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NSTP Reviewer - pEACE education

BS Accountancy (Colegio de San Juan de Letran)

Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

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NSTP2 Finals to allow peace to hold and flourish. These activities

PEACE EDUCATION often overlap and should reinforce one another, to be
What is PEACE? effective. The UN Security Council has the primary
responsibility for international peace and security. The
“Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. General Assembly and the Secretary-General play
Cultivate peace and harmony with all.” – George major, important,
Washington and complementary roles, along with other UN offices
and bodies.
“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved
by understanding.” – Albert Einstein SECURITY COUNCIL

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power The Security Council takes the lead in
the world will know the peace” – Jimi Hendrix determining the existence of a threat to the peace or an
act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute
“The highest education is that which does not merely to settle it by peaceful means and recommends
methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. Under
give us information but makes our life in harmony with
Chapter VII of the Charter, the Security Council can take
all existence.” – Rabindranath Tagore
enforcement measures to maintain or restore
international peace and security. Such measures range
“People in the long run are going to do more to promote
from economic sanctions to international military
peace than governments.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower action. The Council also establishes UN Peacekeeping
Operations and Special Political Missions.
What is PEACE?

• a state of tranquility or quiet, such as freedom GENERAL ASSEMBLY

from civil disturbance, a state of security or The General Assembly is the main deliberative,
order within a community provided for by law policymaking, and representative organ of the UN.
or custom Through regular meetings, the General Assembly
• freedom from disquieting or oppressive provides a forum for Member States to express their
thoughts or emotions views to the entire membership and find consensus on
• harmony in personal relations difficult issues. It makes recommendations in the form
of General Assembly Resolutions. Decisions on
• a state or period of mutual concord between
important questions, such as those on peace and
governments
security, admission of new members and budgetary
• used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm
matters, require a two-thirds majority, but other
or as a greeting or farewell at peace
questions are decided by simple majority.
PEACE and SECURITY
How does the UN maintain international peace and
What does the United Nations do? security?

1. Maintain international peace and security UNIFIL

2. Protect human rights A UNIFIL peacekeeper from Spain on a regular
3. Deliver humanitarian aid patrol in the vicinity of Al Wazzani, south-eastern
4. Promote sustainable development Lebanon as the sun sets in the horizon. Since
5. Uphold international law 1948, more than a million women and men have served
as UN peacekeepers. In places like Lebanon,
peacekeepers protect civilians against violent attacks
1. Maintain international peace and security
and support the delivery of crucial humanitarian
The United Nations came into being in 1945, assistance.
following the devastation of the Second World War,
with one central mission: the maintenance of Preventive Diplomacy and Mediation
international peace and security. The UN does this by The most effective way to diminish human
working to prevent conflict; helping parties in conflict suffering and the massive economic costs of conflicts
make peace; peacekeeping; and creating the conditions and their aftermath is to prevent conflicts in the first

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place. The United Nations plays an important role in adopted the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism
conflict prevention, using diplomacy, good offices, and Strategy. This was the first time that Member States
mediation. Among the tools the Organization uses to agreed to a common strategic and operational
bring peace are special envoys and political missions in framework against terrorism.
the field.
Disarmament
Peacekeeping The General Assembly and other bodies of the United
Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most Nations, supported by the Office for Disarmament
effective tools available to the UN to assist host Affairs, work to advance international peace and
countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to security through the pursuit of the elimination of
peace. Today's multidimensional peacekeeping nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass
operations are called upon not only to maintain peace destruction and the regulation of conventional arms.
and security, but also to facilitate political processes,
protect civilians, assist in the disarmament, 2. Protect Human Rights
demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; The term “human rights” was mentioned seven
support constitutional processes and the organization times in the UN's founding Charter, making the
of elections, protect and promote human rights and promotion and protection of human rights a key
assist in restoring the rule of law and extending purpose and guiding principle of the Organization.
legitimate state authority.
In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human
Peacekeeping operations get their mandates Rights brought
from the UN Security Council; their troops and police human rights into the realm of international law. Since
are contributed by Members States; and they are then,
managed by the Department of Peace Operations and the Organization has diligently protected human rights
supported by the Department of Operational Support at through legal instruments and on-the-ground activities.
the UN Headquarters in New York. There are 14 UN
peacekeeping operations currently deployed and there How does the UN promote and protect human rights?
has been a total of 71 deployed since 1948. In 2019, the
Secretary-General launched the Action for UN Photo/Fardin Waezi
Peacekeeping Initiative (A4P) to renew mutual political Students at Butkhak High School in Kabul, Afghanistan,
commitment to peacekeeping operations. cheer in unison on the last day of Global Action Week,
an international campaign advocating free, quality
Peacebuilding education for all.
United Nations peacebuilding activities are aimed at
assisting countries emerging from conflict, reducing the High Commissioner for Human Rights
risk of relapsing into conflict and at laying the The Office of the UN High Commissioner for
foundation for sustainable peace and development. The Human Rights (OHCHR) has lead responsibility in the UN
UN peacebuilding architecture comprises the system for the promotion and protection of human
Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Fund, and rights. The office supports the human rights
the Peacebuilding Support Office. The Peacebuilding components of peacekeeping missions in several
Support Office assists and supports the Peacebuilding countries and has many countries and regional offices
Commission with strategic advice and policy guidance, and centers. The High Commissioner for Human Rights
administers the Peacebuilding Fund and serves the regularly comments on human rights situations in the
Secretary General in coordinating United Nations world and has the authority to investigate situations
agencies in their peacebuilding efforts. and issue reports on them.

