IN any efforts towards peace there are two dimensions that need to be taken into account.
First is the universal respect for human dignity and life, and second, in an equivalent way, the respect for particularity, such as identity, culture, and security.
Both these elements are critical to bring peace and justice to a world that is engulfed in strategic calculations.
The international Summit on Peace in Ukraine was held over the weekend in Switzerland. But Russia’s absence created an imbalance since its particular national security concerns have been ignored.
The wars in Ukraine and Gaza are examples of world leaders failing to respect the dignity and right to life of all human beings, and of failing to listen to the particular concerns of nations in the areas of identity and security.
While Ukraine has the concern that its dignity and right to life of its citizens have been trampled on by Russia, it has failed to consider Russia’s particular security concerns related to the expansion of Nato (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) in Eastern Europe upon Ukraine’s membership.
It is the same in Gaza where the universal rights of Pales-tinians to life, liberty, and dignity have been trampled upon without understanding that the Palestinians’ right to self-determination ignores Israel’s particular concern about security.
But one would not enjoy security in a real sense by denying others their rights.
Therefore, the Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue (Acid) urges world leaders to embrace the universality of human dignity as well as respect the particularistic concerns of nations that each has its own identity and security concerns.
Holding on to these principles will, in a long run, create the necessary conditions for peace to prevail.
RONALD BENJAMIN
Secretary
Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue (Acid)
