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September 21: International Day of Peace

The Luarca Declaration

and the Human Right to Peace

The international day of together all of our worldwide
work, from peacekeeping and
peace was established 26 years
preventive diplomacy to pro-
ago in 1981 by the United
moting human rights and
Nations General Assembly as
development.
an annual observance of glob-
non-
al
This work for peace is vital.
violence and ceasefire. Every
But it is not easy. Indeed, in
year the United Nations and its
countless communities across
specialized agencies remind the world, peace remains an
the world that peace is the
elusive goal. From the dis-
highest good, peace with jus-
placed person camps of Chad
tice.
and Darfur to the byways of
Baghdad, the quest for peace
On 21 September 2007 UN
is strewn with setbacks and
Secretary-General Ban Ki-
suffering.
moon rang the Peace Bell at
UN headquarters in New York
September 21, the Inter- sized that the human right to effects of radiation in places
in the company of UN
national Day of Peace, is an peace goes well beyond the where atmospheric nuclear
Messengers of Peace.
occasion to take stock of our mere prohibition of war, well tests had been conducted, and
efforts to promote peace and beyond the imperative of dis- reminded States of their obli-
In Geneva a round table on the
well-being for all people armament. While the United gation under article 6 of the
human right to peace was held
everywhere. Nations Security Council Non-proliferation Treaty to
at the Council Chamber in the
retains the primary function of negotiate with a view to com-
Palais des Nations, moderated
It is an opportunity to ensuring international peace, plete nuclear disarmament.
by Professor Carlos Villán appreciate what we have the General Assembly, the She also endorsed efforts to
Duran, co-author of the book
already accomplished, and to Economic and Social Council, adopt an International
"La Declaración de Luarca
dedicate ourselves to all that the Human Rights Council and Convention to Abolish
sobre el Derecho humano a la
remains to be done. all subsidiary organs also have Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). In
paz", which has just been pub-
a mandate to work for peace, this context she referred to arti-
lished by Ediciones Madñ in
It is also meant to be a day of because peace is the raison cle 11 of the Luarca
Spain.
global ceasefire: a 24-hour d'être of the United Nations Declaration, which stresses the
respite from the fear and inse- and all of its activities must right to disarmament.
The Luarca Declaration is a curity that plague so many serve this ultimate purpose. Subparagraph 3 stipulates:
product of Spanish academics
places. "Individuals and peoples have
and civil society, adopted in
Civil society also has a the right to the allocation of the
Luarca, Spain, on 30 October
Today I urge all countries and sacred duty to work for peace. resources freed by disarma-
2006 and officially presented
all combatants to honour this The Luarca Declaration, ment to the economic, social
to the United Nations Human
cessation of hostilities. And I which takes a holistic and cultural development of
Rights Council on 15 March
ask people everywhere to approach to peace, covers its peoples and the fair re-distri-
2007.
Participants in the
observe a minute of silence at many components, only one of bution of such resources,
Round Table were Luis
noon local time. As the guns which is the prohibition of the responding especially to the
Narvaez of Amnesty fall silent, we should use this use of force. Peace also entails needs of the poorest countries
International, Patricia Lewis,
the promotion of conditions of
to
opportunity and to vulnerable groups, in
director of UNIDIR in
ponder the price we all pay social justice, the realization of such a way as to put an end to
Geneva, Ingeborg Breines,
due to conflict. And we should the right to development, inequality, social exclusion
Director of UNESCO in
resolve to vigorously pursue access to the necessities of life, and poverty."
Geneva, Andrés Guerrero of
ways to make permanent this including clean water and a
UNICEF and myself.
of
Braines
day's pause. healthy environment. Peace is Ingeborg
a condition to the enjoyment of UNESCO recalled the famous
It was my honour to read the
On this International Day, let one's culture and identity. preamble of UNESCO's
peace message of Secretary-
us promise to make peace not Peace and human dignity go Constitution which stipulates:
General Ban Ki-moon: "Peace just a priority, but a hand in hand. "Since wars begin in the minds
is one of humanity's most pre-
passion. Let us pledge to do of men, it is in the minds of
cious needs. It is also the
more, wherever we are in Patricia Lewis of UNIDIR men that the defences of peace
United Nations' highest call-
whatever way we can, to make spoke eloquently about the must be constructed," Thus,
ing.
every day a day ofpeace." necessity of abolishing what better place to start build-
weapons of mass destruction, ing these "defences" than at
It defines our mission. It drives grammar school and high
After reading the Secretary- including nuclear weapons.
our discourse. And it draws She deplored the long-term schools, in the minds of youth?
General's statement, I empha-
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