Countering Terrorism Human Rights Council

The United Nations is being increasingly called upon to The Human Rights Council, established in 2006,
coordinate the global fight against terrorism. Eighteen replaced the 60year-old UN Commission on Human
universal instruments against international terrorism Rights as the key independent UN intergovernmental
have been elaborated within the framework of the body responsible for human rights.
United Nations system relating to specific terrorist
activities. In September 2006, UN Member States

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Human Rights Treaty Bodies At the 2005 World Summit, all the world’s governments
The human rights treaty bodies are committees reaffirmed “that democracy is a universal value based
of independent experts that monitor implementation of on the freely expressed will of
the core international human rights treaties people to determine their own political, economic,
social and cultural systems and their full participation in
Special Procedures all aspects of their lives” and stressed “that democracy,
The special procedures of the Human Rights development and respect for all human rights and
Council are prominent, independent experts working on fundamental freedoms are interdependent and
a voluntary basis, who examine, monitor, publicly mutually reinforcing.”
report and advise on human rights from a thematic or
country-specific perspective. Democratic principles are woven throughout the
normative fabric of the United Nations. The 2009
UNDG-HRM Guidance Note on Democracy of the Secretary-General
The UN Development Group’s Human Rights sets out the United Nations framework for democracy
Mainstreaming Mechanism (UNDG-HRM) advances based on universal principles, norms and standards and
human rights mainstreaming efforts within the UN commits the Organization to principled, coherent, and
development system. consistent action in support of democracy.

Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and What other UN offices and bodies are responsible for
the protecting human rights?
Responsibility to Protect The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Special Adviser on the Prevention of (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of
Genocide acts as a catalyst to raise awareness of the human rights. Drafted by representatives with different
causes and dynamics of genocide, to alert relevant legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the
actors where there is a risk of genocide, and to world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United
advocate and mobilize for appropriate action; the Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December
Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect leads 1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) as a common
the conceptual, political, institutional and operational standard of achievements for all peoples and all
development of the Responsibility to Protect. nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental
human rights to be universally protected and it has
What legal instruments help the UN protect human been translated into over 500 languages. The UDHR is
rights? widely recognized as having inspired, and paved the
way for, the adoption of more than seventy human
The International Bill of Human Rights rights treaties, applied today on a permanent basis at
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) was global and regional levels (all containing references to it
the first legal document protecting universal human in their preambles).
rights. Together with the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Security Council
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the three The UN Security Council, at times, deals with
instruments form the so-called International Bill of grave human rights violations, often in conflict areas.
Human Rights. A series of international human rights The UN Charter gives the Security Council the authority
treaties and other instruments adopted since to investigate and mediate, dispatch a mission, appoint
1945 have expanded the body of international human special envoys, or request the SecretaryGeneral to use
rights law. his good offices. The Security Council may issue a
ceasefire directive, dispatch military observers or a
Democracy peacekeeping force. If this does not work, the Security
Democracy, based on the rule of law, is ultimately a Council can opt for enforcement measures, such as
means to achieve international peace and security, economic sanctions, arms embargos, financial penalties
economic and social progress and development, and and restrictions, travel bans, the severance of
respect for human rights – the three pillars of the diplomatic relations, a blockade, or even collective
United Nations mission as set forth in the UN Charter. military action.

