Oz 'civil society' call for UN into Iraq

[Peter Boyle <peterb@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Beyond War: Building A Just And Lasting Peace In Iraq

[Joint Statement by Australian Civil Society Groups urging
the Coalition nations to accept and support a UN mandated
transitional authority and actively support UN
reconstruction efforts.]

A Joint Statement By Australian Civil Society Groups

We the undersigned groups represent the interests and
aspirations of millions in the Australian community. Our
areas of expertise and engagement cover diverse
constituencies and themes including aid and development,
environmental protection and restoration, faith and
religion, service provision and advocacy, multicultural
Australia, indigenous Australia, trade unionists, working
people and social justice.

We view war and military conflict as a failure of both
political will and our social contract and primary
responsibility to protect human life and the wider
environment.

We are committed to work towards a just and lasting peace to
follow the current conflict. We support a mediated
resolution under the auspices of the United Nations.

Continued fighting at this stage, possibly away from the
wider worlds attention and awareness, would only result in
further military and civilian death and injury and
unacceptable damage to the infrastructure needed to sustain
life. It is time for cooperation and dialogue to take the
place of conflict and loss.

We believe that the United Nations has the most legitimate
and duly empowered mechanisms to facilitate a just peace and
we support a UN administered transition process. We urge the
Coalition nations to accept and support a UN mandated
transitional authority and actively support UN
reconstruction efforts.

The Coalition nations, as participants in a military action
that has lacked international sanction and support, have a
particular responsibility in relation to the future of
post-conflict Iraq. Reconstruction efforts should urgently
address the human suffering and displacement caused by the
conflict as well as the infrastructure needs of the Iraqi
population and the issues of environmental repair.

The reconstruction of Iraq is an urgent and complex task and
must be approached in an integrated fashion to provide real
and lasting outcomes for post conflict Iraq. It is
imperative that this process does not become a competitive
and unseemly push for contracts on the part of private
corporations and nation states. Supporting and rebuilding
communities shattered by mistrust and war is a true
international challenge, not an opportunity for profit
amidst the rubble.

Along with the importance of repairing and restoring the
physical infrastructure is the urgent need to support and
build robust and transparent political institutions and a
vibrant and inclusive political culture in Iraq. As civil
society organisations whose members play a vital role in
ensuring this in Australia we strongly support a primary
role for the UN and its agencies in this process in the
difficult times that lie ahead.

National Council of Churches in Australia
Australian Council for Overseas Aid
Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Council of Social Service
Federation of Ethnic Communities? Councils of Australia
Australian Council of Trade Unions

Contact Details

Jeremy Vermeesch
Ph: 0408 513 849
Fax: 03 9663 8220
jeremy@xxxxxxxxxxx
http://actu.asu.asn.au