Peace and Violence - The Council of Europe

direct violence, e.g. physical or behavioural violence such as war, bullying, domestic violence, exclusion or torture; structural violence, e.g. poverty and ... SkiptoContent Home YouthPortal TableofContents Introductiontothe2012editionofCompass Acknowledgements Impressum Chapter1 Introducinghumanrightseducation ApproachestohumanrightseducationinCompass UsingCompassforhumanrightseducation Chapter2 Synoptictableofactivities HumanRightsCalendar Starters ActivitiesforReviewing Chapter3 Aboutthischapter HREandactivism Simpleactionsforhumanrights Devisingaplanofaction Chapter4 Introduction Whatarehumanrights? Theevolutionofhumanrights Legalprotectionofhumanrights HumanRightsActivismandtheRoleofNGOs QuestionsandanswersaboutHumanRights Puzzlers Chapter5 Children CitizenshipandParticipation CultureandSport Democracy DisabilityandDisablism DiscriminationandIntolerance Education Environment Gender Globalisation Health Media Migration PeaceandViolence Poverty ReligionandBelief Remembrance WarandTerrorism Work Appendices Statusofratificationofmajorinternationalhumanrightsinstruments UnitedNations CouncilofEurope GLOSSARY Listofactivities ActivitiesfromAtoE ActivitiesfromFtoP ActivitiesfromRtoW Starters ActivitiesforReviewing SynopticTableofActivities HumanRightsThemes Children CitizenshipandParticipation CultureandSport Democracy DisabilityandDisablism DiscriminationandIntolerance Education Environment Gender Globalisation Health Media Migration Peaceandviolence Poverty ReligionandBelief Remembrance WarandTerrorism Work Otherlanguages TranslatingCompass Resources Compasito EDC/HRECharter EducationPackAllDifferentAllEqual GenderMatters NoHateSpeechMovement PestalozziProgramme YouthresourcesforHRE E-learningplatform Contact Youarehere: Democracy Compass HumanRightsThemes/Peaceandviolence/ PeaceandViolence Violence:conceptsandexamples Whatisviolence? Violenceisacomplexconcept.Violenceisoftenunderstoodastheuseorthreatofforcethatcanresultininjury,harm,deprivationorevendeath.Itmaybephysical,verbalorpsychological.TheWorldHealthOrganisation(WHO)definesviolenceas"intentionaluseofphysicalforceorpower,threatenedoractual,againstoneself,anotherperson,oragainstagrouporcommunity,thateitherresultsinorhasahighlikelihoodofresultingininjury,death,psychologicalharm,maldevelopmentordeprivation".1Thisdefinitionemphasisesintentionality,andbroadenstheconcepttoincludeactsresultingfrompowerrelationships. 8millionlightweaponsareproducedeachyear. 2bulletsareproducedeachyearforeverypersonontheplanet. 2outof3peoplekilledbyarmedviolencedieincountries"atpeace". 10peopleareinjuredforeverypersonkilledbyarmedviolence. Estimatesfromwww.controlarms.org Anexpandedunderstandingofviolenceincludesnotonlydirect"behavioural"violence,butalsostructuralviolence,whichisoftenunconscious.Structuralviolenceresultsfromunjustandinequitablesocialandeconomicstructuresandmanifestingitselfinforexample,povertyanddeprivationofallkinds. Formsofviolencecanbecategorisedinmanyways.Onesuchclassificationincludes: directviolence,e.g.physicalorbehaviouralviolencesuchaswar,bullying,domesticviolence,exclusionortorture structuralviolence,e.g.povertyanddeprivationofbasicresourcesandaccesstorights;oppressivesystemsthatenslave,intimidate,andabusedissentersaswellasthepoor,powerlessandmarginalised culturalviolence,e.g.thedevaluinganddestructionofparticularhumanidentitiesandwaysoflife,theviolenceofsexism,ethnocentrism,racismandcolonialideologies,andotherformsofmoralexclusionthatrationaliseaggression,domination,inequity,andoppression. Question:Aredirect,structuraland/orculturalviolencepresentinyourcommunity?How? Today'shumanrightsviolationsarethecausesoftomorrow'sconflicts. MaryRobinson Violenceintheworld Eachyear,morethan1.6millionpeopleworldwidelosetheirlivestoviolence.Foreverypersonwhodiesasaresultofviolence,manymoreareinjuredandsufferfromarangeofphysical,sexual,reproductiveandmentalhealthproblems.Violenceplacesamassiveburdenonnationaleconomiesinhealthcare,lawenforcementandlostproductivity. WorldHealthOrganisation2 