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Third Committee of the General Assembly to serious and large-scale violations of human rights or
The General Assembly’s Third Committee international humanitarian law. The initiative underlines
(Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) examines a range of a shared responsibility among
issues, including human rights questions. The the various UN entities to work together to address
Committee also discusses questions relating to the such violations.
advancement of women, the protection of children,
indigenous issues, the treatment of refugees, the HRuF seeks to achieve this by effecting change
promotion of fundamental freedoms through the at three levels: cultural, operational, and political. These
elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and the changes are gradually transforming the way the UN
right to self-determination. The Committee also understands its responsibilities and implements them.
addresses important social development questions. The initiative has been progressively rolled-out since
late 2013. Through various presentations, letters and
Various Other UN Bodies policy documents, the Secretary-General and Deputy
Different intergovernmental bodies and Secretary-General have presented HRuF to the General
interdepartmental mechanisms based at the United Assembly and to staff and UN system leaders.
Nations headquarters in New York, as well as the United
Nations Secretary-General, address a range of human On 19 January 2018, Secretary-General António
rights issues. Guterres established the International Commission of
Inquiry envisioned by the Agreement on Peace and
The General Assembly, the Economic and Social Reconciliation in Mali. He appointed Lena Sundh
Council (ECOSOC) and their subsidiary organs make (Sweden), Vinod Boolell (Mauritius) and Simon Munzu
policy decisions and recommendations to Member (Cameroon) to serve as Commissioners and selected
States, the United Nations system and other actors. Ms. Sundh as Chair. Established at the request of the
signatory parties to the Agreement, the Commission of
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Inquiry will advance national reconciliation and support
Issues the Malian authorities’ efforts in the fight against
(UNPFII), an advisory body to the Economic and impunity. The Commissioners, who are serving in their
Social Council, has a mandate to discuss indigenous personal capacities, will investigate serious violations of
issues, including human rights. The Office of the High international human rights and humanitarian law
Commissioner for Human Rights interacts with and committed in Mali since January 2012 and submit a
provides advice and support on human rights issues to report to the Secretary General on 22 October 2019.
these bodies and mechanisms. The Office also works to
mainstream human rights in all areas of work of the
Organization, including development, peace and The Highest Aspiration: A Call to Action for Human
security, peacekeeping, and humanitarian affairs. Rights
Human rights issues are also addressed in the context of On 24 February 2020, Secretary-General
the post-conflict UN peacebuilding support activities António Guterres launched a Call to Action for Human
Rights. “Human rights are our ultimate tool to help
Secretary-General societies grow in freedom,” he told Member States on
The Secretary-General appoints special the opening day of the UN Human Rights Council’s 43rd
representatives, who advocate against major human session in Geneva, as he detailed a seven-point
rights violations: blueprint for positive change. Echoing the call for
• Special Representative of the Secretary- change, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle
General for Children and Armed Conflict Bachelet said that although threats to human rights,
• Special Representative of the Secretary- development and peace were on the rise, so were the
General on Sexual Violence in Conflict practical, actionable solutions to these issues.
• Special Representative of the Secretary-
General on Violence Against Children UN Peace Operations
Many United Nations peacekeeping operations
The ‘Human Rights Up Front’ Initiative is an and political and peace buidling missions also include
initiative by the UN Secretary-General to ensure the UN the human rights-related mandates aimed at
system takes early and effective action, as mandated by contributing to the protection and promotion of human
the Charter and UN resolutions, to prevent or respond rights through both immediate and long-term action;

