Peace Archives

Opinion: Burundi – Fragile Peace at Risk Ahead of Elections

Pierre Claver Mbonimpa is not permitted to get close to an airport, train station or port without authorisation from a judge. He cannot travel outside of the capital of his native Burundi, Bujumbura. Whenever called upon, he must present himself before judicial authorities.

Opinion: Challenging the Nuclear Powers’ Extremism

By Joseph Gerson

On the eve of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference five years ago, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that governments alone will not rid the world of the specter of nuclear annihilation.

Saudis Compensate Civilian Killings with 274 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Yemen

By Thalif Deen

Saudi Arabia’s right hand does not know what its left foot is up to, belittles an Asian diplomat, mixing his metaphors to describe the political paradox in the ongoing military conflict in Yemen.

U.N. Helpless as Crises Rage in 10 Critical Hot Spots

By Thalif Deen

The United Nations is fighting a losing battle against a rash of political and humanitarian crises in 10 of the world’s critical “hot spots.”

The U.N. at 70: A View from Outer Space

By Dr. Nandasiri Jasentuliyana

When the founding fathers of the United Nations met in San Francisco 70 years ago, an American banker named Beardsley Ruml made a remark:

To Defend the Environment, Support Social Movements Like Berta Cáceres and COPINH

By Jeff Conant

The 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize for Central and South America has been awarded to Berta Cáceres, an indigenous Honduran woman who co-founded the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras, known as COPINH.

Opinion: Paying Real Tribute to All Victims of War and Conflict

By Christian Guillermet Fernández and David Fernández Puyana

The international community will have a great opportunity to jointly advance on the world peace agenda when a United Nations working group established to negotiate a draft U.N. resolution on the right to peace meets from Apr. 20 to 24 in Geneva.

U.N. Struggles to Cope with New Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen

By Thalif Deen

The United Nations, which is providing humanitarian aid to over 50 million refugees worldwide, is struggling to cope with a new crisis in hand: death and destruction in Yemen.

Spiritual Leaders Urge Action On Nuclear Disarmament

By Josh Butler

Religious leaders addressed the United Nations in New York last week, pleading on moral grounds for global nuclear disarmament.

U.N. Warns of Growing Divide Between Nuclear Haves and Have-Nots

By Thalif Deen

As she prepared to leave office after more than three years, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane painted a dismal picture of a conflicted world: it is “not the best of times for disarmament.”

Opinion: Moment of Truth for the Nobel Peace Prize

By Fredrik S. Heffermehl and Tomas Magnusson

The Nobel Peace Prize is about to bow out to critics. As of Jan. 1, the Oslo-based Norwegian Nobel Committee that selects the winners has a new secretary, Olav Njølstad, who announced that “changes loom” in a recent interview.

State of Palestine in Overtime

By Joseph Chamie

The large majority of countries, and most of the people in the world, already recognise Palestine as an independent state.

At Least 18 Already Killed in Yarmouk Attacks: Amnesty International

By Josh Butler

At least 18 civilians have already been killed in the attack on the Syrian refugee camp of Yarmouk, according to Amnesty International.

Situation in Besieged Yarmouk Camp ‘One of the Most Severe Ever’

By Josh Butler

The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has described the situation inside the Syrian refugee camp of Yarmouk, under attack by Islamic State (IS) militants, as “one of the most severe ever” for the already spartan camp.

Effective War Crimes Inquiry Could Heal Sri Lanka’s Old Wounds

By Amantha Perera

Jessi Joygeswaran seems like your typical 23-year-old young woman. She has an infectious smile and laughs a lot when she talks. Like many other young women anywhere in the world, her life is full of dreams.

Landmine Threats Down, IED Threats Rising

By Josh Butler

Almost 90 percent of recent deaths or serious injuries to United Nations peacekeepers in Mali have been attributed to improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a U.N. panel has heard.

Nuclear Threat Escalating Beyond Political Rhetoric

By Thalif Deen

As a new cold war between the United States and Russia picks up steam, the nuclear threat is in danger of escalating – perhaps far beyond political rhetoric.

Palestine Crisis at Its Worst Since 1967, Says United Nations

By Valentina Ieri

In 2014, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) saw the worst escalation of hostilities since 1967, said a report by the United Nations Office of Coordination and Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), released on March 26.