The following is from the 1998 UN Chronicle, No. 1. (Pgs 36 and 37)
Carnegie Commission Says ‘Mass Violence Is
Not Inevitable’
In December 1997, after a
comprehensive three-year study of violent conflict, costing some $9.5 million
and involving a large number of international scholars and policymakers, the Carnegie
Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict released a 257-page final report.
Taking a long term, global view of violent conflicts, and utilizing a
functional health policy model for disease prevention, the report examines the
principle causes of deadly ethnic, nationalist and religious conflicts, both between
and within States, and seeks to determine the requirements of an effective
system for preventing mass violence. It also looks at ways in which
international organizations, and the United Nations in particular, can
contribute to developing a coherent international system of non-violent
conflict prevention. The three major conclusions offer a cautiously hopeful
view on the possibilities of preventing deadly conflict: mass violence is not
inevitable; there is an urgent need to prevent deadly conflict; and successful
prevention action is possible.
The
report emphasizes three preventive imperatives, the first two under the
principle of operational prevention: preventing the emergence of violence
through early warning and effective reaction to signs of an immediate crisis; and
preventing the spread of violence through extended efforts to resolve
underlying root causes of violence. The third strategy, under the principle of
structural prevention, aims to prevent the reoccurrence of violence through
international and regional arrangements and through social development that establish
long term conditions of security, well-being and justice.
The
Carnegie Corporation will spend the next two years promoting the Commission’s
findings in an effort to effect internationally a large-scale shift in the
political will of Governments toward preventing violent conflict.
The Commission,
set up in May 1994, was co-chaired by Cyrus R. Vance, former United States
Secretary of State, and David A. Hamburg, President Emeritus of the Carnegie Corporation
of New York.
Among
its members were 16 eminent international leaders and scholars with long
experience in conflict prevention and resolution. They were supported by a
distinguished 42-member advisory Council.
(There was one box with text on each page with related
information. Box on page 36)
A ‘Culture of
prevention’ Urged by Secretary – General
Creation
of a “culture of prevention“ was a “challenge the world can and must meet”, Secretary-General
Kofi Annan declared on 5 February in his address to a forum on “The Centrality
of United Nations to Prevention and the Centrality of Prevention to the United
Nations” convened at Headquarters in connection with the final report of
the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict.
For
the United Nations, there was “no higher goal, no deeper commitment and no
greater ambition than preventing armed conflict”, he stated. “The prevention of
conflict begins and ends with the protection of human life and the promotion of
human development. Ensuring human security is, in the broadest sense, the United
Nations cardinal mission. Genuine and lasting prevention is the means to
achieve that mission”, the Secretary General said.
However,
“only when it is too late do we value prevention”, he observed, adding that
there were three main reasons for the failure of prevention: the reluctance of
one or more parties to a conflict to accept external intervention of any kind;
the lack of political well at the highest levels of the international
community; and a lack of integrated conflict – prevention strategies within the
United Nations system at the international community.
“Of
all these, the wheel to act is the most important”, Mr. Annan noted. “Without
the political will to act when action is needed, without the will to answer the
call that must be heeded, no amount of improved coordination or early morning
will translate awareness into action”, he stressed.
The
politics of prevention – early warning, preventive diplomacy, preventive
deployment and preventive disarmament – would succeed “only if root causes of
conflict are addressed with the same will and wisdom”, Mr. Annan stated.
“Poverty,
endemic underdevelopment and weak or non-existent institutions inhibit dialogue
and invite the resort to violence. A
long, quiet process of sustainable economic development, based on respect for
human rights and legitimate government, is essential to preventing conflict”,
he said.
“Indeed,
we have no excuses anymore. We have no excuses for inaction and no alibis for
ignorance. Often, we know even before the very victims of conflict that they
will be victimized. We know because our world now is one – in pain and in
prosperity. No longer must the promise of prevention be a promise deferred. Too
much does a state, too much as possible, too much is needed.
“The
founders of the United Nations drew up our charter with a sober view of human
nature. They had witnessed the ability of humanity to wage war of unparalleled brutality
and unprecedented cruelty. They had witnessed, above all, the failure of
prevention, when prevention was still possible and every signal pointed to war.
“It will be the testament to succeeding generations
that ours had the will to save them from the scourge of war.”
(Box on page 37
- 15 bullet points)
Understanding the problem Some illustrations by the Commission
1.
Since the fall of
the Berlin wall in 1989, over 4 million people have been killed in violent
conflicts.
2.
An estimated 90%
of those killed for civilians, mostly women and children.
3.
During the 1994
Rwanda genocide some 800,000 people were killed in three months. Is it been
estimated that 5000 troops could have diverted to slaughter.
4.
International
relief and reconstruction efforts over the three years following the Rwanda
slaughter have cost over $2 billion. The estimated cost of a preventative
intervention would have been 1/3 of this amount.
5.
Today, 1 in 200
people is a refugee or a displaced person. Refugee population of 10,000 or more
can be found in 70 countries in the world.
6.
In 1990, nearly
75% of the worlds refugees were Muslims.
7.
In Uganda, and
AK-47 can be obtained for the price of a chicken. In Swaziland, the same weapon
is sold for $6.
8.
Civil War is
blamed for the abandonment of an estimated 80% of Angola’s agricultural land.
9.
In 1960, the
income ratio of the richest 20% and the poorest 20% of the world’s population
was 30:1. In 1991, It had doubled Two over 60:1.
10. Less than one
third of development assistance goes to the 10 most populous countries – home
to two thirds of the world’s poor.
11. Some 1.1
billion people, about 30% of the developing world’s population, live on $1 a
day or less.
12. Poverty has a woman’s face: 70% of the 1.3 billion
people who live in poverty are female.
13. In 1994, the
world supply of water per cabinet was only 1/3 of what it was in 1970.
14. By the year
2000, nearly half of the world population will live in urban areas.
15. The 50 poorest
countries -- home to 20% of the world’s population – now account for less than
2% of global income, and their share continues to decrease.
No comments:
Post a Comment