The Role of Traditional Norms in Building Sustainable Peace in Post-Conflict Societies: The case of Afghanistan

The stability and well-being of societies depend heavily on the attainment and maintenance of national peace. International documents are very important in assisting and directing nations toward peace. Nations can refer to these documents as useful instruments in the pursuit of peace. Through the implementation of these documents, countries can reap the benefits of their significance and direction, ultimately aiding in the achievement of peace. Reference to international documents is essential, however, not sufficient to create and maintain a long-term peaceful environment. Besides the inputs offered by the reference to internationally recognized human rights, it is paramount to make to most of some positive aspects of traditional practices that local populations understand and can consider as their own. For instance, community get-togethers can be extremely important for settling disputes and promoting peace. Thanks to these traditional practices, people feel there are part of the decision-making process, develop a sense of ownership about the adopted strategies and will most likely actively engage in the process of promoting peace. These bottom-up approaches are one concrete way to acknowledge each and every citizen's importance as a member of society, and as a critical element in peacebuilding initiatives. As a good example of such practices, one could mention two Afghanistan’s long-lasting traditions: Shura and Jirga. These are vents in which community elders and members meet to collectively resolve disputes, work this way toward a peaceful resolution of conflicts. It would be therefore crucial to involve the Afghan people in peace negotiations in order to guarantee their active involvement and to emphasize their significance as stakeholders in the process of establishing peace. Nonetheless, it is imperative that the reference to traditional practices is done within the human rights framework, so as to grant – for instance – women's inclusion. Reference to positive aspects of local traditions should not impede a critical analysis of possible discriminating elements of such traditions. The best strategy to promote sustainable peace in post-conflict societies is to combine reference to internationally agreed upon human rights documents with appreciation and use of positive aspects of local traditions. Making the most of local practices (such as get-togethers in Afghanistan) is crucial to promote inclusivity and to develop in the local population a sense of ownership towards building peace. Empowering community and individuals, recognizing their significance as active participants in the decision-making and peace-building process, is indeed instrumental to the very success of peace initiatives. Acknowledging the importance of local traditions and practices, however, does not mean acratically accepting every aspect of them. Hence, the importance of the reference to human rights documents, that grant the right of meaningful engagement from all community members, including women, in the effort to establish a lasting and inclusive peace.