Components of the human right to peace

The human right to peace includes at least :

1. the right to life
2. the right to dignity
3. the right to order, allowing rights to take full effect

These three rights are an integral part of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1). However, the human right to peace, as a specifically defined right, has been under discussion at the UN since the early 2000s.

Below you’ll find a more complete overview of the human right to peace, with references to the official texts for each of the rights that make it up.

A comprehensive view of the rights that make up the human right to peace

1. The right to life (1)

which includes:

• the obligation of States to strengthen peace as an essential element of the right to life (4)
• The right to safety (1) and security of person (2)
• The right to minimum subsistence. (5,6)

2. The right to dignity (1)

which includes:

• The right to live “free from violence and fear” (6)
• The right to protection against discrimination (1)
• The right to conflict prevention (5)
• The right to the prevention of violence and the balanced use of force, including police and institutional force, in a spirit of exemplarity (6)

3. The right to order

allowing full effect of rights (1)

which includes:

• The “right to live in conditions of peace and security” (3)
• The right to “a just, viable and lasting peace” (5).

Other rights included in the human right to peace

The human right to peace is also expanding:

1. The right to peace-enhancing political measures

with a focus on :

• Dialogue, mediation, cooperation and a non-military approach to
• Safety (6 – for part of it)
• The right to disarm and reallocate resources (5)
• The right to a sustainable environment (as a basis for peace) (5)
• The right to an effective remedy in the event of human rights violations (access to justice and truth, reparation) (5)
• The right to hold public institutions accountable for their progress towards peace, and to legally control the use of force (5,6)

2. The right to peace education

and a culture of peace

• The right to peace education and access to conflict resolution techniques (5,6)
• The right to education with respect for human rights (5)
• Promoting research for peace and human rights (6)

3. The right of expression

• The right to freedom of expression (freedom of thought, conscience, religion, association and peaceful assembly) (5)
• The right to participate in activities to defend and promote the human right to peace (5)
• The right to oppose barbarism (wars, aggression, crimes against humanity, genocide) (5)
• The right to oppose propaganda of war, incitement to violence and violations of the human right to peace (2)
• The right to conscientious objection (5)
• The right of vulnerable groups to participate in the formulation of protection measures against the violence they suffer (women, minorities, etc.) (5)
• The right to demand that peace be an effective reality.

4. The right to live

and take part in the development

• The right to refugee status (5)
• The right to emigrate, to settle peacefully and to participate (5)
• The right to development (the right of individuals and populations to participate in development) (5)

____________________________________________

1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
2. UN International Covenant, 1966
3. Commission on Human Rights, res. 5, 1976
4. Human Rights Committee, 1984
5. Luarca Declaration, 2006, bringing together some fifteen human rights to clarify the human right to peace, with a view to presentation to the Human Rights Council for possible adoption in 2010.
6. Petition and proposal for the Constitution of the State of Geneva, 2009.

For comments and references relating to the promotion of peace and fundamental rights in their constitutions, a book by Christophe Barbey, a jurist specializing in the right to peace in constitutions, compares constitutions on these rights. For a look at the Geneva Constitution voted in 2012, a 6-page document provides interesting answers: Droit humain à la paix – Commentaires, Christophe Barbey, June 2009.

---