Structuralandculturalformsofviolenceareoftendeeplyimpregnatedinsocietiestothepointofbeingperceivedasinherent.Thistypeofviolencelastslonger,thuseventuallyhavingsimilarconsequencesasdirectviolence,or,insomecases,evenleadingtotheoppressedusingdirectviolenceasaresponse.Lowereducationopportunitiesindisadvantagedneighbourhoods,limitedaccesstoleisureforforeigners,harmfulworkingconditionsincertainfieldsofwork,andsoon,areactsofstructuralandculturalviolencewhichhaveadirectinfluenceonpeople'saccesstotheirrights.Yettheseformsofviolencearerarelyrecognisedasviolationsofhumanrights. Whatfollowsaresomeexamplesaboutdifferentformsofviolenceworldwide.Thesearenottheonlyones.MoreinformationabouttheeffectsofarmedconflictscanbefoundinWarandTerrorismandinvariousothersectionsofthismanual. Militaryspending,armstradeandviolence  Theproductionandtradeinarmsandweaponsisundoubtedlyoneofthegreatestthreatstopeace,notleastbecauseoftheeconomic,financialandsocialdimensionsofarmsproduction.Theproductionandexportofarmsisoftenencouragedoneconomicgroundswithlittlecon-siderationtotheimpactonpeaceandsecurity.Worldmilitaryspendingissteadilyincreasing;in2014theworldspentanestimated€1776billiononthemilitary.ThedatabaseoftheStockholmInternationalPeaceResearchInstitute3showsin2014theUSA(€610billion)asthebiggestmilitaryspender,followedbyChina(€216billion)andthenthreeEuropeancountries,Russia($84billion)theUnitedKingdom($60billion)andFrance(€62billion).Europeasawholespent$386billion. DatafromtheOverseasDevelopmentInstitute(www.odi.org)showsthatwecoulddeliverfreeprimaryandsecondaryeducationinallthepoorcountriesaroundtheworldfor$32billionperyear,thisislessthanasingleweek'sglobalmilitaryspending. Question:Howmuchdoesyourcountryofresidencespendonarmsproductionandpurchasesannually? TheOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD)estimatesthatatleast740,000women,men,youngpeopleandchildrenarekilledeachyearbyarmedviolence;mostofthoseaffectedliveinpoverty.Themajorityofarmedkillingsoccuroutsideofwars,althougharmedconflictscontinuetogenerateahighnumberofdeaths.Moreover,ahugenumberofpeopleareinjuredbyarmedviolenceandfacelong-termsufferingbecauseofit.AccordingtoAmnestyInternational,about60%ofhumanrightsviolationsdocumentedbytheorganisationhaveinvolvedtheuseofsmallarmsandlightweapons.4 ControllingArmsTrade ControlArmsisaglobalcivilsocietyalliancecampaigningforaninternationallegally-bindingtreatythatwillstopthetransferofarmsandammunition.Thecampaignemphasisesthatdomesticregulationshavefailedtoadapttoincreasingglobalisationofthearmstradesincedifferentpartsofweaponsareproducedindifferentplacesandtransferredtoothercountriestobeassembled.ControlArmsiscallingfora"bulletproof"ArmsTradeTreatythatwouldholdgovernmentsaccountableforillegalarmstransfers. www.controlarms.org Bullying Aformofinter-personalviolence,bullyingisoneoftheformsofviolencethataffectsyoungpeopleandisoftennotconsideredasaformofviolence.Bullyingreferstoaggressivebehaviourwhichisrepeatedandintendstohurtsomeone.Itcantaketheformofphysical,psychologicalorverbalaggression.Itcantakeplaceinanysituationwherehumanbeingsinteract,beitatschool,attheworkplaceoranyothersocialplace. Bullyingcanbedirect,confrontingapersonface-to-face,orindirectbyspreadingrumoursorharmingsomeoneovertheInternet,forexample.Althoughitisdifficulttohaveclearstatistics,researchshowsthatbullyingisanincreasingproblem.Victimsoftendonotdaretospeakout,anditisthereforeextremelydifficulttoidentifyandsupportvictimsofbullying. Iscorporalpunishmentlegitimate? Corporalpunishmentisthemostwidespreadformofviolenceagainstchildrenandisaviolationoftheirhumanrights.Inthepast,somearguedthatsmackingwasaharmlessformofpunishmentwhichenabledparentstoeducatetheirchildren,whereasothersconsidereditaviolentformofphysicalpunishment.TheCouncilofEuropecampaignRaiseYourHandAgainstSmackingprovokedstrongdebatesinMemberStates,andtookahumanrightsstandagainstthispractice. Gender-basedviolence