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News Archive |
LAST UPDATE
July 11, 2005
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| June 24, 2005 |
Demilitarize Security and Develop Non-Violent Ways |
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“Demilitarize Security and Develop Non-Violent Ways” – Peace Boat recommendations presented at UNGA Informal Interactive Hearing with Civil Society in New York – June 23-24, 2005
UNGA Informal Interactive Hearing with Civil Society
New York, 23-24 June 2005
Peace Boat’s Comments on Freedom from Fear
“Demilitarize Security and Develop Non-Violent Ways”
Peace Boat staff member Akira Kawasaki presented at the UNGA Informal Interactive Hearing with Civil Society at UN Headquarters in New York, June 23-24 2005, and submitted recommendations titled “Demilitarize Security and Develop Non-Violent Ways.” The following is a summary of Peace Boat’s recommendations to the UN, in response to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s report “In Larger Freedom,” specifically the chapter “Freedom from Fear.” |
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We are approaching the Millennium+5 Summit in September to commemorate the United Nation’s 60 year anniversary. On this historical occasion, Peace Boat, a Japan-based NGO working towards world peace, would like to highlight Japan’s lessons from World War II to be applied to current international security debates.
Japan has drawn two major lessons from World War II. First, the devastation caused by the 1945 atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki has taught us of the inherent inhumanity of wars and weapons. Any arms race will ultimately lead us to total catastrophe. Second, Japan colonized and invaded neighboring countries in the name of liberating Asia. Such past crimes have taught us that we must be cautious about any kind of foreign intervention in the name of purported “rights.”
These lessons have created the foundation for Japanese citizens to support its Peace Constitution. Article 9 renounces war as a means to settle disputes, and renounces the maintenance of armed forces. We believe that this constitutionally provided paradigm for peace can serve as a universal norm on how to address emerging security threats worldwide today. In other words, we should demilitarize the concept of security by adopting the following guiding principles: |
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Shift to Prevention
As an Initiator of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), Peace Boat is committed to promoting a security paradigm shift from reaction to prevention.
(2) Develop Non-Violent Ways
Governments and civil society should develop innovative, non-violent means to prevent and resolve conflicts through diplomacy, dialogue and partnership based interaction.
(3) Universal Application of the Rule of Law
Any double standards should be dismissed. Multilateralism is the key to addressing global threats. Good versus Evil, or Civilized versus Uncivilized rhetoric does not solve problems.
Below we list some substantive points relating to the Secretary-General’s March 2005 Report In Larger Freedom, with a focus on the Freedom from Fear section, and the Draft Outcome Document of the GA President, June 2005. We urge member States to incorporate these perspectives during their deliberations in the lead-up to the September Summit.
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Stop Use of Force
In the post-Iraq War context, there is an urgent need for member States to reaffirm their commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts, as the Draft Outcome Document recommends. Pre-emptive or preventive use of force should never be allowed. International debate over principles on the use of force should not pave the way for mainstreaming militaristic approaches to conflict resolution. Rather, strict restrictions against the use of force should be imposed, including those regarding collective action under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Strengthening the International Criminal Court is vital to bringing to justice those who have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Nuclear-Weapon States and Allies must Disarm
The Draft Outcome Document provides a weakly worded mention of nuclear disarmament. Nuclear-weapon States should stop the modernization of nuclear weapons, and abandon the nuclear first use policy to target non-nuclear weapon States. In this regard, the irreversibility of disarmament and negative security assurances should be explicitly highlighted in the Summit, as is done in In Larger Freedom. Also, allied countries of nuclear-weapon States should abandon their nuclear dependent security policies, such as nuclear umbrella and nuclear sharing, and help nuclear powers to disarm.
Ban Fissile Materials
We welcome that Draft Outcome Document recognition of the need “to prevent the spread of uranium enrichment and plutonium separation.” It should go further by supporting the proposal by the IAEA Director General to put a moratorium on enrichment and reprocessing plants. International community needs to establish a non-discriminatory and verifiable regime to ban weapon-usable fissile material production. Japan should take the lead by freezing the Rokkasho reprocessing plant now. |
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Cut Military Budgets and Reallocate to Development
The Summit should support the 2004 Report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between Disarmament and Development, which emphasized the need of “freeing resources currently dedicated to military expenditure for other activities.” Significant reductions of military spending and budgetary reallocation is crucial to achieving the MDGs. Member States with the world’s largest military budgets, including Japan, should take actions immediately.
Engage NGOs with the Peace Building Commission
We support the establishment of the Peace Building Commission and Peace Building Support Office. However, engagement with NGOs has not been sufficiently addressed. NGOs’ effective involvement in the strengthened peace building regime is vital in order to make it serve as a non-violent mechanism for sustainable peace.
Address Military Bases
In promoting human security, the UN and member States should focus on the vast human and environmental consequences that military bases are continuing to cause worldwide. UN agencies should investigate the negative impacts of military bases, in collaboration with local NGOs, and make recommendations to member States. |
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No New Veto
We oppose any proposals to increase the number of Security Council permanent members with a veto power. Rather, imposing restrictions on the use of veto by permanent members, including through informal agreements, would contribute to democratic reform of the UN. NGOs’ involvement in the Security Council debates should also be pursued.
Encourage Regional Peace Initiatives
UN and member States should encourage regional initiatives for peace talks and confidence building. With regard to Northeast Asia, international support of the Six-Party Talk process is crucial. The September Summit should call for efforts to create a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Northeast Asia, as well as in the Middle East and South Asia. Revitalizing the Conference on Disarmament to curb arms race, including that in Outer Space, will also promote this purpose.
Development and Human Rights as Conflict Prevention
We welcome the Secretary-General and GA President’s recognition of interdependence between development, security and human rights. Promoting equitable trade, addressing the debt issue, guarantying food security, fighting inequalities (including those generated by racism or patriarchy) are essential aspects of the development and the human rights agenda that address root causes of conflicts.
Member States should mainstream conflict sensitive approaches in development policies. They should also recognize the role of early warning to conflict, played by NGOs working on protection and promotion of social, economic cultural and environmental rights, as well as the right to development |
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Peace Boat is committed to continue promoting people to people dialogue around the world through Global Voyages, as well as working towards reconciliation and sustainable peace in Northeast Asia. Also, we would like to work with diplomats and UN officials and encourage them to participate in our unique peace dialogue and education programs onboard.
For more information contact:
Akira Kawasaki
Executive Committee, Peace Boat
www.peaceboat.org
+1-917-547-7725 or +81-3-3363-8047 |
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