The possibilities for the health sector to actively contribute to peace processes.

The 20th century has been the bloodiest in the history of mankind. Two world wars and numerous smaller violent conflicts have resulted in more than 110 million deaths, 50 million displaced and the suffering of countless more. The World Bank and WHO estimate that war will be the 8th most common cause of morbidity and mortality in the year 2020 [1]. Despite the enormous human consequences of violent conflict, it is a relatively new thought that physicians and other health professionals can play an active role in prevention, resolution and reconciliation after violent conflicts. Since Henri Dunant in the 19th century founded the International Red Cross, health professionals have treated combatants and civilians in situations of violent conflict. Meanwhile health professionals have been engaged in peace work, but only as individuals and not as professionals. This changed in the last half of the 20th century when organizations such as International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) were founded with the purpose of preventing war, the use of weapons and human rights abuses, because of their grave consequences for human health. The association between violent conflict and health was further stressed in 1981 when the World Health Assembly passed a resolution that acknowledged the role of physicians and other health workers in the preservation and promotion of peace as the most important factor for the attainment of health for all [2]. In an article from 2000 a " health-peace initiative " is defined as any initiative that is intended to improve the health of a population and to simultaneously heighten that population's level of peace and security [3]. The purpose of this article is to give an overview of the growing academic field, concerning the contribution of health professionals to peace processes and war prevention. THE CHARACTERISTICS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS The values of the medical profession give health professionals a unique possibility to contribute to peace processes. The medical profession is associated with characteristics such as altruism, solidarity and credibility and with humanitarian values such as neutrality and impartiality. Also health workers have a wider access to the civilian population during violent conflict than most other professions [4]. These conditions give the medical profession a significant influence. On the other hand, health professionals are an integrated part of the local community and it can therefore be difficult for individuals to stay neutral under …