6 November of each year is the International Day for Preventing the
Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. This day aims at educating people about the damaging effects of war and
armed conflict on the environment.
The United Nations
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, highlighted the importance of
protecting the environment in times of armed conflict, in his message, and
stressed that strong natural resource governance
can help prevent conflict and contribute to long-term peace.
“Strengthening
natural resource governance and improving monitoring in conflict-affected
States can help prevent resources from fuelling conflict, direct much-needed
revenue towards economic revitalization and contribute to more lasting peace,”
Ban said.
The day
was created by the UN General Assembly in 2001, to
spotlight the tenuous link between global and regional conflicts and the
environment.
Over the years, the environment has remained a victim of war and armed
conflicts. Water wells have been polluted, crops torched, forests cut down,
soils poisoned, and animals killed to gain military advantage.
The environment and natural resources are crucial in uniting
peace between war-torn societies. There can be no durable peace in the world if
the natural resources that sustain livelihoods and ecosystems are destroyed.
AMECEA Justice and
Peace Desk, is very keen in ensuring that action on the environment is part of
peacebuilding strategies.
