Development: key to lasting peace

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, recently stated: “There can be no peace without development … no development without peace … and neither can be achieved without full respect for human rights and the rule of law”.  

On this Day of Peace, we must recognise that peace and human development are one and the same; and that “peace” is not just an outcome, it is first and foremost a process that requires the full investment of people and governments to better themselves, their communities and their countries. 

It is through the fundamental protection of human rights that lasting peace and sustainable development can be obtained. Peace is a collective responsibility, and in order to meet this responsibility we must build on our diversity, individual struggles and traditional values and behaviours, and channel them towards peaceful and respectful coexistence. 

Thailand places development, peace and human rights high on its national and international agenda. Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchalkul reiterated the high priority Thailand places on peace-building in a statement last month, as the government officially launched its campaign to serve on the UN Security Council: “We believe that peace and security, human rights and sustainable development are mutually re-enforcing issues, which need to be pursued concurrently and comprehensively.”

This country has contributed significantly to UN peacekeeping missions around the world, as in Timor Leste and, more recently, in Darfur. For many years it has hosted large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers from neighbouring countries. In 2010, Thailand was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council, a 47-member human rights body, and it sits on the Commission on the Status of Women. Thailand is expressing strong interest in a second term on the Council, an offer that should be both commended and supported. This comes with a pledge that Thailand will uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights within its own boundaries and across the globe. 

Challenges, of course, still remain. Thailand, like many other countries, faces political divisions and conflicts that arise from societal transformation and evolution. On this Day of Peace, we should focus on a shared vision for the future and on how the country can move forward in unity, building on different identities, opinions and ideals. We all have a role to play in fostering peace and avoiding conflict. Civil society, the media, the education system and religious leaders, with the support of local institutions as well as the international community, can contribute to creating an environment where peace can flourish. The language of peace can be taught through the study of history and promoted through both traditional and popular culture, and it can help foster equal development and opportunities for all.  

On this Day of Peace, let’s work together to ensure that Thailand can continue to strive towards setting an example throughout the region and beyond as a harmonious country, where all people can enjoy development and security, and where human rights are protected and promoted. 

 

Luc Stevens is the UN resident coordinator and United Nations Development Programme resident representative in Thailand, appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.