In the previous blog I was telling you about the UNESCO Forum celebrating Peace. One of the highlights for me was actually getting to see the U.N. General Secretary, Ban Ki Moon–he has a kind and peaceful face that matches his priorities! The panelists and participants were important women and men from at least 15 different countries, including a Saudi prince, former prime ministers and ambassadors, artists and filmmakers…
My favorite was Kjell Magne Bondevik of Norway, a former Prime Minister who is also a Lutheran priest. I think I was already biased in his favor, because I have been so impressed with Norway and its stand on many peace and justice issues. The Scandanavian countries have such well-developed social programs; they are models for us all in their commitment to the Millenium Development Goals and foreign aid; and they have made prostitution a crime (get this: they arrest the “johns” and not the women being prostituted!) That approach to ending sex slavery is being called “the Nordic Model.”
Mr. Bondevik said that he was convinced that if more women were in positions of power, there would be more peace in the world. Surprisingly, one of the women panelists strongly disagreed with him, saying that there are tough stateswomen who do not choose peaceful solutions. Then a man from an NGO jumped up to disagree with her…at least half the audience was applauding loudly at each statement. Luckily we had a good moderator who was able to keep the proceedings peaceful!
The UNESCO celebration was actually the second peace-related event of the day for me. That morning I attended a meeting on a more gritty, practical subject: “Transitional Justice in Conflict Affected Settings.” Transitional Justice was a new term for me–it involves restoring the dignity of individuals after massive human rights abuses committed during armed conflict, repressive rule, or in circumstances of scarce resources. The UN is increasingly urging a victim-centered and gender sensitive approach to reparations, and the group discussed ways to bring just resolutions out of unjust actions. One of the lawyers present works at the Austrian mission, and he described the 50-60 year effort in Austria to bring restorative justice to victims of the Holocaust.
It was a wonderful meditation for Lent, considering that one part of reconciliation is restitution. One of the participants said that sometimes an apology is all that is possible, and all that is needed We can all do that! Peace begins at home…