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empowering the population to assert and claim their What key UN entities deliver humanitarian aid?
human rights; and enabling State and other national UN Photo
institutions to implement their human rights obligations Albert González Farran - A child has a meal at a food
and uphold the rule of law. Human rights teams on the distribution centre in the Rwanda camp for internally
ground work in close cooperation and coordination with displaced persons (IDPs), near Tawila, North Darfur.
other civilian and uniformed components of peace More than 8,000 women and children living in the camp
operations, in particular, in relation to the protection of benefit from nutrition programmes run by the World
civilians; addressing conflict-related sexual violence and Food Programme (WFP).
violations against children; and strengthening respect
for human rights and the rule of law through legal and What key UN entities deliver humanitarian aid?
judicial reform, security sector reform and prison Four UN entities,
system reform. the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR),
Commission on the Status of Women the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) the World Food Programme (WFP)
is the principal global intergovernmental body have primary roles in the delivery of relief
dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and assistance. UNDP is the agency responsible for
the advancement of women. UN Women, established in operational activities for natural disaster mitigation,
2010, serves as its Secretariat. prevention and preparedness. When emergencies
occur, UNDP Resident Coordinators coordinate relief
3. Deliver Humanitarian Aid and rehabilitation efforts at the national level.
One of the purposes of the United Nations, as
stated in its Charter, Helping refugees
is "to achieve international co-operation in solving The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) emerged in
international problems of an economic, social, cultural, the wake of World War II to help Europeans displaced
or humanitarian character." by that conflict. The agency leads and coordinates
The UN first did this in the aftermath of the international action to protect refugees and resolve
Second World War on the devastated continent of refugee problems worldwide. The General Assembly
Europe, which it helped to rebuild. The Organization is created the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
now relied upon by the international community to Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to provide
coordinate humanitarian relief operations due to emergency relief to some 750,000 Palestine refugees,
natural and man-made disasters in areas beyond the who had lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of
relief capacity of national authorities alone. the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Today, some 5 million
Palestine refugees are eligible for UNRWA services. The
OCHA and the UN system UN General Assembly hosted a high-level meeting on 19
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian September 2016 to address large movements of
Affairs (OCHA) of the UN Secretariat is responsible for refugees and migrants, with the aim of bringing
coordinating responses to emergencies. It does this countries together behind a more humane and
through the Interagency Standing Committee, whose coordinated approach.
members include the UN system entities most
responsible for providing emergency relief. A Helping Children
coordinated, system-wide approach to humanitarian Since its beginning, The United Nations
relief is essential in providing assistance quickly and Children's Fund (UNICEF) has strived to reach as many
efficiently to those in need. children as possible with effective, low-cost solutions to
counter the biggest threats to their survival. UNICEF
The UN Central Emergency Response Fund also consistently urges governments and warring parties
(CERF), managed by OCHA, is one of the fastest and to act more effectively to protect children.
most effective ways to support rapid humanitarian
response for people affected by natural disasters and Feeding the Hungry
armed conflict. The World Food Programme (WFP) provides
CERF receives voluntary contributions year- relief to millions of people, who are victims of disasters.
round to provide immediate funding for life-saving It is responsible for mobilizing food and funds for
humanitarian action anywhere in the world.

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transport for all large-scale refugee-feeding operations decades ago. Since then, the world has halved extreme
managed by UNHCR. poverty, with the UN’s Millennium Development Goals
greatly contributing to this progress. Recognizing the
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the success of the MDGs, and the need to complete the job
United Nations (FAO) is often called on to help farmers of eradicating poverty, the UN adopted an ambitious
reestablish production following floods, outbreaks of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the same
livestock disease and similar emergencies. time, as climate change poses a growing challenge to
the world’s development objectives, the UN supported
The FAO Global Information and Early Warning negotiations to adopt a meaningful and universal global
System issues monthly reports on the world food climate agreement in 2015. The UN is also working to
situation. Special alerts identify, for Governments and develop a financing for development framework to
relief organizations, countries threatened by food ensure that both the sustainable development agenda
shortages. and climate action are properly resourced.

Healing the Sick A Sustainable Development Agenda

The World Health Organization (WHO) A sustainable development portal, 2015 Time
coordinates the international response to humanitarian for Global Action for People and Planet, was launched
health emergencies. WHO is responsible for providing by the United Nations in 2015. It focuses on the UN’s
leadership on global health matters, shaping the health post-2015 sustainable development agenda and
research agenda, setting norms and standards, contains information on the UN’s efforts to tackle
articulating evidence-based policy options, providing climate change and on many other related issues. The
technical support to countries and monitoring and website highlights the Secretary-General's report
assessing health trends? In the 21st century, health is a presenting the vision for the post-2015 sustainable
shared responsibility, involving equitable access to development agenda and shows how you can help
essential care and collective defense against publicize these important issues.
transnational threats. The UN’s new post-2015 sustainable
development agenda was launched at the Sustainable
4. Promote Sustainable Development Development Summit in September 2015. The
From the start in 1945, one of the main Millennium Development Goals helped end poverty for
priorities of the United Nations was to “achieve some, but not for all. The UN’s new Sustainable
international co-operation in solving international Development Goals (SDGs) will complete the work
problems of an economic, social, cultural, or begun with the MDGs.
humanitarian character and in promoting and
encouraging respect for human rights and for SDG Summit 2019
fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to On 24 and 25 September 2019, Heads of State
race, sex, language, or religion.” and Government will gather at the United Nations
Improving people’s well-being continues to be Headquarters in New York to follow up and
one of the main focuses of the UN. The global comprehensively review progress in the
understanding of development has changed over the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
years, and countries now have agreed that sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development
development –development that promotes prosperity Goals (SDGs). The event is the first UN summit on the
and economic opportunity, greater social well-being, SDGs since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in
and protection of the environment – offers the best September 2015.
path forward for improving the lives of people
everywhere. The Millennium Development Goals
In September 2000, world leaders committed
UN Photo their nations to achieving eight Millennium
Riccardo Gangale Grace, a farmer from Kipilat village, Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. These goals range
and a leading member of the forest community in from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of
Ainabkoi, Kenya, planting a tree in 2012. HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education. To
attain them, the Secretary General has launched
Close to 40 per cent of the population of the different initiatives, including the Zero Hunger
developing world lived in extreme poverty only two Challenge and Every Woman, Every Child. Great

