Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) today joined more than 170 peacebuilding organizations in an urgent call to action for global peace. The statement notes crisis responses that increase violence, injustice, and exclusion often worsen development losses and increase human suffering. Therefore, a focus on peace and justice must be at the heart of a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contact: Tim McHugh, Friends Committee on National Legislation, media@fcnl.org; 202-903-2515
“Amid systemic racism, climate change, an economic crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic, we extend this call for peace. The International Day of Peace is as an opportunity to reflect and recommit to global cooperation and nonviolence,” said FCNL general secretary Diane Randall. “As many of us know, the absence of violence doesn’t exactly mean peace. Rather, peace resides in nations with a well-functioning government, good relations with others, a fair economy, equal access to education, human rights, and a free press.”
The statement, released at the opening of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, calls on governments and the international community to mainstream peace in the response to COVID-19. It calls on making space for peacebuilding and reaffirm multilateralism and international norms as a safeguard for the most vulnerable people.
“Now, more than ever, we see how connected we are globally and how much we need to work together to solve global problems. The United States needs to reengage with the United Nations and recommit to working as part of the global community. There is not one part of the U.N. absent from the fight against COVID. But, sadly, the U.S. is largely absent from the U.N.” Randall concluded.
See the complete statement and signatories here.
To learn more, please visit www.fcnl.org.
