This week, a proposed UN resolution condemns violence by Myanmar’s military, and calls for peace efforts. The World Health Organization (WHO) announces humanitarian pauses for polio vaccines in Gaza. Sudan’s army chief rejects peace talks as famine rages on.
Proposed UN resolution condemns Myanmar military’s violence, calls for peace efforts
A proposed UN resolution on Myanmar, circulated by Britain, condemns the military regime’s attacks on civilians and calls for renewed peace efforts. The draft resolution expresses alarm over escalating violence and urges a halt to illicit arms transfers. It discusses the dire humanitarian crisis, including food insecurity and restricted aid access, and warns of worsening discrimination, ethnically motivated violence, sexual violence, violations of humanitarian law, and human rights abuses. The proposed resolution emphasizes the need for safe and unhindered humanitarian access and calls for an end to violence with a renewed dialogue facilitated by ASEAN and UN envoys.
The proposed resolution also emphasizes the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its peace plan, which Myanmar’s generals have rejected. It demands full implementation of a previous resolution from December 2022, which included calls for the release of detained prisoners, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and the restoration of democratic institutions. The upcoming negotiations on the draft are expected to be challenging due to the influence of Russia and China, permanent members of the Security Council who have previously abstained or opposed similar resolutions.
WHO announces humanitarian pauses for polio vaccines in Gaza
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Israel has tentatively agreed to implement “humanitarian pauses” in fighting in Gaza to facilitate polio vaccinations for children. This agreement follows an outbreak of type 2 polio, with at least one baby recently paralyzed by the virus, the first case in Gaza in 25 years. The vaccination campaign, which aims to immunize 640,000 children under 10, is set to start this weekend with phased pauses in different Gaza regions—central, southern, and northern—lasting three days each, and for eight or nine hours a day, said Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the Palestinian territories.
The plan is for aid agencies to reach at least 90% of the targeted children receive the vaccine. However, logistical challenges due to ongoing conflict and evacuation orders are likely to complicate the effort, as people will be crowded into even tighter spaces.
Sudan’s army chief rejects peace talks as famine rages on
Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has rejected participation in peace talks with rival paramilitaries in Switzerland, declaring his will to “fight for 100 years.” His refusal came as the U.S.-led talks, which began on August 14, concluded without achieving a cease-fire but did make some progress in facilitating aid access into Sudan. The discussions, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland and supported by the African Union, Egypt, the UAE, and the UN, highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis in Sudan, exacerbated by a brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This conflict has led to severe famine, with over half of Sudan’s population facing acute hunger and more than 25 million people in urgent need of aid.
Despite the SAF allowing some UN aid into the country, there are concerns that these actions are insufficient. The UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reports famine conditions in Darfur, and the situation remains one of the worst global humanitarian crises.
The Sri Lankan government has scheduled the country’s presidential election for September 21, 2024. At this critical juncture, debate surrounds the success of the post-war peacebuilding efforts over the past 15 years since the end of the civil war in 2009. Some challenges still remain in areas including: the rightful allocation of lands for original landowners; the distribution of new lands, continuing the reparation process; and operations of the Office of Missing Persons. A sustainable plan for the reintegration process is being addressed, as well as issues such as the voluntary repatriation of Tamil refugees and housing reconstruction.
Following the end of the civil war, Sri Lanka’s engagement in post-war peacebuilding has been a persistent question. The catastrophe of the war significantly harmed the Tamil population in the Northern Province, but also other communities including Tamil elsewhere in the country, the Sinhalese, and Muslims in the Eastern Province. All communities have not fully recovered.
This brief analysis examines the role of external actors in Sri Lanka’s post-war peacebuilding, looking at three main stakeholders in particular: the United Nations, the donor community, and India, which has played a vital role in both peacebuilding and humanitarian assistance.
The United Nations Human Rights Council Involvement
The United Nations’ role in Sri Lanka’s post-war recovery is in several areas including investigation and fact-finding, advisory on recovery, assistance, aid and development, and direct involvement of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on discussing critical issues and passing of resolutions. The UNHRC has made several resolutions against the Government of Sri Lanka (hereinafter used as GoSL) regarding the issues of reconciliation and transitional justice.
