NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES

JOINT DECLARATION

November 6, 1998

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, have gathered in Charlottesville to participate in a conference presented by the University of Virginia and the Institute for Asian Democracy on human rights, conflict, and reconciliation. We wish to use this opportunity to reaffirm our missions to the international community.

Whereas, the children of the world are oftentimes victims of conflict and require protection, we must establish safe havens for children of war and advance the cause of children’s rights;

Whereas, the vast majority of arms sales are to non-democratic governments and scarce resources are devoted to education, housing and health, we call upon all nations to adopt the International Code of Conduct for Arms Transfers and to dedicate their resources to erasing the gap between the world’s rich minority and its poor majority;

Whereas, in order to find a peaceful resolution to the Tibet issue, we urge that the Chinese government enter into negotiations that will serve the interests of the Tibetan and Chinese peoples. Also, that these negotiations be conducted expeditiously, as an indication of China’s good will and sincere intent;

Whereas, the UN General Assembly has adopted resolutions calling for upholding the will of the Burmese people as expressed in the 1990 elections and further calls for the State Peace and Development Council to enter into a substantive political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives of ethnic groups as the best means of promoting national reconciliation and democracy, we urge that the UN. resolutions be implemented fully;

Whereas, the dignity of the indigenous peoples of the world continue to be marginalized, we must accept and respect other peoples, communities and cultures, and integrate the mosaic languages, traditions, and peoples into the community of nations;

Whereas, the people of East Timor have the right to self-determination as recognized by several UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, we call for an internationally supervised referendum to determine their future political status;

Whereas, the world community has responded to the global landmine crisis with the Mine Ban Treaty, already signed by 133 governments and ratified by 49, we call upon the signatory states to ratify and non-signatories to join as soon as possible and all governments to expand their commitment to mine clearance and victim assistance;

We resolve that, it is our hope that this declaration will advance not only our own initiatives but bring about a more peaceful world. Moreover, we urge the international community to seek new ways of promoting justice, reconciliation, and peace in societies making the transition from repression to democracy and from conflict to civil societies under the rule of law.

Betty Williams, Northern Ireland (1976)

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa (1984)

President Oscar Arias Sánchez, Costa Rica (1986)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet (1989)

Harn Yawnghwe, participating on behalf of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma (1991)

Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Guatemala (1992)

José Ramos-Horta, East Timor (1996)

Jody Williams, United States (1997)

Bobby Muller, United States (1997) for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines