The right to peace
Around the world, senseless violence is destroying lives. As the G7 leaders discuss these conflicts, the people and the profound harm that is being done to them must be at the forefront of finding peaceful solutions, ensuring that the same human rights standards are deployed everywhere
T he G7 Apulia Summit takes place at a time when waves of conflicts are battering people’s lives, destroying economies, profoundly damaging human rights and carving even deeper fault lines across and between nations. Senseless violence is destroying lives in Ukraine, in Sudan, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Myanmar, in Haiti, and across the Middle East – above all, in Gaza. When the leaders discuss this – country after country – the people and the profound harm that is being done to them must be at the forefront. At a time of such atrocious violations, is it unrealistic to demand that all states uphold their human rights commitments?
Is that not the most crucial, the most consequential, the most immediate task that any of us could possibly undertake? The right to peace is the mother of all human rights. Without peace, all other rights are quashed. It is urgent that we devise ways to counter warmongering, fear and the illogic of escalating hatred and hostility – which bring short-term profit to a few, while ruining the lives and rights of millions. We need to regain a mindset of peace. This means the art of de-escalation: keeping communication channels open, rebuilding trust, and taking up the long-term work of healing and reconciliation –
By Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
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G7 ITALY: THE APULIA SUMMIT — 2024
globalgovernanceproject.org
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