The Human Dimension of Peace
The human dimension of peace encompasses the subjective (human) factors of violence (intra- and inter-societal) as opposed to the more visible objective causes of violence and conflict: economic, cultural, social and political exclusion and grievances. It places the human being – with his/her needs, rights, duties, moral resources, spirituality, aspirations, dignity and capacity to create new beginnings – at the center of conflict prevention, resolution and transformation.
Among subjective (human) factors of violence and conflict are:
- Anger
- Hatred
- Anguish
- Trauma
- Fear
- Sense of weakness and vulnerability
- Pain (physical, spiritual, psychological)
- Humiliation
- Shame
- Resentment
- Dehumanization
- Desire for revenge
- Desperation and loss of hope
- Loss of trust
- Injustice (real or perceived)
- Threats to identity (personal & collective)
- Unwelcome memories, burdens of history
- Dignity violations
Among the approaches and responses that have been developed to respond to subjective factors of violence and conflict are:
- Restoring and ensuring respect of dignity
- Acknowledging suffering (individual and collective)
- Mourning losses (people and places)
- Dispelling myths, prejudice and false narratives
- Disseminating the truth and elaborating new narratives
- Redressing past wrongs
- Apologies and symbolic forms of compensation
- Healing memory and addressing burdens of history
- Forgiveness for breaking cycles of violence and revenge and restoring political community
- Reconciling perpetrators
- Hope- and trust-building
- Healing personal and collective trauma of peoples and nations
- Rehabilitative justice
- Psycho-political dialogue
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