An Open Letter To Commonwealth Peoples Forum: The Hikkaduwa Declaration On Elimination Of War
Prof Saroj Jayasinghe
Activities related to CHOGM 2013 have begun in earnest. The focus of the Commonwealth Peoples Forum (CPF-2103) at Hikkaduwa (10 to 13th Nov) is on formulating proposals on how the Commonwealth could contribute to the United Nation’s Global Development Goals of 2015 (i.e. successor to the Millennium Development Goals of the UN that is scheduled to ‘expire’ in 2015). The CPF-2013 offers a unique opportunity for global civil society and citizens of Sri Lanka, to submit proposals to influence this process and ultimately usher a better globe. In pursuance of the latter, the Hikkaduwa Declaration is proposed for discussion and acceptance at the CPF-2013.
As a gathering of civil society groups from many nations that have been devastated and maimed from wars, invasions, colonisation, and cross border conflicts, the Hikkaduwa Declaration calls the UN to include a Global Development Goal that pledges to eliminate all forms of war from the globe by 2030.
Preamble:
Since the origin of human history, wars have cost billions of human lives. Wars have decimated millions within minutes (e.g. due to dropping of nuclear bombs), destroyed whole civilisations and societies, created millions of displaced populations and crippled billions mentally and physically for a life-time. Furthermore, they destroy environments and whole ecologies forever. In short, wars have the ability to destroy ALL development agendas overnight. As a group of peoples who have experienced numerous invasions, colonization, cross-border wars and conflicts, we in the Commonwealth are placed in a unique position to make stand against any future repetition of such evil acts by fellow nations.
The United Nation’s Global Development Goals of 2015 (which is a continuation of the path taken by its Millennium Development Goals) offers a historic opportunity for individuals, civil society groups, nation-states and humanity to demand and pledge towards a globe free from wars and continue its march towards global peace. This is a prerequisite for any form of development, whether it is human development, social development or economic prosperity.
The on-going discussions on the UN’s post-2015 Global Development Goals focus on conflicts and violence within countries, and gives inadequate attention to wars between countries and global peace. Some of the reports and documents of the Commonwealth and the UN, relevant to these discussions avoid using terms such as ‘war’, ‘invasions’ and ‘cross border conflicts’. Instead the focus of these discussions is on conflicts and violence within nations.
