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21 May 2008
Campaign for a Minister with responsibility
for Peace within the NI Executive.
The Peace People launched a campaign for a Minister with
responsibility for Peace within the Northern Ireland Executive
on the 21st May this year in the Long Gallery, Stormont. It
was well attended, with over 50 representatives from community
groups, business, religious and health organisations and the
press.
The initiative for a Minister for Peace is inspired by the
"Charter for a World Without Violence. The Charter gives
a step-by-step approach to reducing violence on a worldwide
scale. It is also inspired by other similar campaigns in 24
countries across the world for Ministries of Peace and Departments
of Peace.
The Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace
is a worldwide community of civil society campaigns, organisations,
citizens and elected and appointed government officials from
over 30 countries who are calling and working for the establishment
of ministries and departments of peace that reflect and support
the emergence of a global culture of peace and non-violence
Nepal already has a Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction,
established in 2007, and the Solomon Islands has a Ministry
of Reconciliation, Peace and National Unity. There has been
a call for a Ministry of Peace in Israel since 1946. Can you
imagine how the course of history in the Middle East could
have been different with an Israeli Minister of Peace in place?
There is now a renewed call for Ministers of Peace in both
Israel and Palestine by members of the Global Alliance in
both countries. Canada has a well developed campaign, and
the regional Parliament of Calabria moved to create a Department
of Peace this year. The UK has its own campaign to lobby the
Westminster government which has been running since July 2003.
These countries and administrative regions are organising
for Ministries and Departments of Peace. As Northern Ireland
is a relatively small region, a minister, rather than Department
might be more appropriate. If we want to be able to interact
with other countries on this level we do need a Minister with
responsibility for Peace.
Such a Minister could provide leadership in dealing with
the problems of violence in our society beyond the approach
of the police and justice system, and seek to heal the root
causes of violence. They could also provide independent conflict
resolution advice for the politicians and civil servants seeking
to come up with creative and forward looking solutions to
our problems. The Minister would advance an agenda for peace
by supporting and establishing activities that promote a culture
of peace and non-violence in Northern Ireland and the world.
They could also try to bring the lessons of the Northern Ireland
conflict and peace process to conflicts in other parts of
the world. Northern Ireland could be an example to the world
and become a reference point for other governments working
to create a culture of nonviolence. The Minister would be
a structural embodiment of a culture of peace.
We need a minister in our assembly to do the work of peace,
not just pay it lip service. There are proven peace building
methodologies developed by both governments and civil society
organizations for the prevention, mitigation and transformation
of conflict by addressing the root causes of violence.
Some argue that the peace agenda should be embedded across
the Assembly and the Executive and not 'ghettoised' in a separate
department. A Peace agenda should surely not be ghettoised,
but there needs to be a position responsible for ensuring
that the agenda is applied, is moving forward, and is taking
advantage of all the best research and international thinking
on peace and nonviolence.
For more information on the campaign, upcoming events and
how to get involved, contact the Peace People at:
info@peacepeople.com, 02890 663465.
Links:
http://www.ministryforpeace.org/
http://www.departmentofpeace.ca/
http://www.thepeacealliance.org/
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