Moreinformationaboutgenderandgender-basedviolence,canbefoundinthesectiononGender,inchapter5,andinthemanualGenderMatters,www.coe.int/compass Whilemale-dominatedsocietiesoftenjustifysmallarmspossessionthroughtheallegedneedtoprotectvulnerablewomen,womenactuallyfacegreaterdangerofviolencewhentheirfamiliesandcommunitiesarearmed. BarbaraFrey6 Gender-basedviolenceisoneofthemostfrequentformsofstructuralandculturalviolence.Itispresentineverysocietyanditsconsequencesaffectvirtuallyallhumanbeings.AccordingtotheUNFPA,gender-basedviolence"bothreflectsandreinforcesinequitiesbetweenmenandwomenandcompromisesthehealth,dignity,securityandautonomyofitsvictims.Itencompassesawiderangeofhumanrightsviolations,includingsexualabuseofchildren,rape,domesticviolence,sexualassaultandharassment,traffickingofwomenandgirlsandseveralharmfultraditionalpractices.Anyoneoftheseabusescanleavedeeppsychologicalscars,damagethehealthofwomenandgirlsingeneral,includingtheirreproductiveandsexualhealth,andinsomeinstances,resultsindeath"5. Gender-basedviolencedoesnothavetobephysical.Infact,youngpeoplesuffermuchverbalviolence,especiallytargetedatLGBT(young)peopleandgirls. Everyonehastheright,individuallyandinassociationwithothers,topromoteandtostrivefortheprotectionandrealizationofhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedomsatthenationalandinternationallevels. Article1oftheUNDeclarationonHumanRightsDefenders Insituationsofconflict,womenbecomeparticularlyvulnerableandnewformsofviolenceagainstwomenemerge.Thesecanrangefrommassrapetoforcedsexualassaults,forcedpregnancy,orsexualslavery.Thepolarisationofgenderrolesduringarmedconflictsisincreased,womenthusbeingseenasobjectsofwarandterritoriestobeconquered. ViolenceAgainstHumanRightsDefenders Usefulinformationforhumanrightsdefenders: www.frontlinedefenders.org/ www.amnesty.org/en/human-rights-defenders www.ohchr.org   http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org Investigating,reportinghumanrightsviolationsandeducatingpeopleabouthumanrightsandcampaigningforjusticecanbedangerouswork.Humanrightsdefendersarepeoplewhoindividually,orwithothers,promoteandprotecthumanrightsthroughpeacefulandnon-violentmeans.Becauseoftheirwork,humanrightsdefenderscanbesubjectedtodifferenttypesofviolence,includingbeatings,arbitraryarrestorexecution,torture,deaththreats,harassmentanddefamation,orrestrictionsontheirfreedomofexpression,andassociation.  In2000,theUnitedNationsestablishedaSpecialRapporteurwhosemainmissionistosupportimplementationofthe1998Declarationonhumanrightsdefenders.The"protection"ofhumanrightsdefendersincludesprotectingthedefendersthemselvesandtherighttodefendhumanrights.TheSpecialRapporteurseeks,receives,examinesandrespondstoinformationonthesituationofhumanrightsdefenders,promotestheeffectiveimplementationoftheDeclarationandrecommendsstrategiestoprotecthumanrightsdefenders.7 Question:Howfreeandsafeisittoreportordenouncehumanrightsabuseandviolationsinyourcountry? Ifyoulookatthem[conflicts]andremovethesuperficiallevelsofreligionandpolitics,quiteoftenitisaquestionoftryingtoaccessresources,tryingtocontrolthoseresources,andtryingtodecidehowthoseresourceswillbeshared. WangariMaathai Thefightforresources Thepossessionoforcontrolovernaturalresourcessuchaswater,arableland,mineraloil,metals,naturalgas,andsoon,haveoftenfuelledviolentconflictsthroughouthistory.Thedepletionofcertainresourcesandtheshortageofothers,suchaswaterorarableland,isexpectedtobecomemorewidespreadduetogrowthofconsumptionandclimatechange.Thismaycreatemoreregionalorinternationaltensions,potentiallyleadingtoviolentconflicts. Question:Howisyourcountrypartofthecompetitionforscarceresources? Peace,humansecurityandhumanrights