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progress has been made in reaching many of these discrimination and violence in every part of the world.
goals, but much more needs to be done. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right,
but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous,
Climate Change and sustainable world. UN Women works to eliminate
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate discrimination against women and girls, empower all
Change has warned of the increasing dangers of climate women, and achieve equality between women and men
change and has spoken of the urgency to find solutions as partners and beneficiaries of development, human
before it is too late. At the present rate, greenhouse gas rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
emissions are rising, and the world is on a path to raise
the global average temperature by more than three What are the main UN offices and programmes
degrees Celsius this century. The world is already working on development?
experiencing the impacts of climate change, from sea- The UN Department of Economic and Social
level rise to melting glaciers, to more extreme weather Affairs works closely with governments and
patterns. Sustainability is an important part of stakeholders to help countries around the world to
counteracting climate change. The UN is supporting meet their economic, social and environmental goals.
efforts to assess the climate science, facilitate The United Nations Development Programme works
negotiations under the UN Framework Convention for a with people at all levels of society to help build nations
climate agreement, and provide assistance to countries that can withstand crisis and drive and sustain the kind
and communities to reduce emissions and to build of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone.
climate resilience. Many UN agencies work on specific aspects of
To address climate change, Secretary General development, such as the World Health Organization,
Ban Ki-moon has launched a number of initiatives, the Food and Agriculture Organization, UNICEF,
including Sustainable Energy for All, that is working to UNESCO and the UN Environment Programme.
help people access clean energy, improve energy
efficiency and increase their use of renewable sources What UN bodies work to promote development?
of energy. The UNFCCC Secretariat supported efforts to The General Assembly’s Second Committee
reach a new universal climate change agreement in (Economic and Financial) deals with issues relating to
Paris in 2015, providing a pathway forward to limit economic growth, human settlements, poverty
temperature rise to well below 2 degrees, maybe even eradication, globalization and information and
1.5. The Climate Summit, held in New York in communication technologies.
September 2014, helped raise awareness of the
importance of climate change by mobilizing support for 5. Uphold International Law
a climate agreement and catalysing action in advance of The UN Charter, in its Preamble, set an
the Paris meeting in 2015. objective: "to establish conditions under which justice
and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and
Disaster Risk Reduction other sources of international law can be maintained".
Disasters can destroy communities in seconds,
which is why building resilience must be at the heart of Ever since, the development of, and respect for
sustainable development. The United Nations Office for international law has been a key part of the work of the
Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) works with Organization. This work is carried out in many ways - by
governments and other stakeholders to ensure the courts, tribunals, multilateral treaties - and by the
reduction of disaster losses in lives and assets of Security Council, which can approve peacekeeping
communities and countries. missions, impose sanctions, or authorize the use of
A conference in 2015, near the site of the force when there is a threat to international peace and
devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, advanced security, if it deems this necessary. These powers are
actions to reduce the risks from disasters by adopting given to it by the UN Charter, which is considered an
the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015- international treaty. As such, it is an instrument of
2030. international law, and UN Member States are bound by
it. The UN Charter codifies the major principles of
Gender equality and empowering women and girls international relations, from sovereign equality of
While the world has achieved progress towards States to the prohibition of the use of force in
gender equality under the UN Millennium Development international relations.
Goals, women and girls continue to suffer

