The reasons for having such a project are:

• Promoting greater understanding: The role of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights within Peacebuilding is under researched and underdeveloped. This project seeks to address this gap in research by developing new insights into how such rights contribute to peacebuilding  in a preventative context, in transition and post-conflict.

• Knowledge exchange: To strengthen collaboration and dialogue across academia and practice (policy based and in the field)

• Impact: To challenge current fragmented policy approaches and develop innovative policy and practice at international, national and local levels. Understanding the links between economic, social and cultural rights and sustaining peace will help to strengthen the case for increased attention to be given to such rights in all stages of conflict transformation by states, the UN and civil society. 

• Needed and Important:  In light of the new ‘sustaining peace’ approach at the UN which recognises that ‘development, peace and security, and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing’ and which calls for a comprehensive and system wide approach to sustaining peace, including conflict prevention with a focus on tackling root causes, strengthening the rule of law, poverty eradication, social and sustainable development, transitional justice, accountability, good governance, gender equality and respect for and protection of human rights (Security Council Resolution 2282) and in recognition of the  integrated ‘2020 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ (General Assembly Resolution a/70/1) that advocates the need to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies,  this project offers a timely and important opportunity to develop an enhanced and broader understanding amongst practitioners and academics of the role of economic, social and cultural rights in sustaining peace.