Statement of the 9th International Peace Seminar 2009

Family and Peace

Fifteen years after the International Year of the Family the subject has in no way lost its relevance and it is now more than ever necessary to take a careful look at Family and Peace.

The United Nations has always viewed the family as the nucleus of society and has devoted efforts to its protection and progress. A United Nations publication from 2005 states: “With the proclamation of 1994 as the International Year of the Family under the motto, ‘Family—Resources and Responsibility in a Changing World’, the General Assembly aided the introduction of the theme of the family into an international development dialogue. As a result governments developed national plans of action for the family, set up family ministries and strengthened their family laws.” Furthermore the two most important goals of the United Nations Family Program were specified as giving the family stronger emphasis in integrated development policy and its programs, and the successful commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family at all levels. Likewise, the United Nations has committed itself to implementing the worldwide commemoration of the 15^th of May as the annual International Day of the Family.

In spite of these efforts the global trend in which the family is troubled and weakened could not be stopped. The situation is even more dramatic than before. A growing divorce rate, increasing mother-child separation, a rise in the number of single parent families, an increasing loss of fundamental social values, the weakening of family bonds and family solidarity all contribute to a general destabilisation. Worldwide migration trends coupled with a worldwide lack of solidarity, poverty and hunger, natural catastrophes and the Aids-pandemic have produced a lasting impact on the family, as the United Nations reports. The results are appalling.

Children not only grow up without role models, but also without reliable human values. The fulfilment of essential social responsibilities by the family such as the socialisation of children, imparting a sense of security and meaning in life, and the care of the young and elderly members of the family is clearly endangered.

The general lack of true relationships, an inability to bond, and addictive behaviour are epidemic. Increasingly people waive human friendship and closeness, or view themselves as incapable of this, and try to fill the resulting vacuum with material goods, addictive drugs, television, internet, etc. Clearly people are increasingly disillusioned with people. In this general atmosphere of unconnectedness egotism and self-centeredness abound.

In 2004, ten years after the International Year of the Family, the United Nations declared: “The family has a continuing and crucial role in social and human development as well as in provision of care and support of individuals. Strong family bonds have always been part of most societies, and families in most places continue to make important contributions to social and economic well-being. Indeed, families have major, albeit often untapped potential to contribute to national development and to the achievement of major objectives of every society and of the United Nations, including the eradication of poverty and the creation of just, stable and secure societies. … With increasing social and economic change, globalization and pressures from HIV/AIDS, migration and urbanization, families have faced increasing pressures and family structures have experienced changes. The tendency has been to have smaller families with fewer children, with a weakening of extended family relationships based on mutual obligation and shared responsibility. These changes have sometimes led to social problems as families have become less able―or willing―to provide for the needs of all their members.”

It is a fact that the family both mirrors social reality and creates it. According to research findings of the International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture, the family must be regarded as the primary place for peace education and preventive education. It is here that basic attitudes of a child are formed, character qualities are developed and behaviour patterns are learned. Therefore, a lasting peace in the world without peace in the family is not possible.

The International Peace Seminar 2009 is devoted to this important subject and to investigating among other things the answers to the two vital questions:

¨       How can we counter the negative developments and tendencies that weaken the family?

Family and Peace

Report on the 9th International Peace Seminar in Walenstadt

 More that 100 specialists and laypeople from near and far gathered from July 4-11 at the International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture

 For more than 20 years the psychology institutes of the International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture―namely, the Psychology Institute for Peace Research and Peace Education and the Psychology Counselling and Research Institute for Sexuality, Marriage and the Family―have addressed such subjects as peace and intercultural understanding, peace education and the advancement of the family. The Academy cooperates with the University of Maryland (USA) in the field of international development and conflict management. In association with the University’s Center for Heritage Resource Studies and Center for International Development and Conflict Management as well as with three non-profit organisations, the Academy regularly holds international peace seminars that each deal with a worldwide prevailing issue. The co-organising societies in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein are the International Association for Parent Training and Professionally Trained Parent Councils, the International Society for Justice, Human Rights, Professional Honour and Honour of Office and the Support Association for the International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture.

 Family and Peace was the theme of this year’s seminar that was explored by experts of note from the fields of science, culture and society. The backgrounds and approaches were accordingly diverse and interdisciplinary―from psychology, sociology and education to art and literature, to politics, physics and philosophy.

 In his welcoming address the mayor of Quarten, Balz Manhart, underlined the timeliness of the theme, spoke about the problem of the increasing breakdown of the family and effectively showed how much time and commitment must also be invested by municipal authority members to deal with family problems of their communities. Professor Suheil Bushrui of the University of Maryland voiced his appreciation of the more than 10-year cooperation with the International Academy, explored the theme of Family and Peace from a cultural, sociological, and philosophical viewpoint and closed his series of talks with practical suggestions. Professor Gerhard Müller of the University of Rhode Island in Kingston (USA) was able to build a bridge from his field of physics to philosophy and substantiated ethical and spiritual principles. Professor Vladimir Smékal of the Masaryk University in the Czech Republic addressed the development of civic maturity in the family. The psychotherapist, Dr. Ursula Germann, spoke on the problem of depressed and discouraged children and youth. The administrative director of the Academy, Catherine Ghaemmaghami, underlined the necessity of reevaluating and appreciating the role of the mother in society and pointed out the dangers of a motherless society in which the role of the mother is increasingly being eliminated. The Academy director, Dr. Assad Ghaemmaghami, analysed the theme from a social psychological and psychotherapeutic viewpoint and brought concrete problem-solving suggestions from the perspective of the new Psychology of the Capacity to Know and to Love.

 The 9th International Peace Seminar demonstrated clearly that the family is a mirror of social reality and also creates social reality, and that therefore a lasting peace in the world without peace in the family is not possible.

 Through fruitful dialogue the organisers, scientists and participants succeeded in producing a scientifically and culturally comprehensive and rich seminar that allowed too for the aspect of human encounter and friendship. A number of families with children and youths took part in the seminar.