At the conclusion of the civil war, the United Nations called for a fast recovery and voiced its willingness to assist Sri Lanka with the joint statement made by the UN Secretary-General and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, when UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Sri Lanka on 23 May 2009. Since the war ended, the United Nations has launched a number of programs on war reconstruction and relief, involving technical assistance and consultative programs.
On the other hand, the UNHRC has been the tool for some hard bargaining attempts. UN expert panels have investigated Sri Lanka’s human rights situation, criticizing GoSL’s poor performance in human rights protection and GoSL’s unwillingness to meet international standards on transitional justice. The UNHRC resolutions were directed by recommendations of the Darushman Report (2011) and other UN reports investigating critical issues such as war crimes, the establishing of mechanisms on missing persons, and national level attempts on reconciliation and reparation processes. Among eight UNHRC resolutions (2009-2022), resolution 30/1, adopted without a vote and co-sponsored by the GoSL in 2015, was crucial in establishing a number of institutes for accountable measures in transitional justice and reconciliation. The GoSL has unequivocally rejected the UNHRC drafted resolution from October 2022 and has retracted its co-sponsorship of resolution 30/1. This decision came at a time when the nation was grappling with a severe economic crisis, thereby prioritizing economic recovery and also showingthe government’s lack of political commitment to ongoing peacebuilding activities.
Sri Lanka and the donor community
Sri Lanka’s donor community includes some of the largest international actors in aid and humanitarian assistance for post-war peacebuilding. The donor community is linked at both the state and community levels. It supports major projects related to livelihood development, financial and technical assistance including health, education, housing, and rural development, and the capacity building and training.
Sri Lanka’s Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have a direct link to the international donor community. The CSOs in Sri Lanka consist of a mix of groups i.e., Colombo-centered elite communities that hold prolonged linkages to external donor communities, and a linkage to state-level politics. On the other hand, at the grassroots level, civil society activism is involved in mobilization of human forces to community peace engagements. There is much criticism held of Sri Lanka’s civil society activism, and often its performance depends on state-level acceptance and special distribution.
India’s involvement to Sri Lanka’s post-war peacebuilding
India has become Sri Lanka’s top bilateral humanitarian and peacebuilding counterpart with its high involvement in housing reconstruction projects in the Northern and Central provinces, and humanitarian assistance to war-affected Tamil communities. It shows that India’s diplomatic cooperative strategy since the civil war’s end has been a soft approach, while India wins its domestic political support for its presence in Sri Lanka. In 2021, India chose to abstain from voting on a UNHRC resolution leaving a space for the Sri Lankan government’s domestic implementations. India has expressed that its interest is more in providing a conducive environment for political reforms, including the successful implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
This brief analysis summarizes some of the vital post-war peacebuilding interests of external actors, and external entities’ compelling role in the acceleration of post-war peacebuilding in Sri Lanka. It is also noted that some exercises have exerted pressure, thereby contributing to a complex peacebuilding dilemma in the country. The election of a new government in September presents an opportunity to confront certain ground realities of peacebuilding. The author suggests implementing a post-war peacebuilding mechanism as a national strategy, which would outline current requirements, success, and failures of past actions, thus to ensure the involvement of external actors in future engagements is impactful.
Somalia often features in stories about conflict and disasters. It, however, also has a very rich history in reconciliation and agreement-making. One of the very positive examples of such processes is the Galkayo Agreement of 2017 which, although under strain, still holds today.
Galkayo is a border town with a frontline running through it that represents a border at many levels; between Puntland and Galmudug, two of the Federal Member States of Somalia, as well as between two major clan families and their respective sub-clans. The town was effectively divided in two in 1991, at the height of the civil war following the collapse of the state. The Mudug Accord was agreed upon between two of the major warring factions and served as a longstanding ceasefire agreement. However, while it did stop serious conflict between populations to the north and south of this dividing line, it also separated them and was not part of any social reconciliation over subsequent years.