Warandviolenceinevitablyresultinthedenialofhumanrights.Buildingacultureofhumanrightsisapre-conditiontoachievingastateofpeace.Sustainable,lastingpeaceandsecuritycanonlybeattainedwhenallhumanrightsarefulfilled.Buildingandmaintainingacultureofpeaceisasharedchallengeforhumankind. Whatispeace? Acultureofpeacewillbeachievedwhencitizensoftheworldunderstandglobalproblems,havetheskillstoresolveconflictsandstruggleforjusticenon-violently,livebyinternationalstandardsofhumanrightsandequity,appreciateculturaldiversity,andrespecttheEarthandeachother.Suchlearningcanonlybeachievedwithsystematiceducationforpeace. GlobalCampaignforPeaceEducationoftheHagueAppealforPeace FIANisaninternationalhumanrightsorganisationthathasadvocatedfortherealisationoftherighttofood. www.fian.org Theabovecampaignstatementoffersabroaderunderstandingofpeace:peacemeansnotonlythelackofviolentconflicts,butalsothepresenceofjusticeandequity,aswellasrespectforhumanrightsandfortheEarth. JohanGaltung,arecognisedNorwegianscholarandresearcher,definedtwoaspectsofpeace.Negativepeacemeansthatthereisnowar,noviolentconflictbetweenstatesorwithinstates.Positivepeacemeansnowarorviolentconflictcombinedwithasituationwherethereisequity,justiceanddevelopment. Theabsenceofwarbyitselfdoesnotguaranteethatpeopledonotsufferpsychologicalviolence,repression,injusticeandalackofaccesstotheirrights.Therefore,peacecannotbedefinedonlybynegativepeace. Theconceptofpeacealsohasanimportantculturaldimension.Traditionally,formanypeopleinthe"westernworld",peaceisgenerallyunderstoodtobeanoutsidecondition.,whileinothercultures,peacealsohastodowithinnerpeace(peaceinourmindsorhearts).IntheMayatradition,forexample,peacereferstotheconceptofwelfare;itislinkedtotheideaofaperfectbalancebetweenthedifferentareasofourlives.Peace,therefore,istobeseenasbothinternalandexternalprocesseswhichaffectus. Humansecurity Aconceptcloselyrelatedtopeaceandviolenceishumansecurity,whichrecognisestheinterrelationbetweenviolenceanddeprivationofallkinds.Itconcernstheprotectionofindividualsandcommunitiesfromboththedirectthreatofphysicalviolenceandtheindirectthreatsthatresultfrompovertyandotherformsofsocial,economicorpoliticalinequalities,aswellasnaturaldisastersanddisease.Acountrymaynotbeunderthreatofexternalattackorinternalconflictbutstillbeinsecureif,forexample,itlacksthecapacitytomaintaintheruleoflaw,iflargepopulationsaredisplacedbyfamineordecimatedbydiseaseorifitspeoplelackthebasicnecessitiesofsurvivalandaccesstotheirhumanrights. Humansecurityfurthershumanrightsbecauseitaddressessituationsthatgravelythreatenhumanrightsandsupportsthedevelopmentofsystemsthatgivepeoplethebuildingblocksofsurvival,dignityandessentialfreedoms:freedomfromwant,freedomfromfearandfreedomtotakeactiononone'sownbehalf.Itusestwogeneralstrategiestoaccomplishthis:protectionandempowerment.Protectionshieldspeoplefromdirectdangers,butalsoseekstodevelopnorms,processesandinstitutionsthatmaintainsecurity.Empowermentenablespeopletodeveloptheirpotentialandbecomefullparticipantsindecisionmaking.Protectionandempowermentaremutuallyreinforcing,andbotharerequired. Question:Howdoesinsecurityaffecttheyoungpeoplewithwhomyouwork? TheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)adoptedbytheUNin2015recognisetheimportantroleofsecurityfordevelopment.SDG16,sometimesshortenedto“PeaceandJustice”isto“promotepeacefulandinclusivesocietiesforsustainabledevelopment,provideaccesstojusticeforallandbuildeffective,accountableandinclusiveinstitutionsatalllevels”.Thereare10targets,forinstance16.1toreduceallformsofviolence,16.2endabuseandallformsofviolenceagainstandtortureofchildren.Thefulllistoftargetsis inthefurtherinformationsectionoftheactivity,“Howmuchdoweneed?”