Presentation of the book “The Luarca Declaration on the human right to peace”

The event was chaired by M. H. Mr. Ernest Benach, president of the Parliament of Catalonia and followed by numerous deputies, such as Ms Anna Figueres (CiU), Ms Rosa Maria Ferrer (PSC-ToT), Mr Rafael Lopez (CPP) and Mr Lluis Postigo (ICV-EUiA).

In presentation of the book intervened, as well as Mr. Benach, the following speakers: Il. Mr. Rafael Ribó, the Ombudsman of Catalonia; Mr. Carlos Villán, President of the AEDIDH; Mr. David Minoves, Director General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Action of the Generalitat; Mr. Xavier Badia, Director of the Office for Promotion of Peace and Human Rights of the Generalitat of Catalonia and Mr. Cristian Velasco, representative of Madu Editions.

Mr. Benach said that "Everybody can learn from this Declaration Luarca." He stressed the idea that "peace is more than the absence of violence," said "that the existence of conflict is inherent in human relations" and that therefore it is necessary both to get "channel of conflict resolution through the use of the word, dialogue and consensus and resolving conflicts at the root".

The President added that "we all want peace and we must begin to understand that one can not resign themselves to combat violence, we must prevent, resolve the causes, or is always late," and thus deemed necessary "correcting imbalances , reducing inequalities and ensuring respect for human rights, introducing the concept of social sustainability or sustainable capitalism”.

The President of the AEDIDH stressed that the Declaration was drafted in Luarca (Asturias) through a committee of Spanish experts. The book presented today is a collective work which includes the text of the Declaration, a preliminary study (in four languages) and a selection of papers that constitute the background of the Declaration that finally was codified in Luarca. The Declaration represents what Spanish civil society understands as the human right to peace, "an emerging right in international human rights law".

The Ombudsman undertook to "disseminate this Declaration among different ombudsmen, human rights defenders and the network of autonomous European Ombudsmen" and said that the Sindic de Greuges is committed, as have already done 91 international NGOs to disseminate the content of the Declaration and give their total support”.

The Director of the Office for Promotion of Peace and Human Rights of the Generalitat, Mr. Xavier Badia, wished that "this Declaration is legally recognized by the UN General Assembly" because "it is important for us and vital for all people of this world."

The representative of Madu Editions, Mr. Cristian Velasco, stressed that "if it is great pride for being among you this afternoon, it is not the least being able to collaborate with the AEDIDH in the publication of the Luarca Declaration and to have been the communication way of the noble cause: The Human Right to Peace ".

Finally, the Director General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Action of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Mr. David Minoves, stressed that "institutions such as the Generalitat of Catalonia have much said in the peace promotion field. For this reason, the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation supports the AEDIDH with the conviction that both peace-building and strengthening human rights are inseparable factors for building an inclusive, humane and sustainable world".

• Text published on the website of the parliament with the approval of all political parties represented in the House of Representatives
• Reflection on peace of the President of Catalonia
• Agencia Catalana de Cooperación Internacional
• Noticias de política