The Colombia Charter. 10 Principles for Peace

THE COLOMBIA CHARTER

– 10 principles for Peace –

Without ideals and values, human conduct lacks a compass

  1. PEACE IS A RIGHT: Peace is the birthright of every individual and the supreme right of humanity.
  1. WE ARE ONE: Humanity is one family, sharing the gift of life together on this fragile planet. What happens to one of us happens to all of us.
  1. WE ARE DIVERSE: Our humanity is enriched by diversity. This is a treasure that we all must honor and protect.
  1. WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE: The moral principle of treating others as one wants to be treated must be applied not only to personal conduct but also to the conduct of religions and nations.
  1. WE MUST AVOID WAR: War shreds the fabric of human community and represents a failure of our humanity.
  1. WE MUST BE LEGAL AND JUST:  World peace and stability require adherence to and respect for International Law, including International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law. Lasting peace can only be achieved if it is based on social justice.
  1. WE SHOULD TALK: Whenever it is possible, conflicts should be ended through dialogue. The international community has to validate effective measures to prevent and limit wars.
  1. WE HAVE TO RESPECT EACH OTHER: Even in conflict, an enemy must be recognized as a human being entitled to respect, and their motivations must be understood. The pursuit of the total elimination or humiliation of the adversary is the seed of more violence in the future.
  1. WE HAVE TO EDUCATE: We have to promote tolerance, solidarity, compassion, and respect for differences and minority rights in order to create a global culture of peace. Education based on these values must be implemented throughout the world.
  1. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND: All lives are as valuable as one’s own. If we understand this with our hearts and our minds, we will build and keep peace in the world for us, for our children and the generations to come.

Shirin Ebadi
Leymah Gbowee
Tawakkol Karman
Rigoberta Menchu’ Tum
Josè Ramos-Horta
Juan Manuel Santos
Kailash Satyarthi
Oscar Arias Sanchez
Desmond Tutu
Lech Walesa
Jody Williams
International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)
International Peace Bureau (IPB)
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)
Ouided Bouchamaoui, Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

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spanish version