. ThelinkagesbetweenSDG16andhumanrightsare: Righttolife,libertyandsecurityoftheperson[UDHRart.3;ICCPRarts.6(1),9(1); ICPEDart.1]includingfreedomfromtorture[UDHRart.5;ICCPRart.7;CATart.2;CRCart.37(a)] Protectionofchildrenfromallformsofviolence,abuseorexploitation[CRCarts.19,37(a)),includingtrafficking(CRCarts.34-36;CRC–OP1)] Righttoaccesstojusticeanddueprocess[UDHRarts.8,10;ICCPRarts.2(3),14-15;CEDAWart.2(c)] Righttolegalpersonality[UDHRart.6;ICCPRart.16;CRPDart.12] Righttoparticipateinpublicaffairs[UDHRart.21;ICCPRart.25] Righttoaccesstoinformation[UDHRart.19;ICCPRart.19(1)](www.ohchr.org) Peaceasahumanright Peaceisawayoflivingtogethersothatallmembersofsocietycanaccomplishtheirhumanrights.Itisasanessentialelementtotherealisationofallhumanrights.Peaceisaproductofhumanrights:themoreasocietypromotes,protectsandfulfilsthehumanrightsofitspeople,thegreateritschancesforcurbingviolenceandresolvingconflictspeacefully. However,peaceisalsoincreasinglybeingrecognisedasahumanrightitself,asanemerginghumanrightorpartoftheso-calledsolidarityrights. Non-violenceisthesupremelawoflife. Indianproverb Allpeoplesshallhavetherighttonationalandinternationalpeaceandsecurity. AfricanCharteronHumanandPeople'sRights,Article23 Theconnectionbetweeninternationalhumanrightsandtherighttopeaceisverystrong,notablybecausetheabsenceofpeaceleadstosomanyviolationsofhumanrights. TheUDHRrecognises,forexample,therighttosecurityandfreedom(Article3);prohibitstorture,inhumanordegradingtreatmentorpunishment(Article5),andcallsforaninternationalorderinwhichtherightsandfreedomssetforthinthedeclarationcanbefullyrealised(Article28). TheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRightsprohibitspropagandaforwaraswellas"advocacyofnational,racialorreligioushatredthatconstitutesincitementtodiscrimination,hostilityorviolence"(Article20). TherighttopeaceisalsocodifiedinsomeregionaldocumentssuchastheAfricanCharteronHumanandPeoples'RightsandtheAsianHumanRightsCharter.ThecreationoftheCouncilofEuropewasitselfbasedontheconvictionthat"thepursuitofpeacebaseduponjusticeandinternationalco-operationisvitalforthepreservationofhumansocietyandcivilisation". TherighttopeaceinUNHumanRightsCouncil "TheHumanRightsCouncil… 1. Reaffirmsthatthepeoplesofourplanethaveasacredrighttopeace; 2. Alsoreaffirmsthatthepreservationoftherightofpeoplestopeaceandthepromotionofitsimplementationconstituteafundamentalobliga- tionofallStates; 3. Stressestheimportanceofpeaceforthepromotionandprotectionofallhumanrightsforall; 4. Alsostressesthatthedeepfaultlinethatdivideshumansocietybetweentherichandthepoorandtheever-increasinggapbetweenthede- velopedworldandthedevelopingworldposeamajorthreattoglobalprosperity,peace,humanrights,securityandstability; 5. Furtherstressesthatpeaceandsecurity,developmentandhumanrightsarethepillarsoftheUnitedNationssystemandthefoundationsfor collectivesecurityandwell-being;…"11 Theoppositeofviolenceisn'tnon-violence,it'spower.Whenonehasmoralpower,powerofconviction,thepowertodogood,onedoesn'tneedviolence.9 NelsaLibertadCurbelo10 Humansecurityisachildwhodidnotdie,adiseasethatdidnotspread,ajobthatwasnotcut,anethnictensionthatdidnotexplodeinviolence,adissidentwhowasnotsilenced.Humansecurityisnotaconcernwithweapons–itisaconcernwithhumanlifeanddignity. HumanDevelopmentReport,1994 TheSantiagoDeclarationontheHumanRighttoPeace,adoptedin2010byTheInternationalCongressontheHumanRighttoPeace,isoneofthemostelaboratedocumentsonpeaceasahumanright. Thedeclarationrecognisesindividuals,groups,peoplesandallhumankindasholdersofthe"inalienablerighttoajust,sustainableandlastingpeace"(Art.1)and"States,individually,jointlyoraspartofmultilateralorganisations",astheprincipaldutyholdersofthehumanrighttopeace".Thedeclarationalsocallsfortherighttoeducation"onandforpeaceandallotherhumanrights"asacomponentoftherighttopeacebecause"educationandsocializationforpeaceisaconditionsinequanonforunlearningwarandbuildingidentitiesdisentangledfromviolence".Therighttohumansecurityandtherighttoliveinasafeandhealthyenvironment,"includingfreedomfromfearandfromwant"arealsoputforwardaselementsof"positivepeace".Otherdimensionsoftherighttopeacearetherighttodisobedienceandconscientiousobjection,therighttoresistandopposeoppressionandtherighttodisarmament. Thedeclarationalsodevotesaspecificarticletotherightsofvictims,includingtheirrighttoseekjusticeandabreakdownoftheobligationsentailedinthehumanrighttopeace. Question:Inpractice,whatdoesthehumanrighttopeacemeanforyou? Legitimate(state)violence