Acclaimed academics and experts attending a United Nations round table on peace in Asia last week heard how the Commonwealth is striving to help policymakers resolve "deep seated conflicts" around the world.

Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General Steve Cutts, speaking in Bangkok, Thailand, at an event organised by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), urged governments and organisations to look to the Commonwealth's work on "Civil Paths to Peace" for ideas on how to prevent and resolve conflict.

"Our mandate recognises that grievance and humiliation are driving factors that lead to conflict and misunderstanding and they must be resolved. Past as well as present humiliations must be addressed. Self-esteem must be restored in ways other than through violence," insisted Mr Cutts, in a speech which addressed the importance of education, the media and engaging young people in decision-making processes.

Exploring ways to reduce conflict, violence and extremism in Asia, the roundtable on 'Development and Peace in the Asian Context' on 20 July 2010 at Bangkok's UN Conference Centre featured Nobel laureate Professor Amartya Sen and Dr Noeleen Heyzer. Both Prof Sen and Dr Heyzer were members of the Commonwealth Commission on Respect and Understanding, which produced the landmark Civil Paths to Peace report in late 2007.

Civil Paths to Peace, the result of a mandate from Commonwealth leaders to look into the causes of conflict, violence and extremism in Commonwealth countries, focuses on the problem of group-based violence and its impact on communities. The report advocates solutions based on individuals' multiple identities and recommends new forms of political participation.

"Addressing causes of violence is not a military battle, but rather a battle for hearts and minds," continued the Assistant Secretary-General. "This is an area of huge importance, where the Commonwealth is determined to leverage its brand as a trusted partner within and beyond its membership."

Outlining the ways in which the Commonwealth is engaged in helping countries find peaceful solutions to domestic crises, Mr Cutts also detailed progress being made by the Secretariat in the priority areas of youth, education, gender and the media. Mr Cutts added that the Commonwealth Secretariat provides assistance in helping develop the roles of governments and opposition parties, in monitoring elections, and in developing good practice among election commissioners.