Event Summary
On 24 March 2025, the Peace and Conflict Science (PACS) Institute hosted a side event at the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, examining the complex issue of defining peace in contemporary international relations.
Moderated by Anders Reagan, founder and researcher at the PACS Institute, the event critically addressed the absence of a clear, comprehensive definition of peace in international peacebuilding and its implications for research, policy, and advocacy.
Panel Contributions
Anders Reagan outlined recent PACS Institute research proposing an interdisciplinary, operational definition of peace. Reagan argued that a measurable understanding of peace, incorporating social interaction, sentience, and equitable well-being, is essential for effective human rights advocacy and peace policy.
Dr Cecilia Bailliet, UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity and Professor of Law at the University of Oslo, emphasized the integral role of international solidarity in fostering sustainable peace, linking the pursuit of peace directly with global human rights frameworks. “Civil society should be given the freedom to express solidarity for peace. I suggest that peace researchers and practitioners pivot towards positive peace- non-discrimination and equality to implement the UN Declaration on the Right to Peace,” remarked Dr. Bailliet in a follow-up interview.
Sean Conner, Executive Director of the International Peace Bureau, discussed how clearly defining peace could influence disarmament policies, arguing that clarity on peace objectives can strategically undermine militarization and weaponization. When asked about the impact of the lack of consensus on the definition of peace, Sean had this to say: “New definitions can on one hand generate new conversations and debate within civil society that challenge out-of-date or incomplete concepts of peace and help us to reflect on how our work truly achieves peace. Furthermore, it helps us to dispel the misuse of peace by those that wish to cloak aggressive or otherwise misguided actions under the guise of promoting peace.
Insights and Reflections
The panelists collectively stressed the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to peace studies and a new way of exploring the social phenomenon of peace. Practical frameworks for measuring peace were presented, emphasizing empirical indicators aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the International Bill of Human Rights.
Reflecting on the significance of this event, Anders concluded, “This session marks the conclusion of the PACS Institute’s initial ‘start-up’ phase. Since our founding in 2017, we have intended to publish rigorous impactful research and convey those research findings to relevant high-level advocacy stakeholders to establish a network dedicated to addressing the most fundamental unanswered questions still facing the international community. With this event, we have now concluded that phase. What remains is to widen our network and continue to advance global peacecraft. This next phase of the PACS Institute impact will certainly be exciting to develop.”
Calls to Action
Panelists concluded the session with targeted recommendations for policymakers and international organizations:
Appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur on Peace, mandated to investigate the social phenomenon of peace and its relationship to human rights and international policy.
Establishment of a UNESCO Committee on Peace, focused on promoting interdisciplinary research and education to support effective peacecraft.
Formation of an International Peace Research Network, dedicated to investigating the philosophical and scientific basis for comprehending, defining, measuring, and advancing peace.
Next Steps
Following the event, the PACS Institute intends to engage with UN leadership to advance policy discussions on operationalizing peace effectively within the international governance framework.
The PACS Institute would like to extend a special thank you to our Advocacy and Education Officer, Kelly Webb-Davies, and to Emily Molinari from the IPB for coordinating this event. Additionally, we would like to thank Christen Kramer from Nations Global Consulting for her support navigating UN mechanisms. Lastly, thank you to Aida Portillo and Puck van Eijk for their support in establishing the PACS Institute.
Svante Frebran Dost, artist and human rights advocate, contributed to the session with a thought-provoking original image representing peace. We are deeply grateful to him and his work for elevating this event.