
We are celebrating the International Day of Peace with the theme "Cultivating the Culture of Peace." This raises two important questions: What do we mean by this theme And what are these cultures Let me explain both briefly. First, according to the Oxford Dictionary, "cultivate" means to nurture or foster something. "Culture" refers to the arts, customs, and habits of a particular society or nation. So, the theme is about using practices and habits that promote peace.
Now, the second question is fascinating to me. As a student of political science and international relations, I learn to observe political events, identify their causes and effects, and understand how they were resolved. This knowledge helps us analyze current situations and predict future outcomes, making us familiar with the culture of peace. These are the cultures we noticed in various contexts and has paramount effect in peacebuilding:
Dialogue: Genuine dialogue—where no party seeks to dominate the other—can effectively address current and future problems. The parties that took in dialogue should feel comfortable with each topics and agreements to the continuity and bindingness of each decisions.
Rule of Law: Ensuring that no one is above law is a basis for the general environment where accountability and transparency are respected. It will avoid culture of impunity This helps maintain discipline in society.
Social Justice: Working towards fair distribution of resources and opportunities can reduce inequalities that lead to conflict. This creates a sense of belonging among different groups in society.
Spreading Culture of non-violent struggle:- according to studies non -violent struggles are effective methods of bringing changes with low human casualty, without destruction of institutions, and having responsible leaders in post-change situations. in the book called "why nations fail " the authors put that that governments are responsible in creating space for people to share their ideas with secured situation. The government that doesn't accept or show any tendency of hearing these cause make violent struggle inevitable. So governments should allow people to express their feeling in responsible manner.
Empowerment of Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities: Womens, youths, disabilities are parts of the community that mostly affected by the decision of others. Although their number is enormous, the are lifted as in significant. So including them will bring a system where all parts
populations are included and the share their thoughts on the issue that determine their life.
Cultural Understanding: Misunderstandings often lead to conflict. We should promote appreciation for diverse cultures and perspectives to foster mutual respect.
Respect for Human Rights: The recognition of human rights is one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. Their declaration marks the end of division and the beginning of an era where every people who live in every corner of our earth is entitled to inviolable rights. It is an international tool that recognizes the dignity of human being with giving sense of their belonging to wider world community. We should respect the in our every act to create sustainable peace.
These are some cultures I believe are important for peacebuilding. Peace practitioners, experts, leaders of civil society organizations, and anyone interested in peace can add their own insights. Let’s celebrate this day by remembering these cultures and thinking about how we can bring them to our communities.
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