María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés · "La paz no es solo la ausencia de guerra, sino la presencia de justicia social,..."

Declaración en el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU, 2019 · Checked on 14 March 2026

La paz no es solo la ausencia de guerra, sino la presencia de justicia social, inclusión y oportunidades para todos.

Analysis

The statement reflects the concept of **positive peace** (as opposed to *negative peace*, or mere absence of violence), a term coined by peace researcher Johan Galtung and adopted by the UN in documents like *Agenda 2030* (SDG 16). Espinosa’s emphasis on **justice, inclusion, and opportunity** mirrors language from the UN’s *Sustaining Peace* resolutions (A/RES/70/262) and the *Declaration on the Right to Peace* (A/RES/71/189). Her role as **UNGA President (2018–2019)** further validates her authoritative use of institutional terminology.

Background

The distinction between negative and positive peace has been foundational in peacebuilding since the 1960s, informing UN policies that prioritize structural equity alongside conflict prevention. Espinosa’s statement occurred during her tenure as **President of the 73rd UN General Assembly**, where she frequently advocated for multilateralism and social justice. The UN’s *Sustaining Peace* agenda, adopted in 2016, explicitly links peace to development, human rights, and inclusive governance—key themes in her remark.

Verdict summary

María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés' 2019 UN statement aligns with widely accepted definitions of *positive peace* in peace studies and international discourse, including UN frameworks.

Sources consulted

— United Nations General Assembly. (2016). *Resolution 70/262: Review of the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture*. [https://undocs.org/A/RES/70/262](https://undocs.org/A/RES/70/262)

— Galtung, J. (1969). *Violence, Peace, and Peace Research*. Journal of Peace Research, 6(3), 167–191. [https://doi.org/10.1177/002234336900600301](https://doi.org/10.1177/002234336900600301)

— United Nations. (2017). *Declaration on the Right to Peace (A/RES/71/189)*. [https://undocs.org/A/RES/71/189](https://undocs.org/A/RES/71/189)

— Espinosa Garcés, M.F. (2019). *Statement to the UN Security Council on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace* (26 February 2019). UN Web TV. [https://media.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15vqjzx9e](https://media.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15vqjzx9e)

— United Nations. (2015). *Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1)*, *Goal 16*. [https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda](https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda)