Worrying State of Global Peace and Freedom

A decent life consists of a healthy environment, decent work, freedom of expression, peaceful conditions, and other important aspects. However, with the increasing complexity around the world, is the current global situation ideal for safeguarding human rights and ensuring peace and freedom?

Global Trend of Peace and Freedom, or Lack Thereof

In recent years, the world has been grappling with various crises, from international conflicts to civil unrest, painting a grim picture of the current global violence situation. The 2023 Global Peace Index (GPI) revealed a concerning trend of declining global peacefulness for the ninth consecutive year, with the average country’s peacefulness deteriorating by 0.42%.

As of May 2024, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists, with casualties rising since October 2023. Over 30,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, while countless others have been displaced from their homes. Meanwhile, in Europe, Ukraine has been facing ongoing attacks since 2022, resulting in more than 10 million Ukrainians displaced. Despite these grim statistics, there seems to be no immediate resolution in the near future.

Apart from the widely covered stories, civil conflicts in other regions are equally alarming. The civil wars in Myanmar and Sudan or gang takeovers in Haiti have persisted with no resolution in sight.

Global protests have erupted in response to the continuous violence against civilians.  Moreover, some events highlight how global issues are interconnected and have far-reaching impacts. For instance, student demonstrations over the Palestine-Israel issue in US campuses have unfortunately resulted in student arrests. This shows that currently, opposition to global issues can appear in different forms and ultimately may result in freedom restrictions. 

Press Freedom and Access to Information

Access to information is crucial. During crises and conflicts, having press freedom and access to information is even more vital to ensuring transparency and accountability  as well as helping people make informed decisions. 

Despite its critical role, press freedom remains restricted, particularly when it comes to providing alternative narratives to government perspectives. The 2024 World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) highlights a decline in support for media autonomy and increased pressure from the state. The political indicator has fallen the most, with a global average decline of 7.6 points.  

A recent example is the case of Al-Jazeera, a globally recognized news agency, facing a closure on its operations in Israel as it is accused of posing a security threat to the nation. Following a unanimous decision by the Israeli government, authorities confiscated Al-Jazeera’s broadcasting equipment, and police raided its premises in East Jerusalem.

Peacebuilding and Recommitment to Human Rights

Conflicts and unrest impact all aspects of life–people, nature, socio-economy, and culture. Effective negotiation and collective action are key in averting loss of life and securing a promising future for generations to come. Among all efforts, defending press freedom and ensuring access to information are essential initial steps in the peacebuilding process. By addressing underlying issues and fostering empathy, governments, organizations, and communities can take gradual steps toward sustainable peace and freedom underpinned by human rights and constructive dialogue.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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