After major outbreaks of conflict in 2015 and 2016, a network of peace activists came together and contributed to the mitigation of conflict and ultimately to the Galkayo Agreement that was signed by different political leaders, traditional leaders, and representatives of civil society. This was a significant time in Somalia’s recent political history as an internationally supported government was formally recognized in 2013 and there was considerable momentum to form the Federal Member States that would be part of this new governmental arrangement. Fighting between two of these states, therefore, would be a significant setback to this positive trajectory.
The Agreement that was made has since enabled social relations to be rebuilt across the historical dividing line in the town, and has led to increasing investment in the town, particularly in the south, which had been more unstable since 1991.
Over the last year, sadly, insecurity has worsened again, particularly through a series of revenge killings which have escalated. Peace activists have themselves become targets as some of them have developed public profiles as they attempt to raise attention to the difficulties faced in the town, motivated to bring attention of the political elite to these worsening developments. The profile of these peace activists brings them to the attention of those carrying out revenge killings.
Traditional elders as well as women and youth groups have played an important part previously, as part of the peace activist network. However, elders have pointed out that the role of new technologies such as WhatsApp has complicated their ability to intervene as they are less able to influence groups that share information and mobilize resources through the platform.
Galkayo is known to have an active youth group, but one of the members who spoke out against the revenge killings was himself targeted and had to leave the town for some time. He has since returned.
While the revenge killings have involved different local clans, the two major clans across the border have not been brought into these localized conflicts, and the Agreement in general is therefore holding even as many killings have also been taking place.
The Galkayo Agreement is a shining light within a highly complex and volatile Somali conflict. It addresses an important part of Somalia and deserves far more attention. It represents a positive example of an agreement-making process which has led to significant social reconciliation. Furthermore, it has improved basic law and order by making sure that isolated cases of killings do not escalate into larger conflicts. These benefits help to protect the Agreement and also draw attention to the need to continue to invest in reconciliation and enforce law and order.
Editor’s Note: As the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians rages on, Peace News has been working to highlight stories of people building peace in the territory and wider region. One way of building peace is finding common ground between people of different faiths and nationalities. The Abraham Path Initiative works to do this by bringing people together to follow the steps of the biblical figure Abraham/Ibrahim. Below is an account by Dr. Joshua N. Weiss, who helped to turn the idea of the Path into a reality.
In 2003, a group of conflict resolution practitioners and scholars met to think about ways to shrink the gap of understanding between peoples in the West and the Middle East. After some creative thinking, this group landed on trying to use the revered figure of Abraham/Ibrahim and his family as a bridge between these worlds. But how? The idea of dusting off his mythical footprints as a cultural route and walking “the Path” arose. That was it!
Over the course of the next 20 years, I worked with a team of people around the globe, including partners stretching along the Path from Northern Iraq all the way to Egypt. The result? Over 1,200 miles of Path, 150 homestay families where people sleep and share meals between guests and hosts, and over 80,0000 walkers from many different places around the world, including South America, Europe, and the United States. The path strives to change people through their hearts and minds.
People on the Abraham Path sharing a meal, photo via Joshua N. Weiss.
Let me give you a few examples from my own experience. The first occurred a number of years back when I was in the village of Awarta in Palestine/West Bank and speaking to a father who was one of the homestay hosts. I asked him why he got involved in the Path. He said initially that a lot of it had to do with the economic resources involved, but then he shared that he had seen other wonderful benefits. I asked him what the benefits were. He mentioned that a group of Italian travelers had just left his home after staying overnight. As they walked off into the distance, his son, who was eight years old, turned to him and said “Dad, those people. They were not so different from us. I hope more people like them come to visit.” The man smiled and we parted ways.
This little story represents what the Path is all about and what happens when you walk, very vulnerably, into a small remote village in the region. There is a wonderful mix of curiosity, learning, and hospitality. These interactions – one at a time – change people, both guest and host, for the better. It is difficult, as people hear about events or listen to the news, to vilify the other when they know them…even just a bit. That is the goal of the Path. To walk, to listen, to share stories and meals, and to respect the other.
