Manila Times/Manila
The Philippines was among the least peaceful countries in the world, the recent survey from Global Peace Index revealed.
According to the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global Peace Index (GPI) 2013, the world became “less peaceful” compared to how it was five years ago. In the new index, 162 countries around the world were surveyed to determine the levels of securities in the societies, the extent of conflicts and the degree of militarisation in the countries.
Based on their findings, the GPI reported that the level of peace in the world has fallen by 5% since 2008. It added that internal conflicts in countries have risen over the years and it also showed that 110 countries became less peaceful over the years.Iceland, Denmark, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Austria, Ireland, Slovenia, Finland and Switzerland were the top 10 peaceful countries, the index reported. It explained that Iceland’s political stability, low crime rate and small prison population made it the most peaceful country in the world.
“Europe is the most peaceful region, with 13 of the top 20 most peaceful countries,” the index said and added that “the top three most peaceful countries (Iceland, Denmark and New Zealand)” made it to the top because of their “small and stable democracies.”
Meanwhile, Japan, the only Asian country that made it to top 10, was ranked six because of its good relations with its neighbouring countries and its strict laws on possession of firearms, GPI said.
“The three least peaceful countries are Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria,” GPI report said.
“Syria’s score dropped by the largest margin, with the biggest ever score deterioration in the history of the GPI,” it added.
Afghanistan landed on the last spot because, the index said, it uses a political terror scale.
Meanwhile, the Philippines is still among the less peaceful nations in the world based on the results of the index. The country ranked 129 in 162 countries surveyed. The index said that the country scored two out of 5 in terms of militarisation, 3.1 in terms of society’s security and 3.2 out of five in terms of domestic and international conflict.
“Ranking among the least peaceful countries in AsiaPacific, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar all face ongoing internal civil conflict. Last year saw improved prospects for peace between the Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (the main rebel group on the southern island of Mindanao), when a framework deal for a potential peace agreement was signed. There are many obstacles to lasting peace, but negotiations appear to be on-track in 2013,” the index said.
Meanwhile, International Peace Advocate Lee Man Hee visited the Philippines to conduct a series of talks on how to achieve peace. In a press conference on Thursday, Lee said the youth played a significant role in achieving peace in a society. He said that the youth’s desire to achieve it can make a lot of difference in terms of attaining peace in a society.
Lee explained that the most common victims of war were the youth, especially the young children who are voiceless in turbulent times.
