The debate on security

All armed conflicts should, at some stage, have been able to avoid or prevent. The problem is that the governments of the world do not put a sufficient priority on preventive measures. Everybody knows that a failure to prevent an outbreak of violence, war and genocide leads to huge losses of human life, immeasurable suffering and economic cost that can be calculated in billions.

In spite of this, interest in conflicts is usually aroused too late (if aroused at all) when violence has already broken out. Then it just remains to handle the crisis in as good a way as possible. The answer tends to be expensive military intervention which does not often help to find a sustainable solution to the conflict.

If more preventive measures were taken, many lives, a lot of suffering and billions of dollars could be saved. All in all, the 17 worldwide peace operations which the United Nations undertook during 2005 had an annual cost which is less than what the USA's military operations in Iraq cost per month.

Peace Team Forum

SweFOR is a member of the network Peace Team Forum and actively takes part in its council. The main purpose of the network is to develop a capacity in Sweden for the prevention of violence, conflict containment and measures towards the creation of peace; and also to contribute to a non-military structure for peace and security in Europe and the world. Today the Peace Team Forum consists of about 50 Swedish peace and aid organisations. Read more about this on the network's home page www.fredsforum.se.

Military exercises for handling conflicts

SweFOR has taken part in the military exercises Nordic Peace 99 and 02 as well as Viking 99, 01, 03 and 05. Nordic Peace exercises take place outdoors, while the Viking exercises only simulate incidents with the help of computers. Swedish, Danish and foreign military, civil society organisations and authorities take part in these exercises.

One aim with our participation is to put the focus on the peace-building role which organisations in civil society can, and should play, before, during and after an armed conflict. We also contribute with knowledge on the role of religion in conflict situations, for good or bad. The work gives us an opportunity to educate the participants in nonviolence and test our nonviolence methods, and to clarify what we mean by nonviolence.

Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict

SweFOR is also a part of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict. This is a worldwide process lead by civil society to create a new international order which is to be built upon the creation of peace and the prevention of violent conflict.

SweFOR participated in the meeting that took place in New York in the summer of 2005 when a three year process to produce an Global Action Agenda was finalised. The Agenda was handed over to Kofi Annan. The Agenda suggests concrete steps that civil society, governments and regional organisations can take.