The second example highlights an additional dimension of the Path and its impact. When I first met our eventual partner and homestay hosts Halil and Pero, they were living in their small village of Yuvacali – on the outskirts of the city of Sanliurfa, Turkey. When I explained what that Path was about and that it stretched all the way from where they lived to Hebron/Al Halil, they were touched and excited to be part of something much bigger — from Abraham/Ibrahim’s birthplace (their religious narrative) ending at his tomb. It meant so much to them, as Muslims, to be part of a project that honored Abraham/Ibrahim and to connect him with people from around the world.
The Harran ruins in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Photo via Joshua N. Weiss.
Working on the Path for ten years and serving on the board for another ten years has taught me many lessons. First, there is great power and connection in walking. As a field, we need to get more people walking and talking together because magical things happen. Bonds are built, commonalities are found, and differences are discussed in a healthy manner. Second, respect lies at the heart of any interaction. As we know, when respect is missing, we get destructive conflict (see Israel/Palestine and Russia/Ukraine), but when it is fostered, it builds bridges and heals wounds. And the great thing about respect is that it really costs you nothing except deference to the other and a desire to honor them and their way of life. Third, a Path like this teaches you adaptability and flexibility – skills we all need to not only deal with our adventures, but also with the many unexpected things we encounter along the way and in the conflicts we face. Finally, mistakes are part of any endeavor. We made many of them along the way, but the Path persisted in its development, nonetheless. That taught us the power of a good idea and a persistence to make it happen.
The Abraham Path is a creative and innovative project, but it won’t change things on a grand scale on its own. However, as one Turkish government official stated to me, “I like this project. It is an important drop in the bucket of mutual understanding. We need more and more of these if we are to succeed and to see a different future.” As the poet Rumi encouraged us all, “Start a huge, foolish project, like Noah…it makes absolutely no difference what people think of you.”
What does it mean to build peace from the heart of the Colombian Amazon? In a region scarred by decades of armed conflict, a grassroots movement led by women is redefining what peace means for communities through socio-ecological actions. The organisation called Asociación de Mujeres Productoras de Esencias de Paz – ASMUPROPAZ (Association of Women Producers of Peace Essences), based in the municipality of La Montañita in Caquetá, exemplifies an innovative approach to the reintegration of ex-combatants from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) linked to environmental sustainability. This process of inclusion and social change with an eco-dimension is a powerful example of how local initiatives with a gendered approach can contribute to both community healing and environmental preservation.
The Colombian government, with the support of international organisations, has implemented various Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) programmes to assist ex-combatants in their transition to civilian life. These programmes provide former fighters with education, vocational training, and psychological support, alongside efforts to foster social cohesion within local communities. However, beyond these state-led efforts, grassroots initiatives like ASMUPROPAZ have emerged, offering more holistic and contextually grounded solutions.
Grassroots Initiatives as Catalysts for Change and Eco-Peacebuilding
Founded in 2017 by former FARC combatants, ASMUPROPAZ stands out not only for its commitment to the reintegration of ex-combatants but also for its focus on environmental conservation. This dual mission is deeply rooted in the understanding that social and ecological healing are interconnected, a concept encapsulated in the term Eco-Peace Nexus.
ASMUPROPAZ began as a small group of women from the Hector Ramirez Territorial Training and Reincorporation Space (ETCR), one of the camps established across Colombia for ex-combatants. Over time, it has grown into a vibrant community organisation with more than 40 members, including a few men. Their work is varied but centres on the idea that sustainable livelihoods and environmental stewardship are essential for both personal and communal transformation.
“Our journey from combatants to conservationists is a testament to the power of transformation”, recalled Sandra Rojas, one of the founder members of ASMUPROPAZ. “By focusing on sustainable practices, we’re not only rebuilding our lives but also protecting the environment we once fought in. At the end of the day, it is about finding that balance between personal growth and ecological stewardship”.
