QUNO’s Work
on the Prevention of Violent Conflict
"Whether in times of war or times of peace the Quaker is under…obligation
to assist and to forward movements and forces which make for peace
in the world…”
-Rufus Jones
Since the Quaker UN Offices were established in the early days of
the UN, issues concerning the maintenance of peace and security have
been at the forefront of our work. Although the particular initiatives
have changed over the decades, QUNO continues the struggle to promote
the peaceful prevention and resolution of armed conflict. QUNO's
work on peacebuilding and disarmament is grounded in the historic
Peace Testimony .
As the dialogue around conflict prevention and alternatives to military
intervention gains momentum in the UN system, there is a need to
bring together motivated actors around a common course of understanding
and action. As part of its mission to work with the UN community
on issues of concern to Friends, and to provide a reciprocal pathway
for information and interpretation of issues, policies, and actions,
the Quaker UN Office in New York is undertaking enhanced program
work on the prevention of armed conflict and promotion of peaceful
alternatives to managing international crises.
|
 |
| During a Seminar on Civil Society-UN Interaction for the Prevention
of Armed Conflict, which QUNO helped organize, Richard Konteh (ECOWAS)
and Emmanuel Bombande (WANEP) discuss early warning in West Africa |
 |
Groups working on Prevention of Violent Conflict Issues can join the
Global Partnership network by
contacting the regional coordinator in their area.
QUNO is a member of the Global Partnership.
|
OBJECTIVE:
QUNO's program on Prevention of Armed Conflict seeks to move the
international community toward a "culture of prevention" by
helping increasing the UN's commitment and capacity to:
- Implement preventive initiatives;
- Respond early, effectively, and nonviolently to human rights and
humanitarian crises, inter- and intrastate violence, and repressive
regimes; and,
- Unearth and undo the structural roots of violent conflict.
METHOD:
QUNO's efforts to help the UN community realize the potential of
conflict prevention will include, but not be limited to:
- Helping grow relationships among relevant actors and decision-makers;
- Facilitating discussion and exploration of issues related to conflict,
its prevention, resolution, and transformation, particularly around
the intersections of human security;
- Strengthening communication and conflict management processes within
the UN system itself; and,
- Supporting the unheard voices of communities most affected by violent
conflict.
As our work moves forward, we welcome input and collaboration
from our colleagues in the UN system, from Friends and Friends’ organizations,
and from our partners in the NGO community.
|
Email this page