Notallviolenceisillegalorillegitimate.Violentactsaresometimesnecessaryinordertoprotectthehumanrightsofotherpeople.Imayhavetouseviolenceforself-defence;Iexpectapolicemantouse,inextremecases,somekindofviolencetoprotectmeormyfamilyfromviolencefromotherpeople.Myhumanrighttosecurityimpliesthatthestateanditsagentsprotectmefromviolence.Ahumanrightsframeworkimpliesthatviolentactionsbystateorpublicagentsisjustified(andsometimesrequired),providedthatitisorganisedandenactedwithinahumanrightsframework,includingrespectfortherightsofthevictim. Allpersonshavearighttopeacesothattheycanfullydevelopalltheircapacities,physical,intellectual,moralandspiritual,withoutbeingthetargetofanykindofviolence. AsianHumanRightsCharter,1998,paragraph4.1 Thisraisesquestionsabouttheprimacyofsomehumanrightsoverothers:therighttolifeisaclearhumanright,andstillinmanycases,humanbeingsarebeingpunishedviolentlyorkilled,asaconsequenceoftheiracts. Examplesfromthroughouthistoryillustratehowcivilmovementshavebroughtaboutchangeandbetteraccesstopeople'shumanrights.However,peacefulmovementsareoftensuppressedbyviolentpoliceorarmyaction.Repressingpeople'srighttofreedomofexpressionandassociation.The"ArabSpring"movementsinitiatedin2011showedhowyouthinTunisia,EgyptandotherArabcountriesgatheredandpeacefullyreclaimedtheirhumanrights,butwereviolentlyattackedandputintodetentionbystatearmedforces,manylosingtheirlives. Question:Whenisarmedinterventionbypolicyjustified? Starvationisthecharacteristicofsomepeoplenothavingenoughtoeat.Itisnotthecharacteristicoftherenotbeingenoughtoeat. AmartyaSen Fromahumanrightsperspective,thedeprivationofthelibertyofapersonasaconsequenceofacriminaloffencedoesnottakeawaytheirinherenthumanity.Thisiswhythemeasurestakenbythestateagainstpeoplewhohaveactedviolentlyagainstothersmustnotbearbitrary,mustrespecttheirinherentdignity,andmustprotectthesepersonsagainsttortureandinhumanordegradingtreatmentorpunishment.Oneoftheaimsofdetentionisthesocialrehabilitationofprisoners. Iobjecttoviolencebecausewhenitappearstodogood,thegoodisonlytemporary;theevilitdoesispermanent. Ghandi Theruleoflawandprotectionofhumanrightsandfreedomsarecrucialsafeguardsforaneffectiveandjustcriminaljusticesystem.Yet,whileprotectingtheinnocent12,custodyandimprisonmentareoftenalso,unfortunately,theplaceswherehumanrightsviolationsappear. Accordingtohumanrightsstandards,inparticulartheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,specificrehabilitationmechanismsmustbeputinplaceforyoungoffenders,suchas"laws,procedures,authoritiesandinstitutionsspecificallyapplicabletochildrenallegedas,accusedof,orrecognizedashavinginfringedthepenallaw"(Art.40).This,however,isnotalwaysthecase.AccordingtoPenalReformInternational,thewayauthoritiesdealwithyoungoffenderscanoftenleadtolong-termphysicalandpsychologicalill-health.Forexample,exposuretoviolentbehaviourindetentionandseparationfromfamiliesandcommunitymayunderminetheideaofrehabilitationandpushthemfurtherintocriminalactivities.BasedontheUNICEFestimates,todaytherearemorethanonemillionchildrenindetentionworldwide. Question:Canimprisonmentbeaneffectivewaytorehabilitateandeducatechildrenandyoungpeoplewhohavecommittedacriminaloffence? Deathpenalty ThedeathpenaltyisforbiddenbytheEuropeanConventiononHumanRightsaswellasintheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(Protocol1).Outlawingthedeathpenaltydoesnotjustifyhumanrightsviolations.Itisalsobasedonthebeliefthatviolencecannotbefoughtwithmoreviolence.Theoutlawingofthedeathpenaltyisalsoastatementabouttheinfallibilityofjustice:historyshowsthatjudicialmistakesarealwayspossibleandthatthereistheriskthatthewrongpersonmaybeexecuted.However,theoutlawingofthedeathpenaltyisalsoatestamenttothebeliefoftherighttolifeanddignity-andtoafairtrial. PenalReformInternationalisaninternationalnon-governmentalorganisationworkingonpenalandcriminaljusticereformworldwide. www.penalreform.org In2011,1,923peoplein63countrieswereknowntohavebeensentencedtodeathand676executionswereknowntohavebeencarriedoutin20countries.However,the676figuredoesnotincludetheperhapsthousandsofpeoplethatAmnestyInternationalestimateshavebeenexecutedinChina.13   