Understanding Values of Peace 1. "Peace is not just the absence of war.
It is the
wholeness of life where every person can live with
“Since wars begin in the minds of men [and women], it dignity." (Mindanao Church Peace Congress, 1996)
is in the minds of men [and women] that the defenses of
peace shall be constructed.” 2. "The new name of peace is development." (Pope Paul
VI, Populorum Progressio)
- (UNESCO Preamble)
Peace is not just the absence of war or violence. It is
1989 more than just the absence of war because its absence
does not always mean peace. Peace, as positively defined,
- During the International Congress on Peace in the
means the presence of harmony, understanding, tranquility,
Minds of Men, in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire, that
social justice, respect, and tolerance - meaning the
the notion of a "Culture of Peace" was first
enhancement of life. In other words, it is the general
mentioned.
wellbeing of the individual.
Peace should be viewed at different levels:
1994
1. Personal Level
- Federico Mayor, Director-General of the United
- refers to the development of inner harmony or
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
inner integration characterized by such qualities as
Organization (UNESCO), launched an international
self-respect, self-confidence, ability to cope with
appeal on the establishment of a right to peace; in
negative feelings (fear, anger, insecurity, and
February 1994, UNESCO launched its Towards a
shame), and developing positive attitudes such as
Culture of Peace programme
cheerfulness and optimism.
1997
2. Interpersonal Level
- the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed - is manifested by the relationship of an individual
the year 2000 as the "International Year for the with one another. The interpersonal level peace
Culture of Peace can be shown in terms of:
a. Assertiveness. The capacity of the
1998 individual to express one's views or
exercise one's rights without being
- The same Assembly declared the period 2001-
aggressive injuring or violating the rights of
2010 the "International Decade for a Culture of
others) or submissive (denying one's own
Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the
views or rights).
World". This is how the notion of a Culture of
Peace conquered the world.
b. Respect. To recognize the worth of others
regardless of differences in social position,
culture, origin, ethnic grouping or gender.
Mindful of the responsibility for the promotion of peace
in society, the school system is expected to contribute to the c. Concern for Others. An awareness and
development of understanding, solidarity, tolerance, and understanding of their needs, feelings, and
harmony among people and promote knowledge, values, condition and extending appropriate
attitudes, and skills conducive in respect for human rights consideration for such.
and to the building of a culture of peace.
d. Cooperation. The capacity and willingness
to work with others to achieve a common
Peace Defined goal.
The concept of peace varies according to the people e. Open-Mindedness. The willingness to
who give meaning to it, based on the work they do and the approach difficult sources of information,
cultural context they come from. Some of these concepts people, and events with a critical but open
are: mind.
f. Humility. The virtue to accept and realization that we have different ways of
recognize that others may have the ability expressing our faith but we have common
similar or maybe more than you have and aspiration to be pleasing to the Creator.
that recognition enables you to accept your d. Cultural Appreciation. A recognition of
own limitations. the presence of different cultures and
such differences give us the opportunity to
learn from one another.
3. Social/National Level
- is concerned with addressing issues that affect
society and its social, political, and economic Strategic Approach of the AFP in Winning Peace
components. For example, addressing the issue of The AFP Internal Peace and Security Planning
social injustice such as land grabbing, forest is, in a nutshell, a paradigm shift on how the armed forces
degradation, water pollution, and others that have views its mandate of protecting the people and the state in
a societal impact. this case from armed threats. The primary objective of the
AFP internal security operations shall be Winning the
a. Social Responsibility. An awareness of Peace rather than simply defeating the enemy.
one's responsibility for the common welfare
and the willingness as well as the The AFP's new approach to peace and security is
readiness to work for it. based on winning the peace, shifting from a militaristic
solution to a people-centered strategy based on broad
b. Interdependence. An awareness of the consultations and engagements with stakeholders. The AFP
impact of the decisions and actions of focuses on the long-term effects of its military operations on
individuals and groups on one another. people, communities, their way of life, and well-being,
aiming to win peace for the people.
