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Pakistan-Afghanistan Armed Conflict: Humanitarian Law Needs to be Upheld

In Being a World Citizen, Conflict Resolution, Current Events, Humanitarian Law, International Justice, Middle East & North Africa, NGOs, Peacebuilding, Solidarity, The Search for Peace, World Law on March 19, 2026 at 7:00 AM

By René Wadlow

The Association of World Citizens (AWC) calls upon the military authorities of Pakistan and Afghanistan to uphold international humanitarian law, in particular the protection of medical and health installations.

More than 400 people were killed and at least 265 others were injured in a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center, Camp Phoenix, in Kabul, Afghanistan on March 15, 2026. Camp Phoenix, known locally as Omid Camp – Camp of Hope – has been for over a decade a drug treatment center. Afghanistan has a good number of people who have become dependent on the use of drugs. Thus, the drug treatment center meets a real need.

(C) BBC

Pakistan declared war on Afghanistan in late February 2026 for harboring Pakistani Taliban, a militant group which has repeatedly attacked Pakistani security forces. Over the past three weeks, Pakistani forces have hit Afghan military installations, residential areas, and civilian infrastructures, including more than 20 health care facilities. Afghan troops have responded with drone strikes and border raids. For the moment, a negotiated end to the armed conflict seems unlikely. Violence may expand.

Thus, there is a need to uphold international humanitarian law, of which the protection of medical centers and medical workers is a core element. The AWC welcomes others who also facilitate international humanitarian law in these critical times.

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

Of related interest:

February 10, 2025: Strengthening Respect for International Humanitarian Law

October 11, 2024: World Citizen Appeal to Uphold International Humanitarian Law

March 2, 2022: Upholding International Humanitarian Law in Times of Armed Conflict: A World Citizen Appeal

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Cooperative Peacebuilding Efforts Urgently Needed

In Being a World Citizen, Conflict Resolution, Cultural Bridges, Current Events, Humanitarian Law, NGOs, Nonviolence, Peacebuilding, Solidarity, The Search for Peace, Track II, United Nations, World Law on March 10, 2026 at 7:00 AM

By René Wadlow

At this time when there is armed conflict and strong political tensions in world society, broadly-based efforts are needed to develop a harmonious political culture based on world law. A political culture is a set of attitudes and beliefs which give order and meaning to a political process. Such a positive political culture is a product of both the collective history of a political system and the life histories of the members of that system.

“To establish conditions under which justice and the respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained” is one of the four objectives of the United Nations (UN) as set out in the preamble to the Charter, firmly related to the three other aims: the prevention of war, respect for human rights, and social progress. The phrasing of the aims rightly stresses not the enactment of international law but rather the need to “establish conditions” under which justice and respect for international law is possible.

Respect for international law should place limitations upon the number of options open to a government in choosing how to carry out a policy in foreign affairs. The most fundamental limitation is the prohibition on using military action except in self-defense against aggression.

(C) United Nations

When abuse of State power, denial of human rights, corruption, and the absence of participation in decision-making are the daily routine, people look upon law as a method to establish justice. The rule of law at both the international and national level must be based on a social consensus.

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) can play a vital role in developing this social consensus on the rule of law. NGOs have proven that they can respond effectively to the challenges faced by today’s world society. Thus, there is a growing role for NGOs within the UN system in the making and implementation of policies. NGOs are involved more than ever before in global policy-making and project implementation. They bring citizens’ concerns to governments and advocate specific policies.

Today, with armed violence ongoing in many parts of the world, cooperative peacebuilding efforts are urgently needed. NGOs are playing an increasing role in such peacebuilding efforts and must be encouraged.

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

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BOOK REVIEW: Zen Benefiel, “Planetary Citizens: Awakening the Heart of Humanity”

In Being a World Citizen, Book Review, Conflict Resolution, NGOs, Peacebuilding, Solidarity, The Search for Peace, United Nations on February 23, 2026 at 7:00 AM

By René Wadlow

Zen Benefiel, Planetary Citizens: Awakening the Heart of Humanity.

Chandler, AZ: Be The Dream Publishing, 2025, 126pp.

“I believe that the mark of the truly educated and imaginative person facing the twenty-first century is that he feels himself to be a Planetary Citizen.”

U Thant, former Secretary General, United Nations.

The current effort of Planetary Citizens is a reincarnation of a movement led by Donald Keys active from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. I was a member of the Planetary Citizens Advisory Board and Donald Keys was the United Nations (UN) editor for Transnational Perspectives, a journal I edited. Thus, Donald Keys and I were in close touch and cooperated on many projects.

The first objective of Planetary Citizens was to help people in as many countries as we could reach to cross the threshold of consciousness from a local and national perspective to the inclusive and global view required in this planetary era.

The office of Planetary Citizens in the Church Center for the UN, was directly across the street from the UN. The Center housed a good number of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the UN. Thus, the focus of Planetary Citizens was on issues which were discussed at the UN in New York. Cooperation was close with other Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) such as the Baha’i UN Office which shared a vision of world unity. Planetary Citizen identity cards were issued to those who requested it and affirmed their responsibility to a just world society. Some 200,000 people joined the effort, 60,000 in Japan.

The major effort of Planetary Citizens was the preparation and then the holding of a major conference held in Toronto, Canada, in June 1983. Some 500 people gathered to draft the “Declaration on the World We Choose” facing the challenges of a world with violence, human rights violations and persistent poverty. The Declaration identified three aims:

1) Self-Realization: The opportunity for achieving the individual human potential and realizing the essential spiritual identity of each person giving rise to oneness with all life, the assumption of responsibility and initiative in a spirit of cooperation.

2) Human Community: There is a natural progression from self-realization to the creation of vibrant communities capable of demonstrating cooperation and stewardship.

3) A United World: A cooperative world order characterized by membership in the family of humanity and by global governance based on justice. A result will be true international security.

Unfortunately, soon after the Toronto Conference, Donald Keys became ill and was unable to continue in a leadership role. As with many NGOs, too much responsibility rested on one person. When he/she is no longer there, the organization becomes weak and can shut down. This is what took place with the first incarnation of Planetary Citizens. All its papers and reports are now in the Peace Library of Swarthmore College near Philadelphia.

Zen Benefiel has revived much of the thinking and spirit of the original Planetary Citizens. As he notes, “The path ahead is not easy. It will take courage, collaboration, and commitment.” There is a need for bridge-building among the many groups working for the well-being of the Earth. There is a need for new kinds of leadership that feels comfortable with networking and nurtures creativity in others.

We wish the new incarnation all the best in the effort to create a just global society.

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

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