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Settling Disputes Between States International Court peacekeeping missions, ad hoc tribunals, sanctions, and
of Justice resolutions adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter.
The principal judicial organ of the United In accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome
Nations is the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This Statute, the Security Council can refer certain situations
main body of the UN settles legal disputes submitted to to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
it by States in accordance with international law. (ICC), if it appears international crimes (such as
It also gives advisory opinions on legal questions genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, the
referred to it from authorized UN organs and crime of aggression) have been committed.
specialized agencies. The Court is composed of 15
judges, who are elected for terms of nine years by the The General Assembly and International Law
General Assembly and the Security Council. The UN Charter gives the General Assembly the
power to initiate studies and make recommendations to
Courts and Tribunals promote the development and codification of
In addition to the International Court of Justice, international law. Many subsidiary bodies of the
a wide variety of international courts, international General Assembly consider specific areas of
tribunals, ad hoc tribunals and UN-assisted tribunals international law and report to the plenary. Most legal
have varying degrees of relation to the United Nations matters are referred the Sixth Committee, which then
(such as the tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and reports to the plenary.
Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and The General Assembly and International Law
the Special Tribunal for Lebanon). The Mechanism for The International Law Commission and the UN
International Criminal Tribunals (the MICT) was Commission on International Trade Law report to the
established by the United Nations Security Council on General Assembly. The General Assembly also considers
22 December 2010 to carry out a number of essential topics related to the institutional law of the United
functions of the International Criminal Tribunal for Nations, such as the adoption of the Staff Regulations
Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Criminal Tribunal and the establishment of the system of internal justice.
for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), after the completion of
their respective mandates. These are established by General Assembly - Sixth Committee (Legal)
(and are Subsidiary Organs of) the Security Council. The The General Assembly’s Sixth Committee is the
International Criminal Court (ICC) and International primary forum for the consideration of legal questions
Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), were in the General Assembly. All UN Member States are
established by conventions drafted within the UN, but entitled to representation on the Sixth Committee as
are now independent entities with special cooperation one of the main committees of the General Assembly.
agreements.
International Law Commission
What Is International Law? The International Law Commission promotes
International law defines the legal the progressive development of international law and
responsibilities of States in their conduct with each its codification. The Commission’s work on a topic
other, and their treatment of individuals within State usually involves some aspects of the progressive
boundaries. Its domain encompasses a wide range of development, as well as the codification of international
issues of international concern, such as human rights, law, with the balance between the two-varying
disarmament, international crime, refugees, migration, depending on the particular topic.
problems of nationality, the treatment of prisoners, the
use of force, and the conduct of war, among others. It United Nations Commission on International Trade
also regulates the global Law (UNCITRAL)
commons, such as the environment and sustainable The United Nations Commission on
development, international waters, outer space, global International Trade Law is a core legal body of the
communications and world trade. United Nations system in the field of international trade
law, with universal membership, specializing in
The Security Council and International Law commercial law, with a focus on the modernization and
Some of the action of the Security Council have harmonization of rules on international business. The
international law implications, such as those related to UNCITRAL Secretariat has established a Case Law on
UNCITRAL texts (CLOUT) system for collecting and

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disseminating information on court decisions and advice, expertise, research, analysis, training or other
arbitral awards relating to the Conventions and Model assistance.
Laws that have emanated from the work of the
Commission. Programme of Assistance for International Law
The Programme of Assistance in the Teaching,
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of
The United Nations Convention on the Law of International Law is meant to contribute to a better
the Sea lays down a comprehensive regime of law and knowledge of international law “as a means for
order in the world's oceans and seas, establishing rules strengthening international peace and security and
governing all uses of the oceans and their resources. promoting friendly relations and co-operation among
The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea States.” It is one of the cornerstones of the efforts of
(DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United the United Nations to promote international law.
Nations serves as the secretariat of the Convention on
the Law of the Sea. What is Peace Education?
Peace education is the process of acquiring the
values, the knowledge and developing the attitudes,
UN Treaty Database skills, and behaviors to live in harmony with oneself,
The Status of Multilaterial Treaties Deposited with others, and with the natural environment.
with the SecretaryGeneral online database provides the
most detailed information on the status of over 560 Ian Harris and John Synott have described peace
major multilateral instruments deposited with the education as a series of "teaching encounters" that
Secretary-General of the United Nations and covers a draw from people:
range of subject matters, such as Human Rights, • their desire for peace,
Disarmament, Commodities, Refugees, the • nonviolent alternatives for managing conflict,
Environment, and the Law of the Sea. This database • and skills for critical analysis of structural
reflects the status of these instruments, as Member arrangements that produce and legitimize injustice
States sign, ratify, accede to, or lodge declarations, and inequality.
reservations or objections.
Ian M. Harris - peacelearner.org
The Internal Justice System at the United Nations In order to eliminate war and violence humans
A new Internal Justice System for the United must understand, desire, and struggle to achieve peace.
Nations was introduced in 2009, with the goal of having If and when the desire for peace becomes strongly
a system that was independent, professionalized, rooted in human consciousness, people will strive for it,
expedient, transparent and decentralized, with a demanding new social structures that reduce risks of
stronger emphasis on resolving disputes through violence. Peace education provides not just a way to
informal means, before resorting to formal litigation. promote such a desire for peace within the human mind
Because the United Nations has immunity from but also knowledge about peacemaking skills so that
local jurisdiction and cannot be sued in a national court, human beings can learn alternative nonviolent ways of
the Organization has set up an internal justice system to dealing with each other (Harris & Morrison, 15).
resolve staff-management disputes, including those that peacelearner.org
involve disciplinary action.
INTRODUCTION
Legal Resources and Training • The greatest resource for building a culture peace
The historic archives at the Audiovisual Library are the people themselves, for it is through them
of International Law provide a unique resource for the that peaceful relationships are
teaching, studying and researching significant legal • created.
instruments on international law. • Educating people toward becoming peace agents is
central to the task of peace building.
Legal Technical Assistance for UN Member States • Peace building refers generally to the long-term
The United Nations currently offers Member period of building peaceful communities, a
States technical assistance in connection with a range of desirable goal.
legal matters. Such assistance includes the provision of • The Philippines and the whole world as well have
many problems that arise from many forms of

