Peace Zones - Main Users / Purpose

The creation of Peace Zones is usually an act of empowerment and self-determination of communities affected by violent conflicts. By means of moral persuasion and negotiations with the conflicting parties a declaration is agreed upon and monitored by the community in cooperation with assigned neutral bodies such as peace councils, task forces, NGOs and other support groups. One common feature of all Peace Zones is the desire for an end to armed violence within the zone (negative peace), while some Peace Zones also attempt to create social change or social justice and to expand the principles of what Galtung referred to as “positive peace” (1969) beyond their limited borders.

Generally speaking, there are three interrelated purposes of Peace Zones. The first one is to regulate movements of armed parties and occasions for the outbreak of violence within the locality. The second one is the promotion of dialogue and the spirit of pluralism within the Peace Zone as contribution to peace building. And the third one is to foster social and economic development geared towards sustainable peace and prosperity.

Figure 1: The Cycle of the Peace Building Process