Grand UN Peace Initiative Needed Calling for Immediate Ceasefire in All Wars and Civil Wars Followed by Peace Negotiations – PIR Report

By R Anil Kumar

Bengaluru, May 12, 2026. Mass distress and destruction caused by wars and civil wars has increased to intolerable levels. Many of these conflicts have been prolonged and the overall possibilities of peace agreements being reached has declined steeply in recent times, as pointed out by the latest (2025) Peace Index Report (PIR). Above all, there is a bigger danger of some of the wars and civil wars becoming wider wars and more dangerous wars. The longer these continue, the more this danger, apart from the daily toll of death and destruction.

These wars and civil wars have become the leading force behind an increasing humanitarian crisis, hunger crisis and refugee crisis, at the same time that the funds for reducing the extreme distress caused to all the affected people is reducing.

Deeply distressing while all this is, there is an even bigger emerging crisis due to these wars and civil wars creating conditions in which the international cooperation needed for resolving the most important survival issues cannot be obtained and hence these most urgent existential issues (including the most serious environmental problems and the issues relating to the weapons of mass destruction) cannot be resolved.

In these highly disturbing conditions the United Nations must rise above its recent marginalization to make a grand effort for immediate ceasefire in all the ongoing wars and civil wars of the entire world, to be followed by sincere peace negotiations. This can be in the form of a resolution of the Security Council and if this is not possible then in the form of a resolution of the General Assembly. This should be supported by the Non-Aligned Movement.

The resolution can be a more general one without naming specific countries or situations. This should be followed by the UN sending directions for ceasefire and peace negotiations to all countries affected by wars and civil wars, following criteria such as mortality or other related indicators during a specific period. Where ceasefires already exist but are weak, faltering and uncertain, directions can be given for strengthening ceasefires and making these more effective.

This as well as other directions and responses must be transparent and available in the public domain, and the peace thus initiated must get the thoughtful support of all forces of peace.

It may be said by some that this amounts to asking for too much to be achieved in a short time and hence may not be practical. However what I would like to emphasize is that this is really important in the present conditions of the world and hence should be attempted. Anyway, no harm can be caused by this and at least the potential for some success is there. Even if success is less than the expectations, at least the world will move forward one important step in the direction of peace as there will be a lot of discussion on peace in the process of this initiative in almost all the war or civil war zones.

On the optimistic side, there is always the chance of much better and more encouraging results emerging in some war zones, bringing the warring parties much closer to peace. This can happen particularly in those places where the warring parties are already too weary and tired of war and people are crying out for end to war but this is being delayed due to the absence of peace initiatives. In such conditions the ceasefire and peace negotiation resolution and directions based on this can prove to be just the right and timely initiator of peace that the violence-torn region has been waiting for.

The United Nations resolutions should be accompanied by many other hope giving initiatives including many of the most popular persons in the world, including movie, music and sports stars, becoming the ambassadors of this peace effort and travelling to spread its message. At the same time some of the most respected spiritual leaders of the world can come together to support this peace initiative. Some of the most eminent scholars and statesmen of the world can also come forward to support this initiative in various ways. There can be a big media campaign as well as cultural programs in support of this peace initiative. Some of the best peace literature and movies of durable value can be widely distributed and circulated as a supportive effort. Steps to strengthen the voices of peace and the peace movements in all countries, particularly in the war zones can be initiated around the same time. Significant supportive peace networks which are influential also in the most powerful countries can be created.

One hopes very sincerely that all these efforts together can bring a new wave of optimism and genuine hope in humanity’s quest for peace, providing very relevant areas and points for continuing work and action for those who want to work for peace, particularly peace with justice.