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violence. An education that responds to these • There is now a consensus that we need to have a
challenges should be encouraged and supported. comprehensive and holistic understanding of peace
• Our young people in particular need new if we are to move toward a genuine peace culture.
perspectives, skills and value orientations that will • Johan Galtung explains that peace is the absence of
enable them to build relationships and structures violence, not only personal or direct, but also
that lead to positive change and human well-being. structural or indirect. The manifestations of
• A culture of peace must replace the current culture structural violence are the highly uneven
of violence if we and our common home, planet distribution of wealth and resources as well as the
Earth, are to survive. uneven distribution of power to decide over the
distribution of said resources.

A Holistic Understanding of Peace • Peace is both the absence of personal / direct

• A new way of thinking about peace is important violence, and the presence of social justice. The
today. meaning of peace can be captured by the idea of a
• Our ideas shape our feelings and our actions, as well negative peace and the idea of a positive peace.
as how we live, and how we relate to each other
• Fritjof Capra, has argued for a change in thinking, NEGATIVE PEACE POSITIVE PEACE
about both concepts and values, as a necessary first Is the absence of violence Is the attitudes,
step to solve our many problems today (Capra, or fear of violence institutions and structures
1982). that create and sustain
• Early secular writings on the subject of peace peaceful societies.
indicate that peace was defined as merely the
absence of war or direct violence. This negative • Negative peace refers to the absence of war or
formulation was first given by Hugo Grotius in 1625 physical/direct violence, while positive peace refers
(Dobrosielski, 1987). to the presence of just and non-exploitative
• The simplest and most widespread understanding relationships, as well as human and ecological well-
of peace was that of absence of death and being, such that the root causes of conflict are
destruction as a result of war and physical / direct diminished.
violence.
• An alternative view started to emerge, beginning
with the late 1960s. Attention shifted from direct to
indirect or structural violence, i.e., ways in which
people suffer from violence built into society via its
social, political and economic systems (Hicks, 1987).
• It was realized that it was not only war and direct
violence that caused the death and disfigurement.
Structural violence also led to death and suffering
because of the conditions that resulted from it:
extreme poverty, starvation, avoidable diseases,
discrimination against minority groups and denial of
human rights.
• It was further realized that a world marked by said
conditions is a world devoid of peace and human
security; it breeds anger and generates tension
leading to armed conflict and war.
• Johan Galtung, a renowned peace theorist and The Pillars of Positive Peace
researcher, argues that structural violence occurs 1. a well-functioning government,
when the wealth of affluent nations, groups or 2. a sound business environment,
individuals is based on the labor and the essential 3. an equitable distribution of resources,
resources drawn from nations, groups and 4. an acceptance of the rights of others,
individuals who, as a consequence, are required to 5. good relations with neighbors,
live diminished lives of deprivation (Monez, 1973). 6. free flow of information,
7. a high level of human capital,

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8. low levels of corruption.

The non-exploitative relationships mentioned above
refer not only to relationships between humans but also
those between human and nature. Peace with nature is
considered the foundation of “positive peace” (Mische,
1987).