c. Social justice. Requires an awareness
and recognition of the civil, political, Military operations are part of the government's
economic, social, and cultural rights, peace strategy, aimed at achieving peace and security. They
especially of the more marginalized sectors are used to combat armed threats that threaten the state,
of society and the willingness to promote people, and communities. These operations are intelligence-
and defend them. driven and deliberate, aiming to reduce the armed
capabilities of these groups. The AFP should also utilize
4. 4. Global Level non-combat operations, such as civil military operations
- is similar to the social and national level peace, (CMO) and development-oriented activities, to maximize
global level peace is concerned with attaining their effectiveness.
related issues that have global impact or scale
The Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) aims
such issues include among others the issue of
to achieve peace by focusing on unity and harmony with
unfair trade relations, racial discrimination,
other stakeholders. The AFP will implement the Whole-of-
terrorism, militarization, environmental degradation,
Nation Approach and the People-Centered
xenophobia, and others
Security/Human Security Approach, guiding its
implementation and evaluation. These approaches align
a. Respect for the Environment. The value
with the United Nations Commission on Human Security's
of recognizing the importance of the
"protection empowerment" framework. The AFP seeks to
resources in the environment as indicated
protect the people while supporting their capacity
by the act of preserving and conserving
development and recognizing their indispensable role in
them. Also, the efforts initiated to protect
ensuring peace and security. People must be active
the resources of the environment.
participants in the pursuit of peace and security.
b. Unity in the oneness of Humankind. 1. Whole of Nation Approach
The value of recognizing the importance
of being one with other humans as the - As peace and security are indivisible, efforts
semblance of God's power and love. It is towards their attainment must be shared by all. As
a recognition that everyone is as earlier stated, the Whole of Nation approach is
important as the other. based on the recognition that the AFP cannot
single handedly solve the internal peace and
c. Religious Appreciation. The ability to security concerns of the country. The
respect and appreciate this presence of comprehensive definition of security, with focus on
people with religious beliefs other than his the well-being of the people, entails a multi-faceted
own. This recognition brings us into and multi-pronged approach. This can only be
attained through a sustained multi-stakeholder local capacity building activities, mobilize broad community
effort borne out of partnerships with different participation, and collaborate with other agencies, civil
government institutions, non-government society, business communities, and local government units
stakeholders such as NGOs and CSOs, and the (LGUs) to pursue the human security agenda. This
local communities. approach aims to build a constituency for peace and
promote peace.
- The Whole of Nation approach aims to promote
national peace and security by creating a shared
understanding of security among security forces,
government institutions, civil society, and
communities. This approach is not just about
burden sharing but also emphasizes the active
contributions of ordinary citizens and the entire
Filipino nation to internal peace and security. It is a
natural progression of the "whole of government"
approach to internal security, emphasizing the
importance of shared responsibility and shared
security concepts.
2. People-Centered Security/Human Security
- Approach This Internal Peace and Security Plan
focuses on the people. A people-centered security
within the frame of human security puts people's
welfare at the center of its operations. “Inhuman
security operations, the protection of civilians, not
defeating an enemy, is an end in itself." 1'It puts
primacy to human rights and also explores ways on
promoting local security and safety based on the
needs and realities of communities on the ground.
3. Human security
- is the freedom from fear and desire, encompassing
protection of human rights, good governance,
economic opportunities, education, and healthcare.
It comprises components such as economic, food,
health, environmental, personal, community, and
political security, requiring collective
implementation from government, private sector,
and civil society. It is important to note that human
security does not conflict with state security.
- The human security approach aims to enhance
human rights and promote development, while
state security aims to remove armed threats that
hinder human security efforts. This aligns with the
AFP's constitutional mandate to protect the people
and state, as emphasized by President Aquino's
emphasis on the safety and well-being of the
people.
The AFP's plan prioritizes human security, focusing on
protecting civilians under human rights. The plan's
successful implementation is the AFP's primary
contribution to human security. It will enhance troop
appreciation and understanding of human security, support
