Jordan Times
Thursday, April 8, 1999
AMMAN (J.T.) — As the world emerges from the bloodiest and most war-ridden century in history, an international movement led by grassroots activists, non-governmental organizations and leading figures in the struggle for peace and justice has emerged.
Seeking to implement the founding purpose of the United Nations to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,” a coalition called the Hague Appeal for Peace has organized the week-long gathering to develop and promote a worldwide culture of peace and justice. Bringing together activists representing the human rights, environmental, women's and peace movements, as well as governments, the Hague Appeal will provide a forum for concrete action on a number of initiatives including the establishment of an international criminal court and implementation of the Ottawa Landmines Treaty.
World leaders including Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and the First Lady of South Africa, Graça Machel, will join Nobel Peace Prize recipients including landmines activist Jody Williams, and East Timor independence movement leader, José Ramos-Horta and hundreds of organisations and activists in the Hague on May 15th.
The appeal precedes inter-governmental meetings and events being held to commemorate the First Hague Peace Conference, which drew delegates from 26 governments to the Hague one hundred years ago. That gathering and a subsequent conference in 1907 made historic advances in the development of international law but, as history records, failed to limit war and the development of increasingly dangerous weapons. However, despite the cruel and violent legacy of the 20th century, leaders of this new international peace movement point to positive signs of humanity's ability to change.
The Hague Appeal has developed an agenda based on four basic themes: Prevention, Resolution and Transformation of Violent Conflict; Disarmament and Human Security; International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law and Institutions and Root Causes of War/Culture of Peace.
Underpinning this effort is a commitment to the central role of civil society. According to the appeal's secretary general, William Pace, the institutions of civil society already play a critical role in times of disaster and war, and the recent landmines treaty would not have been possible without work of the activist community. President of the Hague Appeal Cora Weiss says that the task of working towards the abolition of war cannot be entrusted to government alone: “We need only to consider the genocide in Cambodia, Rwanda, and Bosnia and the spread of weapons of mass destruction to recognize that governments alone cannot accomplish our goals.”
However, she continues “we are forging a new approach in which citizen advocates, progressive governments and official agencies will work together for common goals. We will embrace the moral imagination and courage necessary to create a culture of peace for the 21st century and learn the steps needed to abolish war.”
Journalists are welcome to attend all scheduled events. Copies of the draft agenda are available from the offices of the Hague Appeal in New York and the Hague or from the website: http://www.haguepeace.org
The Hague Appeal for Peace convenes May 11-15.