Fit for the Future: Building Better Together

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“United Nations peacekeepers are the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world. For 75 years, they have supported people and communities rocked by conflict and upheaval across the globe.”- António Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations. Will there ever be lasting peace? For centuries, this has been the million dollar question. Many wars have been fought over the years in the name of peace but peace continues to elude humanity. It is impossible to address the issue of peace without mentioning the ongoing two wars for which there are international implications. In the first instance, the war between Russia and Ukraine appears to have no end in sight. This war began on 24 February 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine. In the second instance the attack by Hamas on Israel in October 7 of 2023 has evolved also into a war of immense proportions. Israel has decimated Gaza as a result. The world continues to be on edge given also there is no end in sight. The Israeli Prime Minister is adamant that Hamas must be driven out of Gaza, He has also insisted that all Israeli hostages must be returned before any long term ceasefire. The Israel Hamas war has the potential to morph into a regional conflict. This was evident when Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday, April 13th in its first direct attack on Israeli territory. In a retaliatory move, Israel attacked Iran on April 19 with missile strikes on Iranian military sites, including one near Isfahan. There is no need to look to faraway lands for conflicts. In the Caribbean region, Haiti is on the brink of anarchy as gangs have taken over significant parts of the country. Almost half of Haiti's people are struggling to feed themselves as gang violence spreads across the country, with several areas close to famine. Regrettably, more than 2,500 people have been killed or injured in gang violence in Haiti since the year began. Tens of thousands of people have fled the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, to escape a surge in gang violence over the past weeks. The situation in Haiti is impacting other Caribbean islands, namely Jamaica as Haitians flee their country in search of peach and stability. Every year on 29 May, the United Nations (UN) commemorates the International Day of Peacekeepers to pay tribute to the women and men who serve and have served as civilian, military, or police in UN peacekeeping operations. According to the UN, since 1948, more than two million uniformed and civilian personnel have helped countries to transition from war to peace. Today, more than 70,000 peacekeepers serve in 11 missions deployed in hotspots around the world. Observed under the theme “Fit for the future, building better together,” this year’s International Day looks at the invaluable contributions military, police and civilian peacekeepers have made over the last seven decades. It encapsulates the spirit of progress and collective action towards creating a more equal, just and sustainable world. Over the years, peacekeeping has evolved to adapt to the changing political landscape and nature of conflicts which have become more complex and interconnected. With support from UN member countries, it continues to advance the path set forth in the UN Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace which calls for a more robust, holistic and collective response to the security threats of today and tomorrow. Meaning of Peace. Peace is a rather complex issue to define. At the basic, peace is the absence of war. Peace means much more. Peace is dignity and respect for each other. Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, we know that peace cannot be decreed solely through treaties – it must be nurtured through the dignity, rights and capacities of every man and woman.” Mr. Ban said that peace means access to education, health and essential services – especially for girls and women; giving every young woman and man the chance to live as they choose; and developing sustainably and protecting the planet’s biodiversity. Mr. Ban concluded that more than ever, it means living with others on the basis of tolerance, respect and mutual understanding. Despite the challenges, peacekeepers persevere alongside many partners, in the collective pursuit of peace. The International Day pays tribute to the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers and the resilience of the communities that they serve. It honours the more than 4,000 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving for peace. United Nations. The United Nations was created in 1945, following the devastation of the Second World War, with one central mission: the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN accomplishes this by working to prevent conflict, helping parties in conflict make peace, deploying peacekeepers, and creating the conditions to allow peace to hold and flourish. These activities often overlap and should reinforce one another, to be effective. UN peacekeepers are often referred to as the "blue helmets" because of the bright blue helmets that they are required to wear. They provide security and support countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace. Peace Building. Peace building refers to efforts to assist countries and regions that have been torn apart by war to make the transition from war to peace. Once fighting has ended, countries often require assistance rebuilding state institutions responsible for maintaining law and order (for example, training a new police force), health, education and other services disrupted by war. It may also include activities such as disarming, demobilizing and reintegrating soldiers, supervising elections and reintegrating refugees. At the heart of peace building is an attempt to build a new state that will have the capacity to manage disputes peacefully, protect its civilians and ensure respect for human rights. The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security. Importantly, UN peacekeeping helps countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace. We have unique strengths, including legitimacy, burden sharing, and an ability to deploy troops and police from around the world, integrating them with civilian peacekeepers to address a range of mandates set by the UN Security Council and General Assembly. Governments should also examine the possibility of introducing peace building as part of the national curricula in order to introduce youngsters to the possibilities of serving with the United Nations as peace keepers. Biblical Perspective. When we look around us there are wars and rumours of wars across the globe. From a Biblical view, perfect peace will not be possible until Jesus returns to restore and redeem the earth. However, in the interim, the Bible commands us to seek peace (Romans 14:19) “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” The Bible also speaks about how blessed peacemakers are. (Matthew 5:9). “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Interestingly, peace is among the 9 Fruits of the Spirit mentioned in the Bible. In Galatians 5: 22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Perhaps the most comforting Scripture verse regarding peace is from St. John 14:27, “peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. This speaks to our hope as Christians. Peace Begins With Me. The commemoration of this significant day calls on each of us to join the global movement for peace. Alone, we can never succeed. However, together, we can be a strong force for change. We all have a part to play regarding the promotion of peace in our communities. On this the International Day of UN Peacekeeping let us redouble our efforts as we all work towards the promotion of a culture of peace. Governments must work collectively to bring an end to all existing wars and conflict and in so doing recommit themselves to achieving peace globally. In the words of Kofi Annan, on this International Day of Peace let us all honour all those who have suffered from violence. Let us hold in our hearts the ideal of peace. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #PeaceBeginsWithMe #InternationalDayofUNPeacekeeping

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