A group of 50 Congolese and 9 international civil society groups – including PAX – calls on the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DR Congo ‘MONUSCO’ to improve their efforts to protect civilians from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). This rebel group has abducted over 3,400 Congolese civilians and killed over 2,400 since 2008.
A law proposed by the European Commission on responsible sourcing of minerals is not strong enough to prevent European companies’ mineral purchases from financing conflict or human rights abuses, and falls far short of expectations, European campaigners said this week. Dutch peace organization PAX is one of them.
With support from PAX and a number of other NGOs, thirteen South Sudanese Civil Society Organizations have sent an open letter to the Members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).
PAX made an animated movie about killer robots. With the movie we want to show why these weapons should be banned. Although killer robots do not exist yet, the rapid advances in military technology show that the capability to deploy fully autonomous weapons is on its way.
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the use of armed drones that includes a call for a ban on killer robots. The resolution sponsored by the Greens/European Free Alliance group of Members of the European Parliament with cross-party support, passed by a vote of 534–49 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 27 February.
Over sixty international non-governmental organizations endorse the call of the European Parliament for binding EU rules that ensure that all companies operating in the EU, using or trading minerals sources from conflict-affected areas, check their supply chains to reduce the risk of conflict financing and human rights abuses.
On the 26th of February PAX will present the report ‘Deadly Decisions – 8 objections to killer robots’ at the annual NGO conference of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots in London. The report highlights eight objections to killer robots and explains why a comprehensive and pre-emptive ban on these weapons is necessary.
The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots is an international coalition comprised of nine NGO’s calling for a comprehensive, pre-emptive ban on the development, production and use of fully autonomous weapons (so called killer robots). The campaign was officially launched in April 2013 in London. In the meantime, the coalition is comprised of 50 NGOs in 23 […]
In South Sudan churches play a key role in the mediation and reconciliation efforts. In the light of the current crisis PAX frequently provides financial support to the churches of South Sudan for enabling them to initiate mediation work and launch peace & reconciliation initiatives.
In the second round of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-led negotiations, which will most likely start next Wednesday in Debre Zeit near Addis Ababa, it is critical to address the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan. This can only be done if the participation of all parties – including churches and civil society as independent actors – is ensured. PAX therefore recommends the following.
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