Peace Education as Transformative Education

Peace education or an education that promotes

a culture of peace, is essentially transformative. It
cultivates the knowledge base, skills, attitudes, and
values that seek to transform people’s behaviors that, in
the first place, have either created or exacerbated
violent conflicts. It seeks this transformation by building
awareness and understanding, developing concern, and
finally, challenging personal and social action that will
It is because the earth is ultimately the source enable people to create conditions and systems that
of our survival, physical sustenance, health and wealth; actualize nonviolence, justice, environmental care, and
it is not possible to provide for human survival if other peace values.
nature’s capacity to renew itself is seriously impaired. It
must also be remembered that human behavior is This means that the learning process utilized in
intimately related to the availability of basic resources peace education is holistic and it tries to address the
cognitive, affective, and active dimensions of the
Types of Violence learner. A usual procedure includes the introduction of
Betty Reardon, a peace educator who has made relevant new knowledge or reinforced knowledge,
significant contributions to the field, defines violence as posing valuing questions and using discussion and other
“humanly inflicted harm” (Reardon, n.d.). participatory methods to cultivate concern and eliciting
Conceptual map of Violence done by Toh Swee- / challenging / encouraging appropriate personal and
Hin and Virginia Cawagas (1987). It is a typology that social action.
indicates the various types / forms of violence and some
examples / illustrations of each type in the personal, The action towards transformation may include
interpersonal, social, and global levels. action against prejudice and the war system, or action
for social and economic justice. Paying attention to all
these levels the cognitive, affective, and active-
increases the possibility that the peace perspective or
value that is being cultivated would be internalized.

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WHY EDUCATE FOR PEACE?

• Betty Reardon (Comprehensive Peace Education:
Educating for global Responsibility, 1988) reminds
that peace education has an important social
purpose: it seeks to transform the present human
condition by “changing social structures and
patterns of thought that have created it.”

• Learning to Abolish War; Teaching toward a Culture

of Peace (Reardon and Cabezudo, 2002), the main
purpose of peace education are the elimination of
social injustice, the rejection of violence and the
abolition of war.
• Peace education is a practical imperative.

• Educating for peace will give us in the long run the

practical benefits that we seek. As stated earlier it is
expected to build a critical mass of people who will
demand for and address the needed personal and
structural changes that will transform the many
problems that relate to peace into nonviolent,
humane and ecological alternatives and solutions.

Peace education is a practical imperative

• Peace education challenges the long-held belief that
wars cannot be avoided. Often this belief is based
on an underlying view that violence is inherent in
human nature.

• Peace education can transform people’s mindsets

with regard to the inevitably of war and can in fact
enable people to see that alternatives exist and that
there are ways by which violent conflict can be
prevented.

• Educating for peace is an ethical imperative

considering the negation of life and wellbeing
caused by all forms of violence.

• The ethical systems of the major world faith

traditions, humanitarian ethics and even primal and
indigenous spirituality have articulated principles
that inspire the striving for peace.

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Peace education is an ethical imperative

These ethical principles include the unity and POINTERS
value of life, not only of human life but also other life A holistic understanding of peace is needed for
forms in nature; respect for human dignity; the youth to be educated on the different facets of
nonviolence; justice; and love as a social ethic. They are peace for them to be able to live and apply what they
the principles that are highly encouraged for have learned in order to be able to have peaceful
actualization because they are expected to bring us to relationships with themselves, with others, with other
the common good. nations and with the world as a whole to prevent
increasing the number of victims affected by violence
Peace Education’s Schema of Knowledge, Skills and various kinds.
Attitudes/Values (Knowledge/Content Areas)
LEARNING TASK
Some of the knowledge or content areas that are 1. In your opinion, why is peace education
integral to peace education are: importantin our present time?
1. Holistic Concept of Peace 2. The list of Peace Education’s schema of
2. Conflict and Violence knowledge, skills and attitudes and values is
3. Some peaceful alternatives exhaustive. What else can you add to each
• Disarmament (knowledge, skills and attitudes)? Explain.
• Nonviolence
• Conflict Resolution, Transformation and
Prevention
• Human Rights
• Human Solidarity
• Development Based on Justice
• Democratization
• Sustainable Development

It is suggested that the following attitudes and values be

cultivated:
• Self-respect
• Respect for others
• Respect for Life / Nonviolence
• Gender Equality
• Compassion
• Global Concern
• Ecological Concern
• Cooperation
• Openness / Tolerance
• Justice
• Social Responsibility
• Positive Vision

Some of the skills that need to be developed are

• Reflection
• Critical Thinking and Analysis
• Decision-making
• Imagination
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Empathy
• Group Building

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