At the core of ASMUPROPAZ’s efforts is an education and training programme that equips ex-combatants with the skills needed for sustainable development. This includes literacy programmes, vocational courses, and technical training focused on agriculture and environmental management. By providing these opportunities, ASMUPROPAZ empowers its members to build sustainable livelihoods that also contribute to the conservation of the Amazon rainforest.
The organisation’s projects include sustainable farming, reforestation efforts, and the production of natural and plant-based products. These initiatives not only offer economic independence to former fighters but also address the broader environmental challenges facing the region. By engaging in ecological restoration and sustainable agricultural practices, ASMUPROPAZ members are actively rebuilding the ecosystems that were often damaged during the conflict.
Socio-Ecological Development and Community Engagement
ASMUPROPAZ also plays a crucial role in fostering social cohesion within the local community. Through its socio-ecological projects, the organisation encourages gender-based participation and collaboration between ex-combatants and local residents of all ages, strengthening networks of social solidarity by breaking down barriers and building trust. By involving the community in environmental initiatives, such as the protection of natural reserves and clean water sources, ASMUPROPAZ facilitates a shared sense of purpose and mutual respect.
“Our main aim”, said Marta García, another core member of ASMUPROPAZ “is to create a community where everyone, whether ex-combatant or local resident, feels connected through a common goal. By working together on environmental projects, we’re building bridges that foster trust and cooperation”.
The organisation’s cultural initiatives further enhance this integration. ASMUPROPAZ organises events that blend local traditions with environmental awareness, promoting unity and understanding among diverse groups. These activities not only celebrate the region’s cultural heritage but also highlight the importance of environmental stewardship in the post-conflict recovery process.
“We believe that by bringing people together to protect our natural resources, we’re not just conserving the environment but also healing the social fabric of our community”, Marta García explained. “These projects give us all a shared purpose, helping to erase the divisions left by years of conflict”, Marta remarked.
The Eco-Peace Nexus: A Framework for Sustainable Peace
The concept of the Eco-Peace Nexus refers to the interconnected relationship between environmental protection, community development, quality of life, ex-combatant reintegration, and peace promotion. This framework embodied within ASMUPROPAZ recognises that environmental sustainability can be a powerful tool for fostering long-term peace, while also acknowledging that peacebuilding efforts must consider the socio-ecological contexts in which they are embedded.
Carolina Aldana, 17, and one of the youngest members of ASMUPROPAZ, expressed that “our work shows how caring for the environment can bring people together and create lasting peace. By protecting the land, we all depend on, we’re also building a future where former combatants and the community can thrive side by side”.
“For us, this project isn’t just an idea; it’s something we live every day” said Carolina. “By focusing on both the environment and our community, we’re creating a stronger foundation for peace, where everyone has a role in protecting and rebuilding our home”, Carolina stated.
The Eco-Peace Nexus suggests that addressing environmental challenges—such as deforestation, water scarcity, and land degradation—can prevent conflicts and support the reintegration of ex-combatants. In the case of ASMUPROPAZ, this approach has proven effective in creating a sustainable and inclusive path towards peace.
Peace is Our Nature
The experience of ASMUPROPAZ offers valuable lessons for peacebuilding in other conflict-affected regions. By integrating environmental sustainability into the reintegration process, gender-sensitive grassroots initiatives can address the root causes of conflict, promote social cohesion, and contribute to the long-term stability of communities.
In a world where the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly linked to social unrest and conflict, the Eco-Peace Nexus provides a compelling model for holistic peacebuilding. ASMUPROPAZ’s journey shows that peace is not just the absence of violence but the presence of sustainable livelihoods, healthy ecosystems, and empowered communities.
As Colombia continues to navigate the complexities of post-conflict recovery, this women-led social organisation stands as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the transformative power of grassroots action in healing both people and the planet.
This article is a summary of a research article titled “Exploring the Eco-Peace Nexus with ASMUPROPAZ: between socio-ecological practices and the reintegration process of ex-combatants in the Colombian Amazon,” published in June 2024.
