THE SIX PATHS TO PEACE

(From PEACE INITIATIVE: AN INTRODUCTION BY Darwin T. Rasul)

To address these roots of the armed conflicts, the NUC recommended the Six Paths to Peace:

The FIRST PATH is the pursuit of social, economic and political reforms aimed at addressing the root causes armed conflicts and social unrest. This may require administrative action, new legislation, or even constitutional amendments.

The SECOND PATH is consensus – building and empowerment for peace. This component includes continuing consultations on both national and local levels to build consensus on the peace and reform agenda, and the mobilization and facilitation of people’s participation in the peace process.

The THIRD PATH is the pursuit of peaceful, negotiated settlement with the different rebel groups. This involves the vigorous efforts toward the completion of exploratory talks, the holding of formal peace negotiations, and the achievement of a final negotiated peace settlement with each of the rebel groups.

The FOURTH PATH is the implementation of programs for reconciliation, reintegration to mainstream society, and rehabilitation. These include amnesty and other measures to respond to concerns for legal status and security and community – based assistance programs to address the economic, social and psychological rehabilitation needs of former rebels, demobilized combatants, and civilian victims of the internal armed conflicts.

The FIFTH PATH seeks to ensure the welfare and protection of civilians, and to reduce the impact of the armed conflicts on them, reorganizing the possibility of continuing hostilities even as peace is pursued by the ways of peace. These include the strict implementation of laws and policy guidelines for the protection of human rights, limited suspension of offensive military operations where possible, intensified delivery of basic services to conflict areas, and recognition of Peace Zones as agreed by concerned sectors of the community.

The SIXTH AND FINAL PATH seeks to build, nurture and enhance a positive climate for peace. These include continued confidence – building measures between government and the rebel groups, and peace advocacy and education within the rest of society.

These six paths to peace are complementary and mutually reinforcing and must be pursued simultaneously in order to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.