A/HRC/39/31
(d)
States should undertake to revise national laws and policies that were
discriminatory against women, and adopt legislation to address domestic violence,
trafficking of women and girls and gender-based violence.7
65.
Noting that the right to peace also included the right to human rights education and
education for peace, the representative of the Associazione Comunita Papa Giovanni XXIII
stressed that defending dialogue and peaceful coexistence among cultures, civilizations,
religions or beliefs was essential to combating racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance in order to create an environment conducive to stable peace.
66.
Referring to the 2009 expert workshop on the right of peoples to peace (see
A/HRC/14/38), the former Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and
equitable international order highlighted the importance of education on human rights
instruments, notably the prohibition of propaganda for war (International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, art. 20 (1)), freedom of opinion and expression (ibid., art. 19) and
freedom of religion or belief, including the right of conscientious objection to military
service (ibid., art. 18).
IV. Concluding remarks
67.
In her concluding remarks, the moderator highlighted several
recommendations made by panellists and participants during the intersessional
workshop. The international community should deploy maximum efforts and
creativity to reach a consensus on the title and article 1 of the Declaration on the Right
to Peace. All States should review and amend their laws and policies in the light of
international best practices regarding the promotion of peace and human rights. In
order to promote the conditions for sustainable peace and to break away from the
continuing cycle of developing new and more effective weapons, disarmament
practitioners should overcome internalized attitudes that legitimated the use of force
and militarization. Civil society activities should be supported in assisting the
implementation of the Declaration, including through advocacy, research, social
networks, art and concerts.
68.
The moderator also noted the suggestion that various special procedure
mandate holders should elaborate in their respective mandates the multidimensional
notion of peace and the role of dialogue, tolerance, mediation, assistance and
cooperation. The 2030 Agenda should be used in the context of implementing the
Declaration by building a shared vision of society, with equality and inclusion at the
centre of implementation efforts and a holistic and people-centred approach.
69.
Another recommendation reiterated by the moderator was for the Human
Rights Council to create a biannual forum for education for peace and human rights,
providing space for dialogue and interaction between different entities of the United
Nations system and other stakeholders, including civil society and grass-roots
organizations, on the different issues related to peace and human rights. She also
noted the recommendation that OHCHR should mainstream the right to peace and
make related information accessible on its website. A working group comprised of
United Nations entities based in Geneva should be established to analyse United
Nations best practices on peace education, publishing the results of its annual
meetings.
70.
Moreover, the moderator recalled the suggestion to create an educational
museum for peace or a multicultural space for dialogue between all stakeholders,
particularly youth. Peace education should be included in the monitoring and
implementation mechanisms of the World Programme for Human Rights Education.
Human rights education should include a focus on non-discrimination, religious
tolerance, the prohibition of propaganda for war and the right to conscientious
7
See article 5 of the draft declaration proposed by civil society organizations on 20 September 2017.
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