News items for 2007-February

2007-FEB-04: World: Peacemaking having a positive effect; fewer wars active: The Human Security Centre of the University of British Columbia in Canada has issued its latest Human Security Brief. They report that from 1992 to 2002, the number of armed conflicts in the world dropped by 40%. Between 2002 and 2005, the number dropped a further 15%. They list 56 current conflicts. The greatest reduction has been in Africa. This is countered with modest increases elsewhere in the world.

Peacemaking -- attempts to stop existing wars -- and peace building -- stopping wars from restarting -- have been particularly effective. Efforts to prevent wars from starting has not been particularly successful. During 2005, an accord in Indonesia ended a conflict in that country. During 2006, ceasefires and an accord have ended conflicts in Burundi, Nepal and Uganda. However, the Centre lists conflicts continuing in Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Chad, Central African Republic, Chechnya, Congo, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Ira, Israel and its occupied territories, Myanmar, Philippines, Somalia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey and the United States. ₁