4th African Regional Conference
Towards Sustainable Peace in Africa: A Platform of Action

The Lusaka Declaration

Upon the Completion of the 4th IPPNW African Regional Conference

2-4 March 2002, Lusaka, Zambia

I. Preamble

We, the participants in the 4th IPPNW African Regional Conference on the Theme: "Towards Sustainable Peace in Africa: a Platform of Action," having met at Kapingila ZEC House, in Lusaka, Zambia, from 2-4 march 2002,

• Gravely concerned about the public health and other social and environmental effects of war and conflicts in Africa;
• Recognizing that war and conflict exacerbates diseases such as HIV/AIDS, targets civilians directly and indirectly more than combatants, undermines respect for Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, impedes provision of humanitarian assistance and fuels crimes and terrorism;
• Gravely concerned about the devastating consequences of war and conflict on civilians, particularly, women and children, many of whom are forced to become sex slaves, child soldiers and refugees, as well as the negative effects on the elderly women;
• Gravely concerned also about the glamorization of violence in the media;

II. Measures

• Emphasizing the linkage between poverty, underdevelopment, illicit trade in Small arms and light weapons, diamonds, oils and drugs;
• Concerned also about the close link between bad governance and the violation of human rights, and stressing the urgency of international efforts and cooperation aimed at preventing all war;
• Reaffirming our respect for basic norms and principles enshrined in the Organization of African Unity(OAU) Charter;
• Believing that African Governments have the primary responsibility of preventing war and conflict in Africa, assisting the victims of war and conflict and ameliorating the devastating effects caused by war on health and the environment;
• Recognizing the important contribution made by civil society and Non-Governmental Organizations to prevent all war;

III. Program of Action

Resolve therefore and call upon all African Governments, to move towards sustainable peace in Africa on this platform of action by:

1. Strengthening and developing norms and measures at national, sub-regional, regional and international levels that would reinforce and further coordinate efforts to prevent all war;
2. Enhancing the respect for life and dignity of the human person through a culture of peace;
3. Developing and implementing regional measures to enhance the respect for human rights , counter adverse effects of globalization, reduce the scourge of HIV/AIDS, combat the negative effects of small arms and light weapons, reduce the glamorization of violence in the media;
4. Promoting international efforts towards disarmament, including nuclear disarmament and other weapons of mass destruction;
5. Placing particular emphasis on women and children who bear the brunt of war and conflict whose plight must be addresses urgently and decisively;
6. Engaging responsible action by African nations with a view to promoting economic development, providing good governance, transparency and selfless leadership;
7. Engaging the international community to cancel Africa's crushing and unrepayable debt, to release development funds from new sources and to meet their obligations to the United Nations Organization;
8. Conducting research in collaboration with civil society and NGOs, in public health and other social effects of war and conflict.

Made this 3rd day of March 2002, at Kapingila ZEC House, Lusaka, Zambia.