BelarusistheonlycountryinEuropethatin2012stillcarriedoutexecutions.AccordingtoAmnestyInternational,prisonersondeathrowinBelarusaretoldthattheywillbeexecutedonlyminutesbeforethesentenceiscarriedout.Theyareexecutedbyashottothebackofthehead.Thefamilymembersareinformedonlyafterexecution,andtheplaceofburialiskeptinsecret. Youngpeopleandacultureofpeace Conflicttransformation,reconciliation,peaceeducation,andremembrancearepartoftheactionsthatcarrythehopeforalifefreefromviolenceandforacultureofpeace.Wehavetolearnfromthepastandmakeeffortstoavoidthereoccurrenceofterribleeventsagainsthumanitywhichpreviousgenerationslivedthrough.Therearestilllocalwarsandarmedconflictsinsomeplacesoftheworld.Itiscomfortingtoknowthatwearenotdefencelessandthatwehavetoolstoeliminateviolence.Youngpeopleplayanimportantroleinthischange. Onlysocietiesbasedondemocracy,theruleoflawandhumanrightscanprovidesustainablelong-termstabilityandpeace. ThorbjørnJagland,SecretaryGeneraloftheCouncilofEurope TheCouncilofEuropeworkstopromotesocialjustice,andtoavoidtheescalationofviolentconflictsandpreventwarsandterroristactivities.Theorganisationencouragespoliticalleadersandcivilsocietytobuildandnourishacultureofpeaceinsteadofacultureofviolenceanditraisesawarenessofthecostofviolence,theperspectivesofapeacefulfuture,theimportanceofdemocracyanddemocraticskills,aswellaspromotinghumanism,humandignity,freedomandsolidarity. TheCouncilofEurope'syouthsectorhasover40yearsofexperienceinworkingoninterculturallearning,conflicttransformationandhumanrightseducation. TheadoptionbytheCommitteeofMinistersoftheCouncilofEuropeoftheWhitePaperonInterculturalDialogue"LivingTogetherasEqualsinDignity",confirmedthepoliticalrelevanceoftheseapproaches,andemphasisedtheneedfordialoguebetweenculturesforthedevelopmentandsafeguardingofpeacefulsocieties. Meetyourownprejudice!Insteadoftalkingaboutit,simplymeetit. TheLivingLibraryOrganiser'sGuide14 The7thConferenceofEuropeanMinistersresponsibleforYouth(Budapest,2005)wasdevotedtoyouthpolicyresponsestoviolence.Inthefinaldeclaration,theministersagreed,amongstothers,ontheimportanceoftakingstockofallformsofviolenceandoftheirimpactonpeople,ontheneedtodevelopviolence-preventionstrategiesandtorecogniseyoungpeopleasactorsinviolenceprevention,"whilstraisingtheirsenseofresponsibilityandactivelypromotingtheirparticipationandco-operation"inthisdomain.Thedeclarationalsorecogniseshumanrightseducationascontaininganessentialdimensionofviolenceprevention. Theministerialconferencewastheculminationofaprojectagainstviolenceindailylifewhichresultedinvariouseducationalinstrumentsandinitiativestopreventandaddressviolence,suchasthemanualforLivingLibraryorganisers. AspeaceambassadorsweshouldbecometheeyesandearsoftheCoun-cilofEuropeinourcountriesandinEurope. ZlataKharitonova,participantinYouthPeaceAmbassadors TheyouthsectoroftheCouncilofEuropehasalsoinitiatedandsupportedyouth-ledprojectsaddressingconflictandpromotingpeaceeducation.TheYouthPeaceCamphasbeenrunningsince2004,andbringstogetheryoungpeoplefromdifferentconflictingareastoengageindialogueontheunderstandingthattheysharecommonvaluesandexperiences,oftenverypainfulones.Theprogrammehelpsyouthleaderstorecogniseandaddressprejudice,combatingaggressiveandexclusiveformsofnationalism,andimplementinginterculturallearningandhumanrightseducation.Forsomeoftheparticipantsthisisthefirsttimeintheirlivesthattheyhavetalkedface-to-facewithyoungpeoplefrom"theotherside".ThecampisnowheldannuallyattheEuropeanYouthCentreandoccasionallyinmemberstates. Multiplyingpeaceeducation