For peace, international law, and the dignity of life

The Spanish Peace Research Association (AIPAZ), of which Hegoa is a part, has issued a statement regarding the serious escalation of violence in the Middle East and the systematic breakdown of global frameworks for coexistence.

Through said statement, AIPAZ expresses its strongest position in favour of peace, international law, the defence of the dignity of all people, and the protection of human life:

• We call for equality in human dignity. Our commitment stems from the ethical premise of the right to life for all people. Under that logic, there is no form of liberation that can be built on the destruction of lives. As Iranian writer Sahar Delijani points out, "if your vision of liberation comes only through the destruction of innocent lives, then it’s not freedom you’re after”.

• We reject chaos as a geopolitical strategy. We observe with alarm the emergence of a "new global disorder” in which brute force seeks to replace diplomacy. The recent attacks by Israel and the United States against Iran not only violate national sovereignty, but also directly attack the pillars of the United Nations and multilateralism. These actions, far from seeking security, are a response to a struggle for hegemony and control of strategic resources such as oil. It is imperative to resist this disorder by defending democratic institutions, international human rights law, and international courts of justice.

• We demand political responsibility and dialogue. We criticise the militaristic direction of European institutions, whose current rearmament discourse poses a danger to world peace and a departure from their ethical duty. The political class has the unavoidable obligation and responsibility to use dialogue and mediation as priority tools for managing any conflict. Words are the only path capable of bringing about chances for life and lasting solutions.

• We call on civil society to take action. AIPAZ joins the voices of civil society demanding an end to this spiral of violence.

We raise our voices to proclaim that war is never the solution to anything. No to war! 

You can read the full statement via this link or on the AIPAZ website.