Peace and Security

Peace Through Dialogue, Prevention and Human Dignity

There are many things in this world worth standing up for — but never worth abandoning our humanity for.

The Confederation of Humanitarian Nations (CNU) considers peace not simply the absence of armed conflict, but the presence of conditions that allow individuals and communities to live with dignity, security, justice and mutual respect.

Under its Statute, the CNU promotes non-violence, peaceful cooperation, mediation and the prevention and peaceful resolution of disputes.

The Confederation does not exercise military, police or coercive functions.

Its contribution to peace and security is humanitarian, preventive, documentary, educational, mediatory and institutional.

Peaceful Settlement of Disputes

The CNU supports the principle that disputes capable of threatening peace should, whenever possible, be addressed through peaceful means.

These may include:

• dialogue;
• negotiation;
• mediation;
• conciliation;
• fact-finding;
• arbitration where voluntarily accepted;
• judicial remedies through competent institutions;
• intercultural dialogue;
• other peaceful forms of dispute resolution.

This approach reflects the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the CNU Statute.

The Confederation may facilitate dialogue or mediation where the parties concerned accept its involvement and where such activity is compatible with applicable law.

It does not replace courts, governments, the United Nations or other institutions having formal competence in matters of international peace and security.

Prevention Before Crisis

The CNU considers prevention one of the most important components of sustainable peace.

Humanitarian crises and conflicts rarely begin at the moment violence becomes visible.

They may be preceded by:

• systematic violations of fundamental rights;
• discrimination and exclusion;
• deterioration of social cohesion;
• environmental or resource pressures;
• displacement;
• institutional breakdown;
• misinformation and incitement;
• unresolved tensions between communities.

For this reason, CNU structures may contribute to early identification of humanitarian concerns through responsible observation, documentation, dialogue and cooperation with communities and competent institutions.

Such activity does not constitute intelligence gathering, law enforcement or security operations.

Its purpose is humanitarian prevention.

Human Security

For the CNU, security is not limited to the protection of borders or institutions.

Human security also concerns the ability of people to live free from severe threats to life, dignity and fundamental rights.

CNU initiatives may therefore address areas such as:

• protection of fundamental rights;
• humanitarian assistance;
• access to essential services;
• community resilience;
• education;
• health;
• environmental protection;
• protection of vulnerable people;
• peaceful coexistence;
• prevention of violence and social marginalization.

The Confederation seeks to complement, rather than replace, the responsibilities of States and competent public authorities.

Human Rights Defenders and Non-Violence

CNU Human Rights Defenders are required to operate through peaceful and non-violent methods.

Their role may include:

• observation;
• documentation;
• human-rights education;
• responsible reporting;
• humanitarian assistance;
• dialogue;
• awareness;
• mediation support.

Being a Human Rights Defender does not confer police, military, investigative or coercive powers.

The strength of an HRD lies in credible information, responsible action, courage, dialogue and respect for human dignity.

Mediation and Humanitarian Dialogue

The CNU may encourage or facilitate communication among communities, organizations and institutions where dialogue can contribute to preventing escalation or resolving humanitarian concerns.

Any mediation undertaken by the Confederation is based on:

• consent;
• impartiality;
• respect for the parties;
• confidentiality where appropriate;
• non-coercion;
• respect for applicable law.

The objective is not to impose a solution, but to help create conditions in which those directly concerned can identify peaceful and sustainable solutions.

Protection of Civilians and Vulnerable Communities

In situations of instability, humanitarian emergency or armed conflict, the CNU may contribute to humanitarian protection through its competent structures and partners.

Activities may include:

• documenting humanitarian needs;
• supporting affected communities;
• facilitating access to assistance;
• directing information toward competent humanitarian mechanisms;
• supporting local organizations;
• promoting protection of vulnerable populations;
• cooperating with authorized humanitarian and public institutions.

The CNU does not conduct armed protection or peace-enforcement operations.

Any operational humanitarian intervention must respect applicable international humanitarian law, domestic law, safety requirements and the responsibilities of the competent authorities.

International Humanitarian Law and the Use of Force

The CNU’s institutional commitment is to peaceful and non-violent action.

At the same time, the Confederation recognizes the international legal framework established by the Charter of the United Nations, including the rules concerning the prohibition of the threat or use of force and the right of individual or collective self-defence in the circumstances recognized by international law.

The CNU does not determine the legality of military action through political declarations.

Where questions concerning armed conflict arise, its humanitarian activities remain focused on protection of human dignity, respect for international humanitarian law, documentation, assistance and peaceful resolution.

Neutrality and Impartiality

Humanitarian action must remain focused on people and their needs.

CNU humanitarian activities are therefore guided by:

• humanity;
• neutrality;
• impartiality;
• independence;
• non-discrimination.

Neutrality does not mean indifference to violations of human rights.

It means that humanitarian action must not become an instrument of partisan, military or political confrontation.

The CNU may document and report alleged violations while maintaining impartiality in the assessment of facts and respecting the procedures of competent institutions.

Education for Peace

Sustainable peace begins long before a conflict occurs.

For this reason, the CNU promotes education as a fundamental instrument of prevention.

Peace education may include:

• human-rights awareness;
• non-violent communication;
• intercultural dialogue;
• conflict-resolution skills;
• civic responsibility;
• respect for cultural and religious diversity;
• critical thinking;
• education against discrimination and hatred.

Children and young people have a particularly important place in this work.

Education capable of teaching dialogue, respect and cooperation strengthens communities against future violence.

Local Communities as Builders of Peace

Lasting peace cannot simply be imposed from outside.

Communities must participate directly in identifying tensions, understanding their causes and developing solutions appropriate to their social and cultural context.

The CNU therefore seeks to strengthen local actors, community organizations, educators, professionals and civil-society networks capable of contributing to peaceful coexistence.

External humanitarian support should strengthen these capacities rather than replace them.

Peace Is a Process

Peace is not created by declarations alone.

It requires institutions willing to listen, communities willing to communicate, reliable information, respect for rights and people capable of building trust where trust has been lost.

The CNU seeks to contribute to this process through humanitarian cooperation, prevention, dialogue, education, mediation and the protection of human dignity.

Our role is not to impose peace.

It is to help create the conditions in which peace can be built.