AftertheYouthPeaceCamp2011,sixIsraeliandPalestinianparticipantsdecidedtokeepmeetingontheceasefireorso-called"greenline".Everymonthotheryoungpeoplefrombothsidesjointheafternoonmeeting,whichincludesdiscussions,sharingpersonalstoriesandhavingfun.Asajointgrouptheyengageincommunityworkonbothsidesoftheline,eachtimeinadifferentcommunityonadifferentside,alwaysinacommunityaffectedsomehowbytheongoingconflict. TheYouthPeaceAmbassadorsproject,initiatedin2011,engagesyouthleadersinspecificgrassrootslevelpeaceeducationprojectswithyoungpeople,aimingattransformingconflictsituationsintheirrealities.TheprojectisbuiltonanetworkofspecificallytrainedyoungpeoplewhostrengthenthepresenceandpromotethevaluesoftheCouncilofEuropeinconflict-affectedareasandcommunities. UndoingHate Inthelasttwoyears,thestreetsofPrijepolje,amulticulturaltowninSerbia,becamesurroundedby"wrong"graffiti,filledwithhatespeechtowardsforeignersandpeoplewithdifferentreligions(MuslimandOrthodox).Mostofthegraffitiiswrittenbyboysfrom2differenthooligangroups. Myprojectbringstogether10boys,aged14–18,frombothahooligangroupandethnic/religiousminorities,whowillredecoratethetownbyusinggraffititoundothehategraffitiwhichwasputupinvariousplaces.Whiledoingso,apeace-buildingdocumentarywillbefilmed.Thisprojectshouldhelptocreateastrongbasisforpeacebuilding,mutualunderstandingandtolerance. EdoSadikovic,JUMPorganisation,Serbia(YouthPeaceAmbassador'sproject) Networksforpeace Thefollowingaresomeexamplestoconsiderthevariety,seriousnessandcreativityofpeacebuildersandhumanrightsdefenders. CombatantsforPeace–isamovementwhichwasstartedjointlybyPalestiniansandIsraeliswhohavetakenanactivepartinthecycleofviolenceandnowfightforpeace. SearchforCommonGroundimplementsconflict-transformationprogrammes. RespondingtoConflict providestrainingforconflicttransformation.Inspiringexamplesofandstudynotesforconductingtrainingcanbefoundontheirwebsite. TheGlobalPartnershipforthePreventionofArmedConflictisaglobalnetworkseekinganewinternationalconsensusonmovingfromreactiontopreventionofviolentconflict. TheUnitedNetworkofYoungPeacebuildersisanetworkofyouth-ledorganisationsworkingtowardsestablishingpeacefulsocieties. Endnotes 1Worldreportonviolenceandhealth,WHO2002,Genevap5:http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/9241545615.pdf 2www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/en/ 3StockholmInternationalPeaceResearchInstitute(SIPRI): www.sipri.se 4http://controlarms.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/killer_facts_en.pdf  5www.unfpa.org/gender/violence.htm 6ProgressreportofBarbaraFrey,UNSpecialRapporteur,"Preventionofhumanrightsviolationscommittedwithsmallarmsandlightweapons",UNDoc.E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/37,21June2004,para50  7Source:www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/SRHRDefenders/ 8Evans,A.,Resourcescarcity,fairsharesanddevelopment,WWF/Oxfam,Discussionpaper,2011   9FromthefilmBarrioDePaz 10NelsaLibertadCurbeloisaformernunandstreetgangmediatorinEcuador 11UNGeneralAsembly,15July2011,DocumentA/HRC/RES/1/7/16oftheHumanRightsCouncil 12BasedontheUKcriminalJusticesystemsaims,see:http://ybtj.justice.gov.uk/ 13AmnestyInternationaldeathpenaltystatistics 14Don'tjudgeabookbyitscover–theLivingLibraryOrganiser'sGuide,AbergelR.etal,CouncilofEuropePublishing,2005 DownloadCompass Violence:Conceptsandexamples CanIcomein? Chahalv.UK Dowehavealternatives? Domesticaffairs Fingersandthumbs Mylifeisnotashow Powerstation Respondingtoracism Terrorism Throwingstones Violenceinmylife Whentomorrowcomes KeyDate 12FebruaryRedHandDay 21MarchInternationalDayfortheEliminationofRacialDiscrimination 15MayInternationalDayofConscientiousObjection 29MayInternationalDayofUnitedNationsPeacekeepers 4JuneInternationalDayofInnocentChildrenVictimsofAggression 26JuneUnitedNationsInternationalDayinSupportofVictimsofTorture 6AugustHiroshimaDay 21SeptemberInternationalDayofPeace 2OctoberInternationalDayofNon-Violence 10OctoberWorldDayAgainsttheDeathPenalty 24-30OctoberDisarmamentWeek 9NovemberInternationalDayAgainstFascismandAntisemitism 11NovemberInternationalDayofScienceandPeace 25NovemberInternationalDayfortheEliminationofViolenceagainstWomen 2DecemberInternationalDayfortheAbolitionofSlavery  TableofContents HumanRightsThemes Listofactivities  Humanrightscalendar