poor will also be hit in wealthy nations, for many of the same reasons.

 

We call on governments and wealthy nations in particular to address these inequalities on principle, but also because this virus is not restricted or confined by borders or gates: We need a global pandemic “Marshall Plan” to protect people, economies, and our collective future. A unified, coordinated strategy and pooling of resources is needed for just and inclusive recovery. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide an integrated framework to help rebuild, and particularly to address the needs of marginalised and vulnerable populations more quickly and comprehensively.

 

At the same time, we call on donors and donor countries not to divert funds from other issues: it remains as important as ever to build peace, address gender inequality, protect human rights, mitigate the climate crisis, fight hunger, and much more. Instead, lets create new aid packages to halt this pandemic, protect the vulnerable from its economic effects, and bolster healthcare systems around the world. 

 

Local peacebuilders are first responders. Their work is critical and should be supported. We also call on donors to be flexible in allowing grantees to adjust their programmes to respond to this crisis, and to extend grants as a result of many planned activities having to be postponed.

 

A moment of opportunity

We have a shared responsibility to shape the world we want to live in once this pandemic has passed. As a community of peacebuilders we have bigger dreams than a return to the pre-pandemic status quo. As humanity, we have a chance:

 

To end wars and build peace.

 

To contribute to achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

To (re)build the public good and public institutions.

 

To recommit to international cooperation for the benefit of humankind, and advance reform of the international institutional architecture, including the UN system.

 

To realise a true shift to prevention – in healthcare, in conflict, in creating healthy environments and more – and the transformative approach societies deserve.

 

To refocus on what is most important to us.

 

To protect and expand human rights and civic space.

 

To show that human instinct leans towards kindness and caring, not hatred and violence.

 

To support people and the planet over money and markets.

 

To recognise our critical workers - those in healthcare, teaching, cleaning, food production and more - with better wages and conditions.

 

To build our collective infrastructures for peace and resilience to this and future challenges.

 

To be able to look back one day and say: 2020 was the year we chose to change the whole world for the good.

 

https://gppac.net/news/gppac-calls-inclusive-people-centered-peacebuildi... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GPPAC website>>

 

수, 2020/04/08- 18:23
1
0